Open letter to The Bookseller says 'transphobia acceptable in British book industry'

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

t.co/eqdwe7Cqu1?amp=1

'signed anonymously from a number of trade figures, including publishers, writers, illustrators and booksellers' - no editors, though, judging by the rambling, over-long text. It seems to be in part a response to the evidence given to Parliament last week by the CEO of Hachette, who are JKR's publishers, about cancel culture. JKR not namechecked but I bet they had her in mind.

Some fairly robust responses on Twitter, I see.

have been through more uncertainties and self-exploration than most cis men and women can imagine

How on Earth do you know???

I was disappointed to see that Shirley Hughes is involved.

On Twitter, her account writes 'Shirley supports this open letter to The Bookseller, and sends her kindest wishes to her trans and non-binary colleagues in all roles in publishing, as well as readers and their families.' with a link to the letter.

Did someone say that's the edited version?

Exactly what do they want, what are they asking for?

Seems to be an effort to get jk Rowling dropped from all publishing, ever. Only then can they feel safe.....

Who else are they talking about?

I really do not understand what the point of that letter is.....

The only reply I can see on the Bookseller’s tweet puts it beautifully:

‘ Replying to
@thebookseller
If you can fathom exactly who is accused of what out of this let me know. I don't know where to begin with that letter, it is so muddle headed’

@HandsOffMyRights

On Twitter, her account writes 'Shirley supports this open letter to The Bookseller, and sends her kindest wishes to her trans and non-binary colleagues in all roles in publishing, as well as readers and their families.' with a link to the letter.

It's because her daughter is Clara Vulliamy, who is one of the most - I'll put it nicely - dedicated TRAs in the book world. I think there is a trans relative. Shirley didn't write that tweet. I think she probably just thinks it's the right thing to do and goes along with Clara's propaganda.

They haven't given examples of trans people being discriminated against or treated badly. They have not said anything specific about what they want publishers to do. It's just a load of badly written narcissistic waffle.

There's no evidence. The only thing they have is that some people don't agree and there are some books being published by gender critical authors - hurrah. It is depressing working in the industry and seeing how much support this stuff gets all the time. It seems captured. However, this time, it doesn't seem to have had much, so perhaps they're tiring of it? I'm told there are other gender critical people in the industry but apart from a few I know, I don't know who the rest are. I constantly hope that we'll hear the end of it in publishing but so many are so captured and believe the lies. Some of the absolute guff that's trotted out would be hilarious if it wasn't so dangerous.

SmallPug I didn't know that, so this explains the Tweet from the account, thanks.

@Justhadathought

No Blacks, No Irish’ or drinking fountains labelled ‘Whites Only

Women's single sex spaces are being compared to acts of bigotry and prejudice,

Exactly. When toilets segregated with signs saying men and women evoke analogies with The Holocaust, your argument is morally and logically redundant.

If you re-read many of the speeches and comments from the those who seek to tell us that speaking about transgender people this way is a valid opinion, and in your mind replace the word transgender with 'Jews' or 'Refugees' or 'Gay Men', you'll see how unpleasantly familiar it becomes

OK. Let's do this.

"Gentiles aren't Jews, tho."
"Refugee groups shouldn't be given privileged access to the ONS over and above other stakeholders"
"Gay men should compete in the sports category according to their sex."

It is depressing working in the industry and seeing how much support this stuff gets all the time. It seems captured

it is depressing.

the article doesn't seem to have gained much traction among writers though...

Yes this time it's not got much support from anyone really. Not many big names within the industry.

They haven't given examples of trans people being discriminated against or treated badly.

Activism has recently adopted a form in which the problem is presented in such a way that it cannot be clearly understood meaning that no one can readily provide a solution. That's because the goal isn't to get to a solution but is instead to create a context/weapon to be used to threaten and beat opponents with, with them being powerless: they can't offer anything to stop the attack and they can't put forward a denial because that would be proof of their guilt.

@SmallPug

There's no evidence. The only thing they have is that some people don't agree and there are some books being published by gender critical authors - hurrah. It is depressing working in the industry and seeing how much support this stuff gets all the time. It seems captured. However, this time, it doesn't seem to have had much, so perhaps they're tiring of it? I'm told there are other gender critical people in the industry but apart from a few I know, I don't know who the rest are. I constantly hope that we'll hear the end of it in publishing but so many are so captured and believe the lies. Some of the absolute guff that's trotted out would be hilarious if it wasn't so dangerous.

Me! Although technically not currently working. I know one other as well. I'm pretty sure most of my former colleagues are either oblivious or TWAW though.

'Bad things are happening'

'Have you got any examples?'

'No. You bigot'

@SmallPug

Yes this time it's not got much support from anyone really. Not many big names within the industry.

Yes, the only names I recognise amongst the retweeters are the two 'usual suspects' who were involved in previous online houndings, but it is disturbing to see from the Twitter bios of those who have retweeted it, how many of them work in children's books.

Children's books is steeped in it. Which is very concerning!

Newrubylane Good to know of another one. I know there are plenty of authors who are gender critical, but harder with actual publishing people.

nauticant absolutely spot on. Keeping it vague to keep everyone on their toes.

I'm told there are other gender critical people in the industry but apart from a few I know, I don't know who the rest are

Me too! I have spotted a few others who follow some of the same accounts as I do, but obviously saying anything openly is impossible. This is why the gaslighting DARVO in that travesty of a letter is so fucking infuriating. (I've also just name changed again so dots can't be joined)

Yes I'm also in children's books. I follow and like GC accounts on Twitter, but I also follow and like some she/hers and allies and some trans people - not as a cover, genuinely people I know, find funny or am interested in. I could be at risk of losing my livelihood, but I'm heartened by the Hachette stand and I get the feeling some of my contacts realise I'm GC and let it go.

I do think we're getting nearer to a tipping point where we can all join the dots. In a way, in more heavily captured industries/fields, people get more pissed off with being bullied IYSWIM, and I'm confident worms will turn.

"A very diverse group of people, a growing group, is getting very pissed off with this carry on" is what came to my mind when I was looking at the comments below a Times article* earlier today. Today's one of those days when I think that surely this house built without foundations will topple.

• www.thetimes.co.uk/article/607c8f5e-acaa-11eb-bda6-057976012425?shareToken=5f5bb7422ea99878560aef8df85625fe

@SmallPug

There's no evidence. The only thing they have is that some people don't agree and there are some books being published by gender critical authors - hurrah. It is depressing working in the industry and seeing how much support this stuff gets all the time. It seems captured. However, this time, it doesn't seem to have had much, so perhaps they're tiring of it? I'm told there are other gender critical people in the industry but apart from a few I know, I don't know who the rest are. I constantly hope that we'll hear the end of it in publishing but so many are so captured and believe the lies. Some of the absolute guff that's trotted out would be hilarious if it wasn't so dangerous.

Did you not see the letter supporting JK Rowling, signed by many in the industry? Or the ones from Wild Woman Writing Club?

There are many who are - well, if not gender critical, then at least sick of much of the gender ideology.

There are also a lot of TRA supporters, it's true.