In the wake of the revelation on Heidi Cullinan’s blog today concerning discriminatory action by RWA and its subordinate chapter that runs the More Than Magic contest, I was moved to write this blog. For more on this, you can check out http://heidicullinan.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/rwa-shouldnt-be-in-the-business-of-discrimination/ and http://ryan-field.blogspot.com/2012/02/rwa-rwi-no-same-sex-entries-in-mtm.html?spref=tw
If you’ll look to the side of this post, you’ll notice the banner that says “Haters are NOT welcome here!” I said, I mean it, and I’m going to make that point in big letters right now.
To the administration of RWA and RWI:
Dear Sirs and Madams:
My name is J.S. Wayne. I am an erotic romance author based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and have been working actively writing erotic romance for the past year and a half.
When I first received my contract, several people recommended I look into RWA membership. Tellingly, just as many people told me to steer clear. I make my own decisions, so I read the RWA bylaws, which to my way of thinking are far too restrictive and place too much onus on the membership. The few benefits RWA confers seem to be limited to what a good SEO/marketing campaign can accomplish. More importantly, there seemed to be a distinct lack of interest in erotic romance, particularly that which featured same sex couples.
While I understand and even applaud your willingness to afford a certain degree of autonomy to chapters such as RWI, who administer the MTM contest, I cannot in good conscience view your acceptance of their discriminatory behavior toward authors who write same-sex romance with anything but disgust. Your own bylaws specify romance as being between two individuals. If RWI wishes to conduct this contest under the aegis of RWA, it seems to me they should be willing to abide by the letter AND spirit of the overarching body’s bylaws.
Personal discomfort is one thing, but when discomfort is dispensed in such a callous and ham-handed manner, it becomes discrimination. While I myself am a straight male, I write erotic romance featuring men and women in a number of settings and situations, including homosexual and heterosexual pairings and menages. The unfortunate treatment of certain of your members proves three things.
1) You are not concerned with retaining and increasing your membership. I have flirted with the idea of joining RWA several times, but in the wake of this outrageous situation, I cannot in good conscience do so. I predict a rash of resignations and refusals to rejoin RWA because of this.
2) You do not represent all authors equally. You are allowing a vocal few to speak for everyone, thereby denying romance authors the very forum and safe haven you promise them in your bylaws. The chapter is subordinate to RWA as long as they are conducting contests or any other business as an RWA chapter. By tacitly condoning their behavior by refusing to deal with it, you have demonstrated that RWA is not in fact what you profess it to be.
3) You are not interested in permitting those who write “other” types of romance to feel welcome. This is amply demonstrated by the phrasing of certain of your bylaws and punctuated by this situation. I’ve often heard that e-book authors and those who write erotic romance are looked down upon by your organization, but I would never have expected an organization that bills itself as professional and tolerant of all forms of romance to react in such a milquetoast fashion to the disgraceful refusal of RWI to allow same-sex pairings. By doing so, you have de facto stated you do not believe erotic romance or romance concerning same-sex couples IS in fact romance, a huge slap in the face to your membership, the industry, and the GLBTQA community as a whole.
In closing, I will say that I am not a member of RWA and have no intention of becoming one until such time as your bylaws are rewritten to prohibit discrimination against authors in any form. I hope you will see the error of your ways and apologize to the authors who you have offended and whose work you have so cavalierly dismissed. Until that day comes, you can be certain you needn’t concern yourself about how you should spend my membership dues.
Best,
J.S. Wayne
Well said, JS! Some people live in their own world. Authors are suppose to be open minded. Hell, if Byron and Shelley had stayed within the rhelms of what was acceptable then we would never have met Dracula or Frankenstein.
I couldn’t agree more, Jadette. Sadly, open-mindedness sometimes has to come on the heels of a whole lot of people standing up with one voice and saying “No you don’t! Not if you want MY money!!!!”
In a perfect world, this letter wouldn’t even be necessary.
Awesome post as always, JS. I do hope that RWA gets their collective heads out of their asses and realize the potential backlash behind this. They need authors and readers, not the other way around.
Thanks, Ren! Glad you enjoyed it!
I think the backlash is more actual than potential at this point, which is as it should be. Some things just shouldn’t be tolerated, no matter HOW they’re couched, and this is an example of one that I take an extremely dim view of.
I couldn’t say it better than Ren. Thanks for bringing this to light!
I can’t take credit. I heard about from Heidi’s blog, but when I did, I went, “WHOA! That’s not right!” So I said something about it.
Well said, J.S. Kudos for speaking out. I’ll be sending an email…
Thanks, Gillian!
I cringe at the thought of that many irate emails hitting MY inbox at one time, but hey, maybe it’ll do some good. If it does, then it’s well worth it.
And here I was, willing to give them a second chance, hoping they’d get their act together over self pubbed author issues, when my membership comes up for renewal. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. RWA is failing on so many levels. Sad day.
Hi, Heather.
Dubious choices like this have militated against me becoming an RWA member since the beginning. This unfortunate decision only reinforces my own perception of them.
Thanks for stopping in!
This is outrageous behavior and it shames me to be part of a bigoted organization…yet, how can the policies change from without? As in most cases, change comes from within. If I quit RWA (which, due to increased membership fees I might have to anyway), can I ever hope to change the eyes of the organization? And if I quit while people stay and fight and win the policy changes so many of us desire, can I feel good that I wasn’t part of that fight? –That I arrived once the battle was done? No. Only if I am sure to never darken it’s door.
The RWA organization is a sound ship that sails the seas of the industry well…do I try to sink the ship, or do I mutiny?
For as long as the money allows–I’m wielding the cutlass and readying the plank. RWA is a representative of all romance writers of all shapes and sorts, and I will beat against it until it remembers itself.
Best,
Allure
And let us pretend not to see the typos. ::grins::
Typos? What typos? I see no typos…
Hi, Allure!
I would be inclined to agree that the loudest voices have to come from within, and it’s good that you’re taking a stand from within the organization. I’m NOT a member myself, but I think with the amount of pressure from within AND outside, RWA and RWI are going to have to sit up and take notice. Will it change anything? Who knows? But if enough people vote with their voices AND their pocketbooks (i.e., yeah…I’m not reupping my membership this year!) marketplace forces alone will draw enough heat that RWA will decide to get with the times and the program.
I hope.
Well said J.S.
An organization is only as good as its members. I would love to know if this blatant act of discrimination actually went to a vote or was it the usual bunch of head honcho wankers doing “what is best for us” and putting themselves up as the authority on what defines an author?
For too long these people have made decisions on peoples careers and for me this is the last straw.
Hi, Heather!
Since I’m not a member, I’m also not privy to the inner workings of their organization. A state of affairs I’m quite happy to stick with, considering this latest insult to authors everywhere. But, like I mentioned to Allure, I have a feeling people are going to make their feelings known with their membership dues. Money talks louder than anything, and when RWA sees enough money draining from its coffers, they will have to take notice of that if nothing else.
As an aside:
I feel so strongly about this because I feel it devalues the work of authors everywhere who write “unconventional” romance. This includes my own works: “Espiritu Sancti,” Angels Cry, “Dancing On Flames,” and the forthcoming “Dead Means Dead” all revolve around or hint at same sex relationships. I know several excellent authors more or less personally who write same-sex romance AND are members of RWA. I don’t like being treated as a second-class citizen, but I’m not paying for the privilege. The people I mentioned above DO.
bravo! beautifully said.
Thank you, Kate! Glad you enjoyed it.
For those who are curious, you can read Kate’s excellent blog on the subject here: http://onlytruemagic.blogspot.com/2012/02/less-than-magic-rom4all-rwa.html?showComment=1328387515967#c9130420579899376231
Additionally, there is now a petition circulating to formally protest RWA’s inaction in this regard: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/rwa-shouldnt-be-in-the-business-of-discrimination/ If you feel strongly about authors’ rights and/or GLBTQ discrimination, please consider signing it.
[ETA] Other blogs I’ve found speaking out against this:
http://cathypegau.blogspot.com/2012/02/rom4all-end-all-discrimination-in.html
http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2012/02/wtfckery-factor-romance-writers-of.html
http://annetenino.com/2012/02/04/personal-taste-public-responsibilities-discrimination-rom4all-lgbt-rwa/
Very well said. I too have flirted with the idea of joining RWA and am very close to achieving PAN status. I wake of this situation, I have re-thought my decision. My money would be better spent else where.
Hi, Lynn!
There seems to be a lot of that sentiment floating around. I was particularly angered when I learned this morning that a good friend of mine was denied membership by his local RWA chapter on the basis of his gender. That, on top of the rest of this mess, convinced me it’s just not worth it.
Thanks for dropping by!
I had no idea people were being denied membership.
It’s regrettable, but I know of at least one chapter which turned away a prospective member based solely upon his gender. This is made all the worse by the fact he’s a damn good writer and a strong advocate for authors everywhere, and they lost a powerful ally when they snubbed him.
The MTM contest is just one more iteration of the same overall problem. Nothing in RWA’s bylaws specifically and categorically prohibits RWA chapters from practicing discrimination in any form. Until that changes and is SEEN not only to have changed, but to be actively enforced by the RWA board and general membership, I personally have and feel no incentive to join RWA. I applaud those who are agitating for change from within the organization and at the chapter level, and I feel all romance authors have a responsibility to help them in their fight. Ultimately, this fight will directly influence not only the current generation of authors, but it will also dictate the course of “acceptable” literature for future generations and send a clear message that discrimination in any form is intolerable and anathema to writers everywhere.
I’ll just be carrying on my part of the fight from outside.
Thanks for stopping by, Ryan!
Thanks for writing such a good post!!
Well said JS. Very articulate. I encourage any RWA member who chooses not to renew to let RWA know exactly why they are not renewing. If an author was flirting with the idea of joining but chose not to based on this decision, like you did, they need to contact RWA and let them know that the $85.00 that could have been in the mail is not coming because of RWA’s stance.
As a reader, I can not belong but you bet that I will continue with pressure from outside. If an author does choose to remain fighting from within, I hope they consider joining the eChapter of RWA, Rainbow Romance Writers, of which Heidi is President.
I take full responsibility for my typo’s
Thank you, Pamela!
Groucho Marx once quipped, “I refuse to join any organization that would have me as a member!” In this case, I just can’t see giving RWA my money when I see all the ways they’ve historically moved the goalposts to subtly exclude this, that, or the other. (Males, small-pub, e-pub, self-pub, GLBTQA, *fill in the blank.*) The pressure from inside is what will turn the tide, I believe, but letting those authors know they’re not alone and making sure RWA is aware we’re watching certainly can’t hurt.
Thanks for stopping by and giving your thoughts. If enough people jump in and let RWA know they’re wrong to allow this, something’s got to change. The last word I hear is that they’ll address the issue in March (which seems like too little, too late and further evidence of the board’s real feelings on the topic to me). While it won’t help this year, maybe in the future RWA will be more careful. For now, I think the damage to their reputation and their bank account will certainly spur them to action.
JS I don’t see the RWA moving without both continued pressure from both sides. In this day and age of instant communication any Organization worth it’s salt does not wait for their next scheduled board meeting. All it takes is a conference call and a press agent to deal with the issue almost immediately. Well, I guess I answered my own statement… Worth it’s salt. And I totally get authors choosing not to contribute to the salt.
I agree. And, like I said, I think the fact that they’re waiting for March to deal with it shows just how seriously they aren’t taking this issue. Oh, well. Guess we’ll just have to make sure they know and understand that even if they don’t take it seriously, authors and readers alike DO. It’s a shame, because there are a lot of good people who stand to be hurt by this. But I suppose it is what it is.
If RWA doesn’t care about the public perception of THEM, they should certainly be concerned about how this makes their membership look. RWA membership used to be a badge of honor. I hope they get a handle on this before it becomes a mark of shame.