Comments on: Amazon removes sales rank from sexuality, queer titles http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/ Sex & the internet, by Melissa Gira Grant Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:30:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Update on AmazonFail http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1230 Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Update on AmazonFail Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:49:17 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1230 [...] to GLBT issues and erotica, but also notably affected books on disability and sexuality as well as feminist books, books on sexuality, and books on topics such as suicide prevention and [...] [...] to GLBT issues and erotica, but also notably affected books on disability and sexuality as well as feminist books, books on sexuality, and books on topics such as suicide prevention and [...]

]]> By: Dawn Marcia Wilson http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1220 Dawn Marcia Wilson Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:01:02 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1220 Here is a message I just posted to Amazon.com: I recently purchased a book authored by Helen Boyd, "She's Not the Man I Married". (This message is not about any problem with that order.) Now I read (see http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1213) that "Amazon removes sales rank from sexuality, queer titles". I object to this Amazon policy in general. It is homophobic and unacceptable. I am also mystified as to why Helen Boyd's books related to transgenderism ("My Husband Betty" & "She's Not the Man I Married") are included in this category of exclusion. If you actually READ either of Helen Boyd's two books, you would discover that transgenderism is about GENDER IDENTITY, not SEXUAL PREFERENCE. In other words, transgendered people are not necessarily "queer" and queer people (i.e., gay, lesbian) are not necessarily transgendered. A commonly held notion that "transgendered" == "homosexual" is simply incorrect. I can understand such a policy being in place regarding material that is expressly pornographic in nature. However, academic literature on transgenderism and homosexuality is certainly not pornographic by today's generally accepted standards in our sociey. Unless I am soon informed that Amazon's policy cited above regarding sexuality and queer titles (also transgender titles) is being reversed, I intend to cancel my Amazon account and never again make a purchase at or through Amazon.com. I will also encourage my family, friends, and acquaintences to do the same. Please feel free to reply to me in this matter via eMail (xxx.com). For the record, I am transgendered (M2F), I've been married to the same woman for over forty years, and I and my wife are both monogamous. Sincerely, ... Here is a message I just posted to Amazon.com:

I recently purchased a book authored by Helen Boyd, “She’s Not the Man I Married”. (This message is not about any problem with that order.) Now I read (see http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1213) that “Amazon removes sales rank from sexuality, queer titles”. I object to this Amazon policy in general. It is homophobic and unacceptable.

I am also mystified as to why Helen Boyd’s books related to transgenderism (”My Husband Betty” & “She’s Not the Man I Married”) are included in this category of exclusion. If you actually READ either of Helen Boyd’s two books, you would discover that transgenderism is about GENDER IDENTITY, not SEXUAL PREFERENCE. In other words, transgendered people are not necessarily “queer” and queer people (i.e., gay, lesbian) are not necessarily transgendered. A commonly held notion that “transgendered” == “homosexual” is simply incorrect.

I can understand such a policy being in place regarding material that is expressly pornographic in nature. However, academic literature on transgenderism and homosexuality is certainly not pornographic by today’s generally accepted standards in our sociey.

Unless I am soon informed that Amazon’s policy cited above regarding sexuality and queer titles (also transgender titles) is being reversed, I intend to cancel my Amazon account and never again make a purchase at or through Amazon.com. I will also encourage my family, friends, and acquaintences to do the same. Please feel free to reply to me in this matter via eMail (xxx.com).

For the record, I am transgendered (M2F), I’ve been married to the same woman for over forty years, and I and my wife are both monogamous.

Sincerely, …

]]> By: Links for 2009-04-12 [del.icio.us] | Eros Daily Musings and Digressions http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1219 Links for 2009-04-12 [del.icio.us] | Eros Daily Musings and Digressions Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:43:32 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1219 [...] Sexerati | Amazon removes sales rank from sexuality, queer titles Rachel Kramer Bussel & Audacia Ray discovered this morning that Amazon no longer lists a sales rank for a number of their books. For a time today, Ray’s Naked on the Internet was displayed without cover photo or reviews [...] [...] Sexerati | Amazon removes sales rank from sexuality, queer titles Rachel Kramer Bussel & Audacia Ray discovered this morning that Amazon no longer lists a sales rank for a number of their books. For a time today, Ray’s Naked on the Internet was displayed without cover photo or reviews [...]

]]> By: Chris Hall http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1217 Chris Hall Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:44:58 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1217 As I said earlier on Twitter, I was really starting to let go of my belief that Amazon was evil. They've been a great resource while I've been trapped up here in the hills of Berkeley with no driver's license. Oh, well. As Baudelaire said, "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." As I said earlier on Twitter, I was really starting to let go of my belief that Amazon was evil. They’ve been a great resource while I’ve been trapped up here in the hills of Berkeley with no driver’s license. Oh, well. As Baudelaire said, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

]]> By: Arousal of the Minx | Fantasy and reality. Kink and vanilla. Boys and girls. These are the things that arouse me. http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1215 Arousal of the Minx | Fantasy and reality. Kink and vanilla. Boys and girls. These are the things that arouse me. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:42:44 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1215 [...] http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/ (Sexerati) [...] [...] http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/ (Sexerati) [...]

]]> By: Amazon Filters Out Queer/Sex Books - en|Gender http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1214 Amazon Filters Out Queer/Sex Books - en|Gender Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:23:12 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1214 [...] books about queer sex, although I’m sure those are included, but books about sexuality and/or queer topics, have lost their rankings at amazon.com. Mine [...] [...] books about queer sex, although I’m sure those are included, but books about sexuality and/or queer topics, have lost their rankings at amazon.com. Mine [...]

]]> By: helen boyd http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1213 helen boyd Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:04:09 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1213 Mine are gone, too - & neither book is expressly about sex OR feminism, but about MTF spectrum transgender people. "Sex" is in the subtitle of one, but there is nothing in the title or subtitle of the 2nd that would be an easy catch for a filter -- unless "transgender" is one of the words. Really really problematic. I'm wondering how/if other authors on LGBT issues are also seeing their sales rankings disappear. Mine are gone, too - & neither book is expressly about sex OR feminism, but about MTF spectrum transgender people. “Sex” is in the subtitle of one, but there is nothing in the title or subtitle of the 2nd that would be an easy catch for a filter — unless “transgender” is one of the words.

Really really problematic. I’m wondering how/if other authors on LGBT issues are also seeing their sales rankings disappear.

]]> By: HeresyBob http://melissagira.com/sexerati/2009/04/12/amazon-removes-sales-rank-from-sexuality-queer-titles/#comment-1212 HeresyBob Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:51:12 +0000 http://melissagira.com/sexerati/?p=603#comment-1212 This is fucking sad. In the drive to increase sales, they've further polarized people. Is there a mechanism to protest their classification? This is fucking sad. In the drive to increase sales, they’ve further polarized people.

Is there a mechanism to protest their classification?

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