Lammy Founder Weighs In
Published September 30, 2009 | 
(Thanks to Teddy Pig for the links.)
This morning, Lambda Lit Award founder Deacon Maccubbin commented on the ongoing Lammy kerfluffle.
“Just to keep the historical record clear, when I founded the Lambda Literary Awards in 1988, they were specifically intended to honor “the writers, editors and publishers of gay and lesbian literature”. There was no litmus test of the sexual or affectional orientation of those writers, editors and publishers. It was only necessary that a nominated book be of interest to gays and lesbians (and, later, to bisexuals and transgenders as additional categories were added). That was true for the first five years of the Lammy Awards. I believe it was true even after we turned the awards program over to the new non-profit Lambda Literary Foundation; I don’t know at what point the criteria might have changed, but I think it would be wise to return to the original vision.”
His entire comment can be found here: http://www.mlrpressauthors.com/2009/09/the-little-lost-lambdas-some-thoughts-by-victor-j-banis/
And now for something completely different…
Published September 30, 2009 | Thanks to my always brilliant and fabulously stylish crit partner, Barb Ferrer, for this link to Jim C. Hines’ livejournal, and his hilarious, Seuss-esque bit of verse, “Slush I Read.”
In memory of the late, great Kate Duffy, here’s a taste and a link to the full poem:
I read slush.
Slush I read.
That slush I read.
That slush I read!
I do not like that slush I read.
Do you like fanfic with vamps?
I do not like them Mary Sue.
Why do these vamps all worship you?
Here’s a tale from D & D!
I do not want your D & D.
I do not like your elf PC.
I can not stand your purple prose.
I want to punch you in the nose!
More re: Lambda Lit versus The Breeders
Published September 29, 2009 | Updated to add a link to this amazing post by former Lambda Award winner Lee Thomas: http://leethomas.livejournal.com/157333.html
I’m especially enamored of this bit:
“I think this is a terrible move on the part of the LLF. Narrowing the field does nothing to improve the award’s credibility and it’s something of a slap in the face to gay writers as it suggests we can’t compete with the straight folks.
Particularly disturbing to me is this passage:
‘We also took into consideration the despair of our own writers when a heterosexual writer, who has written a fine book about us, wins a Lambda Award, when one or more of our own LGBT writers may have as a Finalist a book that may be the only chance in a career at a Lambda Literary Award.’
Okay, I despair over not having my work taken seriously, so give me one of them Pulitzers or maybe a National Book Award. Whatever. I’m not picky. Being a gay writer should not entitle you to an award, any award, particularly when that award was once considered a literary honor, not a giftie for sexual orientation.”
Teddy Pig says this: http://www.teddypig.com/2009/09/shame-on-me-shame-on-you/
And this: http://www.teddypig.com/2009/09/lambda-literary-foundation-we-cant-hack-a-level-playing-field-so/
And this! http://www.teddypig.com/2009/09/because-someone-asked/
Victor J. Banis says this: http://www.mlrpressauthors.com/2009/09/the-little-lost-lambdas-some-thoughts-by-victor-j-banis/
Erastes says this: http://erastes.livejournal.com/449814.html
Emmyjag says this: http://emmyjag.livejournal.com/146174.html
On the good news front, I received an email from noted reviewer Elisa Rolle about her plan to create the “Rainbow Awards” for excellence in LGBT fiction and non-fiction. (Link to informational post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/799266.html .)
I’m excited about the prospect of an award for LGBT fiction that’s open to writers of all genders and sexual orientations. It will be fascinating to see whether a grassroots effort to acknowledge the story over its author gets any traction in the current climate. Given the groundswell of initial support, I’m hopeful.
A lynching in the making.
Published September 23, 2009 | Reactions to this range from outrage to meh, with a few “those straight girls should just come up with their own reward for the gay buttsecks writing.”
Yeah, that’ll go over like a lead-filled condom. Straight women creating an award for writing gay fiction that gay people aren’t allowed to enter.
THEY WOULD COME FOR US WITH TORCHES AND PITCHFORKS.
And they’d be right.
* * *
PS ~ If you followed the link to this post from The Angry Black Woman, I have a couple questions for you.
Can reasonable people disagree? If my opinions don’t match your opinions perfectly, does that instantly make me a homphobe/loser exercising straight white privilege/racist?
I do know the meaning and history behind the word “lynch.” Yes, I am aware that it’s a trigger word and highly inflammatory. I’m a writer. Words are my stock-in-trade. I used the word to make a point — a point apparently lost on a whole host of folks who can’t see beyond the language to the meaning of my post, which is simply this: While exclusionary behavior on the part of a disenfranchised group is understandable from the point of view of creating a “safe space,” it does not promote the larger, oft-stated agenda of a color-blind/sexuality-and-gender-identity blind society. And in this case, it’s turned what used to be a credible award into a bit of a joke, and is not even supported by the guy who founded the damned award in the first place.
This is my opinion. It’s the same opinion held by a bunch of other folks who are a lot smarter, better published and queerer than I, but my post gets a lot of heat because I used a verboten word in the title. Tough titty says this kitty. You’re not going to change my mind or my use of this particular inflammatory word by sending me poorly spelled and ungrammatical hate mail, though you’re welcome to keep trying if it makes you feel better. Which, apparently, it does. Go figure.