RWA Makes a Statement on Equality.
You may recall the flap Romance Writers Ink (RWI) created by excluding gay romances from one of their contests: there was a huge outcry and the contest was canceled. Romance Writers of America (RWA), the parent organization has issued a statement.
While this is a good thing in general, I’m not sure it addresses the original problem in any way. But it’s progress.
In the last post I refer you to Heidi Cullinan’s discussion of the discriminatory stance of one chapter of the RWA. I had to take some kind of action. I am one small voice, and not even a member voice of this organization, but I am not a member precisely because of policies such as this. I cannot lend my name or my money to a group that finds this kind of action acceptable.
And yet I can’t not speak out: this is wrong. And this is how I communicated my outrage to the RWA.
Dear RWA:
Regarding the exclusion of same sex romances from this contest [More Than Magic contest hosted by Romance Writers Ink Chapter of RWA]: I am extremely saddened that this sort of discrimination is permitted in contests in events under your authority. Should this be permitted to stand, you announce yourself as an organization that condones discrimination toward an entire genre and by extension, to those writers and readers who are members of the group. The Rainbow Chapter of your organization is a tiny step but still a ghettoization, and this contest’s rules are a huge step backward.
The world is a large and diverse place: love is also diverse. But love is love, and romance literature should have a place for all its varieties. Please investigate this chapter’s policies, and do not permit this insult to many of your members and to many, many members of society.
Sincerely,
PD Singer
Posted in Writing
Tagged discrimination, romance, RWA, same sex romance, unfair practices
