The Lavender Ghetto
EPIC--the Electronically Published Internet Connection--has posted its rules, categories and FAQs for the 2008 Eppies. Looking the categories over, I have to say that they're a bit on the schizo side--not to mention homophobic.
To start out, here's the definition of "contemporary romance":
Contemporary Romance: A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman from its inception to its happy, satisfying conclusion.
Let's read that again, shall we?
A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman.
So contemporary romance has to be het--specifically, non-love triangle het. Gays, bis, lesbians and trannies need not apply.
Fine. Let's check out the GLBT category, then.
GLBT: This category will be for fiction books with a strong GLBT involvement. This includes Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender-central books where the focus of the book is on the characters falling into these groupings and their goals or trials as per the associated genre. Whether your book is genre fiction, romance, or erotic romance, it is welcome to compete in this category if it has a GLBT-central style.
This makes little sense, as there's a great deal of difference between genre fiction, romance, and erotica. Instead of allowing genre fiction to compete against genre fiction, and gay romance to compete against het romance, it effectively dumps all GLBT books into one tiny little lavender ghetto.
The category goes on: GLBT-central books of an erotica nature may be entered in erotica category, and those of an erotic romance nature may be entered in the appropriate erotic romance category. Please, pick the best fit for your book.
Fine. Let's check the erotica categories. These are erotica, erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery, erotic romance historical fiction, erotic romance fantasy paranormal, and erotic romance science fiction/futuristic. And this is what we are told under erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery and erotica:
Erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery: Please note that GLBT-CENTRAL erotic romance may be entered in the GLBT category. Choosing GLBT or erotic romance category in such a mix is to the discretion of the author. Please choose where you believe it will compete best.
Erotica: GLBT-central books of an erotica nature should be entered in the erotica category. [Emphasis mine.]
So although you can put a GLBT story with sex in it in an erotic romance category, EPIC really doesn't want you to. They want you to put in the category of erotica--nothing else. And if you put a book in a category that the judges don't think it fits, they penalize you for it:
Please note that erotic romance entered in the non-erotic categories (erotica or erotic romance categories) are subject to a 3 point reduction for incorrect category placement. Please read the erotic category requirements carefully.
And, by the judges' definition, GLBT stories with sex in them are erotica. They cannot be considered historical romance, science fiction, contemporary romance or young adult fiction. Any novel involving a gay or bi hero or a bi or lesbian heroine who fell in love and had sex with someone of his or her orientation would automatically be classed solely as GLBT and erotica...which EPIC describes as "sex for sex's sake. sex for sex's sake, not necessarily with thought to repercussions or demands. The principals do not have to be in a relationship, in fact may not even know each other. There is no requirement for a romantic involvement."
Don't you just love the implication that a gay love affair HAS to be solely about the sex? That there can't be romance involved? That the only real contemporary romances are between men and women?
The thing is, I don't know why the categories are divided this way at all. If a novel is a contemporary romance, then it should be placed in the category of contemporary romance whether the protagonist is gay, straight or bi. The same goes for paranormals, mysteries, science fiction and historicals. The works should be classed and judged by genres, not by the protagonist's sexual orientation. It's not only bigoted, it's downright SILLY.
What's truly ridiculous is that I can't think of another genre that does this. Mysteries award Edgars and Agathas with blithe disregard as whether the hero or heroine is gay or straight. Science fiction awards Hugos and Nebulas with equal indifference--in fact, a fair number of science fiction classics involve alternate sexualities.
It is strange and sad that of all the genres, romance is the most resistant to the simple concept that love comes in all sorts of packages.
I suppose that it is too late for EPIC to alter its rules this year. But I hope that a few people, at least, will boycott the EPPIES. There is really quite enough bigotry in this world without awards that tacitly support it.
***
My black egg hatched!
To start out, here's the definition of "contemporary romance":
Contemporary Romance: A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman from its inception to its happy, satisfying conclusion.
Let's read that again, shall we?
A story that takes one central, monogamous, romantic relationship between a man and woman.
So contemporary romance has to be het--specifically, non-love triangle het. Gays, bis, lesbians and trannies need not apply.
Fine. Let's check out the GLBT category, then.
GLBT: This category will be for fiction books with a strong GLBT involvement. This includes Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender-central books where the focus of the book is on the characters falling into these groupings and their goals or trials as per the associated genre. Whether your book is genre fiction, romance, or erotic romance, it is welcome to compete in this category if it has a GLBT-central style.
This makes little sense, as there's a great deal of difference between genre fiction, romance, and erotica. Instead of allowing genre fiction to compete against genre fiction, and gay romance to compete against het romance, it effectively dumps all GLBT books into one tiny little lavender ghetto.
The category goes on: GLBT-central books of an erotica nature may be entered in erotica category, and those of an erotic romance nature may be entered in the appropriate erotic romance category. Please, pick the best fit for your book.
Fine. Let's check the erotica categories. These are erotica, erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery, erotic romance historical fiction, erotic romance fantasy paranormal, and erotic romance science fiction/futuristic. And this is what we are told under erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery and erotica:
Erotic contemporary romance/suspense/mystery: Please note that GLBT-CENTRAL erotic romance may be entered in the GLBT category. Choosing GLBT or erotic romance category in such a mix is to the discretion of the author. Please choose where you believe it will compete best.
Erotica: GLBT-central books of an erotica nature should be entered in the erotica category. [Emphasis mine.]
So although you can put a GLBT story with sex in it in an erotic romance category, EPIC really doesn't want you to. They want you to put in the category of erotica--nothing else. And if you put a book in a category that the judges don't think it fits, they penalize you for it:
Please note that erotic romance entered in the non-erotic categories (erotica or erotic romance categories) are subject to a 3 point reduction for incorrect category placement. Please read the erotic category requirements carefully.
And, by the judges' definition, GLBT stories with sex in them are erotica. They cannot be considered historical romance, science fiction, contemporary romance or young adult fiction. Any novel involving a gay or bi hero or a bi or lesbian heroine who fell in love and had sex with someone of his or her orientation would automatically be classed solely as GLBT and erotica...which EPIC describes as "sex for sex's sake. sex for sex's sake, not necessarily with thought to repercussions or demands. The principals do not have to be in a relationship, in fact may not even know each other. There is no requirement for a romantic involvement."
Don't you just love the implication that a gay love affair HAS to be solely about the sex? That there can't be romance involved? That the only real contemporary romances are between men and women?
The thing is, I don't know why the categories are divided this way at all. If a novel is a contemporary romance, then it should be placed in the category of contemporary romance whether the protagonist is gay, straight or bi. The same goes for paranormals, mysteries, science fiction and historicals. The works should be classed and judged by genres, not by the protagonist's sexual orientation. It's not only bigoted, it's downright SILLY.
What's truly ridiculous is that I can't think of another genre that does this. Mysteries award Edgars and Agathas with blithe disregard as whether the hero or heroine is gay or straight. Science fiction awards Hugos and Nebulas with equal indifference--in fact, a fair number of science fiction classics involve alternate sexualities.
It is strange and sad that of all the genres, romance is the most resistant to the simple concept that love comes in all sorts of packages.
I suppose that it is too late for EPIC to alter its rules this year. But I hope that a few people, at least, will boycott the EPPIES. There is really quite enough bigotry in this world without awards that tacitly support it.
***
My black egg hatched!