Amazon is Anti-Gay?

[bunnykissd]

In a time when gays and lesbians are making strides toward equal rights, Amazon.com has taken a step back. A step back to a time when you didn't ask and didn't tell, a time when you hid your love for fear of persecution, a time when even the suspicion of homosexuality was enough to get beaten or even killed. Amazon.com has reclassified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender books and movies as an adult product which blocks them from their sales rankings.

However, like Mark Probst said, "if they are really going to try and exclude so-called “adult” material, then how come this has an Amazon ranking?" And there are plenty of other *adult* themed books still ranked as well, as shown by this list. Curiously, if you put "homosexuality" into a search of their site, and you'll find books on "preventing" and "curing" homosexuality, but you won't find Brokeback Mountain or Tipping the Velvet or other previously high ranking books or movies.

Today, Amazon.com claims this was just a glitch that they are fixing now, but some authors lost their ranking way back in February, and only now is it getting any attention. And if it's just a glitch then why tell authors their books have been "classified as an Adult product" and "In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature." Obviously that's not just a glitch.

Like so many others are twittering, AmazonFAIL! Please sign the petition.

Comments

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Like theferrett said about this, until they fix it I will be a part of the boycott. Once the fix it, however, I think it's important that people show their support again. Getting Amazon to fix this HUGE mistake and then not supporting them isn't good business practice.

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

I was contemplating deleting my wish lists and account, but I do want to give them a chance to correct this "glitch" before I go and do that. Definitely won't be buying from them until they do....

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*nods* I agree. Gut reaction on this is strong, but it's come to light, and hopefully will be resolved without us ever seeing anything like this on their part again.

[ladymandrake.livejournal.com]

ME EITHER and I said that in my signing, and scott and I are long time amazon customers.

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Me too, I mean I've got a BAJILLION things on my list and have done reviews and am even selling through them!!!

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I hope the word does get out, but not so much as I hope they fix this.

[thetoymaker.livejournal.com]

Brokeback Mountain seems to have a ranking. Looks like some programmer was up all night. There is also a "GAY" section. Interesting how public pressure actually got this changed.

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

Well it all turned out to be a coder in France, who got confused on categorizing some books, and a media over-reaction - myself included - and I am glad Amazon got things fixed up, and it's all back to normal.