Dear Romance Writers of America,
Here I am with my wallet in hand. I’m standing outside your door. I’m ready to write a check. I want to join you. I’ve wanted to join you since I was a teenager and wrote my first romance novel. I pledge to you my yearly fees, right here, right now. All you have to do is accept me, a trans writer. Accept my lesbian, gay and bisexual sisters and brothers. I pledge my money, you pledge a few words saying the organization doesn’t tolerate discrimination – even through local chapters!
Let me in, RWA. That’s my group, way over there. My people at the RRW. I want to join them. But I won’t give you my money while you look down your nose at me. I won’t give you my money while you condone the “no gays” sign at the table in your house. They stopped the contest, RWA, but that sign is still there. Tell them that sign has no place at RWA, locally or nationally. Don’t do it because you want my money. Do it because you know it’s the right thing to do. Do it so the next chapter doesn’t discriminate. Do it because you want me at the table.
Sincerely,
Dani Alexander
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6 comments
Priscilla
You are so right! Descrimination should never be tolerated! I’ve just finished reading your book “Shattered Glass” and found it to be an excellent story! I loved EVERY moment of it! It was a great romantic love story and it was edgy and snarky. I really enjoyed it! If RWA can’t get their act together, maybe ALL the authors need to boycott the organization period. Maybe that way they will take a serious look at this issue and serious action.
Dani Alexander
I hope just the threat of boycott is enough. RWA are not a terrible organization. And I would love to join RRW, but I can only speak with words and money right now and my money stays in my pocket until they make a public statement that discrimination won’t be tolerated in their organization.
Librarian
Well put! I hope you get a respectful response, and not an auto-email, or silence. I would love to see more diversity in romance fiction; everyone deserves to have books to read that allow them to see people they identify with in stories that let their imaginations soar – romance, and sci-fi, and suspense, and mystery, and everything!
Dani
I won’t hold my breath for a response, but I will cross my fingers. I dunno how much hope I have left. Every corner we turn it seems there’s a roadblock. The fight for equality just gets steeper (I won’t say harder, it makes me titter) with every step we climb. Frustrating. And yes, we all deserve to write and be accepted as writers, not as “other”.
Mountie
Dani that is a wonderful heartfelt letter. Thanks for sharing.
Dani
Thanks for reading it, Mountie. It was written with a lot of tears, so part of my heart was in there.