Waiting in the Wings: Portrait of a Queer Motherhood

In a series of journal entries-some original passages, others revisited and expanded in retrospect-Cherrie Moraga details her experiences with pregnancy, birth, and the early years of lesbian parenting.

The premature birth of her son, when HIV-related mortality rates were at their highest, forced Moraga, a new mother at 40-years-old, to confront the fragile volatility of life and death; in these recorded dreams and reflections, her terror and resilience are made palpable. The particular challenges of queer parenting prove transformative as Moraga navigates her interesecting roles as mother, child, lover, friend, artist, activist, and more.

is thoughtful and emotive, with prose that is sharp and beautifully written, from the voice of a beloved and incomparable writer.