Fairness in the Lammys

[mroctober]

My op-ed piece on the Lammy fiasco ran yesterday. After asking the Advocate to spell my name correctly and noting that they had made one or two baffling edits, I'm still content with the message of the piece

Comments

[rmthunter]

I read the piece in The Advocate, and I thought you made a good case. As for Labonte, anywhere else that would be a clear conflict of interest and he would have to disqualify himself from one prong or the other of his involvement. It's a sad statement on the Lambda Awards that the idea apparently was never broached.

[mroctober]

Thanks. If you don't mind, please go on to the Advocate site and say so. Silence = LLF Board thinking they can get away with this again.

[rmthunter]

For some reason, I can't comment at The Advocate. Can't even figure out how to register -- they're not really very transparent about it.

[mroctober]

You have to "Like" the Advocate, I think, on Facebook to reply. But you can see how I am being raked over the coals on such sites as: http://bandofthebes.typepad.com/bandofthebes/2012/10/lethe-publisher-says-lammys-are-shambles.html

Because I have to be lying about everything since no one else shares my viewpoint.

[pointoforigin]

You're a brave man, Steve. Your piece as I read it seemed temperate and fair. Really, how can anyone argue that it's okay for a judge to have books of his own in the competition? That doesn't even make sense. Also, not having heard Albee's speech, I still feel that I understand the point you're making. We get that in science fiction all the time--a writer who wants to be seen as mainstream and disdains our little ghetto nevertheless gets lionized because he's a Big Name. And then, if one criticizes that strategy in favor of honoring authors who have been more supportive of the community, some folks will say that's petty and jealous. But I agree it's bad strategy to honor people who look down on us. Trollish commenters are willfully missing your point. Not that that's ever stopped them. Anyway, mad props to you for speaking up, and I hope this won't all be too hard on your stomach lining.

[esprix]

So what's your reaction to their response?

[mroctober]

Frustration because they only responded to one of the issues I raised (Labonte as overseer and as finalist) and none of the others. Plus, their rebuttal segued into "how wonderful the Foundation is and all the good deeds we do" rather than address the awards.

[esprix]

Yeah, it read like a promotional release rather than anything of substance.