Tell Amazon to Stop Discriminating Against LGBT Books

It was recently revealed that Amazon has been stripping the sales rank of gay and lesbian books, labeling them as "adult" content and removing them from search rankings.

At the same time, books about heterosexual porn stars, Playboy centerfolds, and techniques on how to "cure" homosexuality remain ranked.

Please tell Amazon this discrimination is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately, and that as a public company they should release a transparent set of guidelines on how books are classified on the site.

Your change.org email will be targeted to Amazon customer service as well as Jeff Bezos the CEO of the company.

Is Amazon Censoring LGBT Books?

It has been brought to our attention that hundreds of gay,lesbian, and trans books simultaneously lost their sales rankings yesterday. Bringing into question whether there is a campaign to suppress LGBT themed books?

This prompted many Amazon users, authors, and purchasers of LGBT literature to contact the company. It seems many books simply about being transgender, or a college guide for LGBT students is being deemed "erotic"?

Amazon has taken the rankings off of many books in "erotica" categories. The question is why are they deeming so many non-erotica LGBT based books as offensive? While they still have ratings available on such books as Playboy centerfolds which clearly is in a different category than many of the books that are being targeted.

Use their express customer service form to voice your complaint or call 1-800-201-7575.

Survey of LGBT Readers and Public Libraries

Dr. John Pruitt, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County has been given a grant by the American Library Association to research how libraries can better serve their LGBT populations within their respective communities. If you don't mind answering a few questions to help out, you will be doing this professor and the LGBT community a service.

Click to participate in LGBT Readers & Public Libraries Survey

Activist Tip: Get Queer Books in Your Library!

Inspired by a right-wing blog I read that was advocating for their readers to request "ex-gay" books for their local libraries I decided to post a reverse entry.

Your local library is about serving the community, they want to carry books and videos that their residents want.

They have a suggestion box or email form, why not go ahead and list some good queer political books, coming out resource guides, and queer history books to be added to the shelves?

In addition to requesting new books, make sure to take out the existing books on queer culture so that the libraries do not discontinue these books.

Many libraries have been forced to place LGBTQ books on high shelves due to community outcry, making it harder or virtually impossible for people to have access to them. Speak to the head librarian and demand that the books are visible and available for those who want them.