I had been invited to write a story for BRAVE NEW LOVE. I did. I turned it in.
And then some things happened. Bad things. And more bad things. Read those posts if you want all the details. I’ll summarize: an author was booted from an anthology for writing a m/m romance. The subsequent response from publisher and editor was unsatisfactory, to say the least.
I can’t endorse this with my work. Which is why my Razorland story will not be appearing in BRAVE NEW LOVE. I will find another venue. Love is love–and I do not support censorship or that kind of insensitive, destructive bias.
That’s all I have to say.
I, for one, wholeheartedly applaud your decision. Bigotry like this can not be allowed to stand unchecked. I applaud you for standing up for what you believe. And I look forward to reading Razorland.
I read about this yesterday and was sad and angry that things like this are still happening.
Love is something beautiful and we should celebrate and not censor it.
[...] ** As of one o’clock eastern time, I just found out that Ann Aguirre pulled out of Trisha Telep’s NEXT Anthology. The story is here. [...]
Just wanted to say thanks for your decision, you have my admiration and support all the way in this!
Bravo!!!
Thanks for making a stand!
Love IS love in all forms!
xoxo
Good for you! Definitely the right decision.
So happy to see you join the inspiring authors that are standing up and saying that this bullshit doesn’t fly. There needs to be some kind of repercussions for the bigoted editor in question, since it has become clear with her response that she had zero understanding that what she did and said was flat out wrong. And since the publisher despite paying lip service to distancing themselves from her, is still employing her, this is the next best way to show that despite the amount of institutionalized homophobia left in society, things are changing and many of us will no longer accept that as the status quo.
I’m so proud of you for standing up and making a statement for what’s right. Love is love, and it doesn’t understand the limitations of race, sexuality, age or religion. Love is boundless, and no one has any right to say otherwise. To moralize a YA anthology is especially appalling since teens are so impressionable. Telling them it’s wrong to be gay by actively excluding gay short stories is reprehensible. And for gay teens wanting their voices to be heard in literature it does them a disservice to ignore them.
Good for you for doing the right thing and not supporting bigotry and homophobia.
The statements released by the publishers are full of the usual fluffy language meant to cover their butts after the fact. I’m pretty sure if they had said straight from the start “no homosexual stories,” folks would’ve cried discrimination and the book would never have seen the light of day because no one would have agreed to write for it. So instead they keep quiet and the book goes forward for publication minus one story of questionable taste. It’s bloody brilliant yet sickening. I don’t get it but then I’m sitting here hoping for more Jax/Vel relationship stuff…
Liz, you might be very happy with Aftermath.
Ann, I’m incredibly thrilled to hear that and am looking forward to August! I recently grabbed Grimspace since I had been looking for more sci-fi and immediately bought the other 3 books. Just lent Grimspace to my sister in hopes of creating another addict. :D
/fangirling
Though I realize that last sentence in my previous post (at 2am to be fair) sounded like a non sequitur. Is it more acceptable to have a human/alien relationship so long as it’s m/f? Captain Kirk kissing the lady aliens is okay because they’re ladies? We all have our kinks – anyone who denies it is probably lying. Problem is the fear and dislike of homosexuality seems to be rooted in religious beliefs and that’s a hard thing from which to shake free.
[...] Marr has asked her name be removed from the cover of the anthology, and both Saundra Mitchell and Ann Aguirre have pulled out of different anthologies edited by [...]
I appreciate the stand you took. Thank you.
Thank you for standing up for both a fellow author and for civil rights.
Thank you.
That’s utterly ridiculous. Good for you for taking a stand.
I’ve had a response at last on this head. The editor in question has accepted my decision and I am officially out. It’s all done. I’ve had some pretty exciting nibbles regarding my story, so that’s news as well. But I won’t say more until I’ve made up my mind what direction I’m going. Stay tuned. You -will- be able to read ENDURANCE in some form; I just don’t know where yet.
Thanks for making a stand. For my part I’m keeping track of all the new-to-me authors that I want to support. I look forward to reading all your work some day.
I have to say it’s things like this that make me love and admire you as an author even more. Way to stick to your guns!