Please check out the entire post at MLR or Teddypig's Journal

[erastes]

Deacon Maccubbin - founder of the Lambdas
September 30th, 2009 on 9:43 am

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... Read more

Comments

[lexin.livejournal.com]

One thing that has been really obvious is the dissonance between the Charles-his-friends attitude of some commentators and the actual comments made by glbt people such as Victor Banis and the people on Queerty. One is genuine and the other...isn't.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I feel strangely validated ;)

[teddypig.livejournal.com]

I posted about that sad and rather pathetic Katherine Forrest attempt at an explanation because those idiots kept saying nothing had been changed.

I posted about the exact wording changes on the Lambda Web Page because those idiots kept saying the awards intention had not been changed.

I think this is the last word when the actual founder of the fucking award says he did not ever intend for the award to exclude straight people. It was always meant to celebrate Gay Literature created by all.

All I can say is I know those fucking idiots from another planet still will most likely not listen but if I hear another word about their uninformed and highly inaccurate theories of "What Gay Literature Really Is" "How This Is All About Straight Privilege And Oppression" "This Is To Providing A Safe Space" or "This Is Not Discrimination" or any other crap the award was never supposed to symbolize or be about it will be far too soon.

Sorry, but I had to say that.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

All I can say is I know those fucking idiots from another planet still will most likely not listen but if I hear another word about their uninformed and highly inaccurate theories of "What Gay Literature Really Is" "How This Is All About Straight Privilege And Oppression" "This Is To Providing A Safe Space" or "This Is Not Discrimination" or any other crap the award was never supposed to symbolize or be about it will be far too soon.

THIS. YES.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I hope you've kept screencaps of the original award definitions. I have this strange feeling that the website will be "improved" soon and all those old "outdated" records will be erased.

Kind of the way they used to erase old cosmonauts out of the history books when they became politically incorrect...

I'd rather focus on making the world a "safe space than build bunkers.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

You never need to apologise for being rational Teddypig, and it's very good to see you here. Gehayi, Meta Writer and I seem to have taken a lot of flak over this - and we are still reeling from the accusations of "priviledge" and "entitlement" - neither of which terms we understand in this context.

I was also called transphobic, a liar and a racist which was rather baffling too, and not a little amusing - especially from someone who started their email with "please don't take this as a personal attack"!!!

It's rather like someone saying "with respect..." thinking that being flat out offensive is allowable after saying those two words.

Maccubbin's comment was wonderful and when I get attacked again I shall go and read it again.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You talk a whole load of sense :)

[ammonite7.livejournal.com]

Sometimes good ideas grow better with age and sometimes they do not. One passes the ball on in hopes for the best. If, from here on, this award is going to be based on the sex of the writer, what would it take to create a new literary award based on the quality of writing?

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Well, isn't that interesting? I wonder how long it will be before the revisionists start trying to discredit Mr Maccubbin.

[joannesopercook.livejournal.com]

Victor rocks. :)

I still owe you a post on the Macaronis. I thought September had 31 days. HONEST! I have something in mind which I will post today. *big eyes*

Whaaaaaat? :-D