Icarus' Journal

11:26am: Amazon.com discriminating against gay and lesbian books.
"Heather Has Two Mommies" is an adult book. At least according to Amazon.com it is.

Who knew?

You're probably hearing about this from everyone, but let me add my voice to the chorus. Amazon.com is stripping the sales rankings from gay and lesbian books. As the post says:

If you write books with homosexual characters, read books with homosexual characters, please look at this:



Mark,Erastes, and Alex (among others) had their Amazon sales rankings removed over the last few days for The Filly, Transgressions and False Colours respectively. On enquiring about this, Mark was told the following:

In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.

Hence, if you have further questions, kindly write back to us.

Best regards,

Ashlyn D
Member Services
Amazon.com Advantage

Please note that just before this, Erastes' Transgressions and Alex's False Colours were topping out the rankings. Also note that "The Filly" is a YA Book, and therefore I would suggest one of the more important books to have out there for kids questioning their identity, and Transgressions and False Colours are being shelved with the Romance section of Barnes and Noble. Though as Mark points out, that is of no fucking importance because this is homophobic bias pure and simple.

I have no idea what to do about this except spread the message. If anyone has any ideas on what to do, tell me. Because I am not letting this lie. As vashtan said, they are happy to take the money, but not happy to give these books the recognition they rightly deserve.

Chris.

PS. Not linking to these books on Amazon, for obvious reasons. If people would give me other sites on which to buy them, will amend the post.

ETA: Letter to Amazon here: http://c-smith-author.livejournal.com/20968.html

vashton has begun compiling an eye-opening list.

You can email Amazon.com here (you'll need to log in).

4:41pm: Amazon Rank: and the results I want.
Amazon Rank

Explanation here.

I want Amazon.com, this Monday morning, to have a meeting. In that meeting I want them to address this utter mess. By the end of this meeting, I want them to restore the ranks to every GLBT book on all their sites--yes, all of them.

By 10am, I want a press release where Amazon says, "We're aware of the problem and we're fixing it. This is a mistake. Amazon.com does not believe in censorship in any form." Then they can henceforth tell conservative complainers to go hang.

9:28pm: SGA Fic: Out Of Bounds - John/Rodney - NC-17 overall
Now a serious update, nine pages in my version of Word -- the actual Nationals competition begins.

The story in one file up to an earlier chapter: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: Then, in an electric moment, John's flight stood as if pulled by a string, though it wasn't clear who'd told who it was time. The short program begins.

A/N: Thank you once again to my tireless betas (we're having fun), rabidfan and roaringmice, and now tingler and mariamme, too.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. After a year of training and preparation... the U.S. Championships.

( Then, in an electric moment, John's flight stood as if pulled by a string, though it wasn't clear who'd told who it was time. )

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (warm-up music)
Michael Kamen - Overture to Robin Hood (Nathaniel Peters' music)
Rachmaninov - Prelude in G Minor (Frances Caliaro's music)
Itzak Perlman - I Will Wait For You (Mike Estey's music)
Michael Kamen - Meet Martin Riggs (Mark Svick's music)
Danny Elfman - Men In Black (Kyle Fletcher's music)
The Lively Ones - cover of Surf Rider (John Sheppard's music)

10:03pm: Amazon.com: "It's a glitch!" Oh. Really? Interesting glitch.
The best article on Amazon removing sales rankings from GLBT books:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/04/amazon-responds-to-adult-queries-blames-a-glitch.html

From the LA Times' Carolyn Kellogg, who is smarter than the average PR person:

I asked Patty Smith [of Amazon.com] this:</p>

The reply:

Heh.