Say Yes to Gay YA

[dragonimp]

A literary agent offered to represent a YA manuscript - on the condition that one of the main characters be made straight or have his POV and any mention of his sexuality cut.

These authors aren't the only ones with a story like that. It's 2011 and this kind of unseen discrimination is happening - and not just with sexuality; authors have been told to change characters' race, disability, even gender. That article talks about it much better than I could, and also has list of books to consider if you want to "vote with your wallet" in support of diversity in books.

Comments

[nochick-fics.livejournal.com]

It turns my stomach to know that this is still happening. As much as I hate seeing homosexuality exploited for the sake of a story, this is far, far worse. :/

[dragonimp.livejournal.com]

It would sure be nice to just have books with a normal variety of people as characters, without the publishing world trying to mash everything into the straight White mould or looking for "reasons" a character "should" be outside it. But I guess that concept is still too hard for some people.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your support!

To continue to support YA fiction with LGBTQ characters, I have proposed creating Permanent Floating YA Diversity Book Clubs. (http://rachelmanija.livejournal.com/976665.html) If you wish to participate, the link will explain how to begin one, join one, or simply pass on the word.

[rachelmanija]

I thought you would be interested to hear that we sold Stranger (aka "the Yes Gay YA novel") to Viking. Click on this link for a post with more details. Thank you so much for your support!

[dragonimp]

Wow, congrats!! I'll be keeping an eye out!