Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing

Acknowledgments

xiii Acknowledgments In preparing this book, Felice and I had tremendous support and cooperation from many writers, friends, colleagues, and institutions. We are grateful to have labored so intensely and productively with the writers whose work is included in Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing, as well as those whose work could not be included in this anthology for reasons of space, timing, or deadlines. The University of Wisconsin Press’s support for the project was exemplary and we were fortunate to have, and consistently count on, the fine stewardship of Raphael Kadushin. Raphael’s reputation as a fantastic editor, writer, and reader preceded him; we can only concur, add to the accolades, and simply say, gracias. Also at the University of Wisconsin Press, we’d like to thank Katie Malchow for her able assistance and Sheila McMahon for her spectacular editorial skills. The Press secured two thoughtful external reviewers and we are grateful for their invaluable suggestions. It has been a pleasure for me to direct the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Bryn Mawr College. The Program and the Department of English helped bring Felice Picano to campus, where we had the opportunity to talk and refine the project through the thoughtful feedback of many motivated and simply brilliant students, especially the program’s ever intrepid representative, Rebecca Farber. Many colleagues and friends were responsive with thoughtful suggestions and constructive criticism. I especially wish to thank Anne Dalke, Pim Higginson, Bethany Schneider, Rosi Song, Kate Thomas, Michael Tratner, and Sharon Ullman. The Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore Tri-college Consortium’s Mellon Queers of Color group has provided sustained support and I am fortunate to count on the intellectual camaraderie of Israel Burshatin, Homay King, Luciano Martínez, Jerry Miller, and Hoang Nguyen. I especially wish to thank Israel for the contributions to the field he helped to carve and the doors he continues to hold open. My involvement with the DC Queers Theory Group has also served as a resource for critical input and lively engagement. I xiv especially wish to thank Marilee Lindemann, Dana Luciano, Robert McRuer, Ricardo Ortíz, and Tom Ratekin for the vibrant community they’ve helped create in the capital. David Conway, Rob Falk, and Gina Livermore both encouraged and distracted me at all the right moments and the book is better for it. I am also grateful to Cristina Beltrán, Oliva Cardona, Miguel Díaz-Barriga, Margaret Dorsey, Dara Goldman, Elena Gorfinkel, Zilkia Janer, Yolanda Martínez-San Miguel, Lydie E. Moudileno, José Esteban Muñoz, Israel Reyes, Juana María Rodríguez, Richard T. Rodríguez, Azade Seyhan, Todd Shepard, Nicolás Shumway, Heather Sias, Ben. Sifuentes-Jáuregui, Richard Torchia, Antonio Viego, and Tina Zwarg for their continued intellectual generosity and sheer good will. I wish to acknowledge the Office of the Provost at Bryn Mawr College, in particular Provost Kim Cassidy, for helping to secure funding for the project. Finally, I dedicate my work on this project to the memory of my mother, Caridad Ondina León, and my aunt, Felicia Troadia Gutiérrez, queridas.  Ambientes ...