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Thoughts on a Subtle Bash
By Nancy Lindquist | May 6, 2007
I didn’t hear about it, until I got home. I’m not done investigating, but it does not look good for those who put on the Romantic Times Convention. It seems the convention was not welcoming to everyone who paid good money for their admission. Most specifically, the people who write male/male romance. Male/Male advertising material was removed as tasteless, when photos of mostly naked women were left to be perused and pondered upon by both the attendees and the male hotel guests.
One author, so treated, stated her case in her blog. Someone from The Romantic Times Magazine posted a comment to the blog. I don’t want to paraphrase the woman’s words and get them wrong. I will post a link instead. I do want to note her defense began with, “some of my best friends are gay.” I consider those words to be an insult to people everywhere and usually the main defense of prejudice. As I have posted before.
I am appalled that the Romantic Times Magazine is so bias. I am disgusted by the way they have treated people who pay them to advertise. I find that someone stating the readership not wishing to see gay romance to be a fallacy. Many of the people who write male/male romance advertise there, because it dramatically improves sales. This is the year, two thousand and seven. There is no excuse for the sentiments espoused by the publisher of that magazine. Not one.
The link can be found here: http://sensualwriter.blogspot.com/
Normally, I try hard to walk on eggshells. I don’t want to rile anyone up in my blog. It’s hard for me. I am outspoken and have some seriously whacked opinions. This is not a case that I can turn my back on. I support authors of male/male romance. I’ve thought about telling those authors to boycott next years RT. Unfortunately, that would be giving them what they wanted. To have a neat little world where only men and women fall in love. It’s not like that. Those accepting of all peoples and who they love should attend the conference. They should be quietly visible and supportive. They should stand up and say that treatment of those who are different than they are is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I’m going. I’m going with my male/female books. I’m supporting those in all communities with a badge and a hug. This slamming of gays will not be tolerated by this author. I will not go hide in the corner and cry. Not anymore. Even if this costs me precious readers, I support the authors of gay romance with my dollars, my heart and my strength.
I am on my soapbox here and, in this case, good for me.
May 6th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
hmmm, well as a reader of m/m romance I am also offended that they wouldn’t be welcoming to authors of ANY romantic genre. SOme of the ones I’ve read lately have just been beyond hot and yes I do specifically watch for books by some of my favorite m/m authors.
I just paid for a two year subscription to the Romantic Times magazine but if this is true then I’m going to request a refund. That’s just not right.
BTW, I don’t think you taking a stand on this is going to cost you readers! I believe most of us know that it takes guts, heart, and alot of ambition to write and actually get it published (irregardless of which genre it is!) and if it does cost you a few readers then obviously they’re too narrowminded in the first place