There’s been a bunch of political / social crap going through life over this past week. From the Komen disaster to the latest debacle of a Romance Writers of America Chapter, The Romance Writers Ink (RWI), refusing to include same-sex romances in their annual contest, it’s been a shit-shoveling on the brain kind of week.

I keep telling people; I’m not an activist. A lot of my friends disagree with this statement but hear me out. I don’t have the energy to be an activist. And I sure as hell don’t have the emotional energy to be a hardcore activist.

What I do believe I can do without sacrificing what little sanity I do have? Communicate the issues to others. And voice an opinion. Both in words and with money. I boycott the Boy Scouts’ fundraisers because of their policies on homosexuality and endorse the Girl Scouts for their support of a transgender scout. I will no longer support the Komen foundation’s fundraising…and that saddens me because thousands of women have dedicated so much of their energy towards promoting a worthwhile cause…but see, I believe they were betrayed by the very organization they put their faith into.

I do not endorse PETA. I feel their tactics are terroristic in nature and their practices are hypocritical. I also like eating meat. I wear leather but do not own a fur coat. I would want the animals that provide me sustenance and clothing to be treated ethically. My mother’s family comes from a rural community. I’ve participated in the dismembering of pigs for sausage and plucking chickens for dinner. I have fished my food out of the sea and have cleaned that catch. I don’t make apologies for my food choices but I do demand that the food sources are treated with some decency.

Sadly, I know that my conservation efforts where animals are concerned are driven by the fuzzy cuteness of things. I am horrified that people continue to eat dog or even capybara, a species I for some reason have a special love for. I wouldn’t eat a guinea pig although I know it is eaten widely in parts of South America and rabbit is a standard food source for many… I also have a bunny fetish.

So, I have to balance my beliefs with the knowledge that I can’t … shouldn’t… shape the world using my viewpoints. It’s wrong to do so. In doing so, I negate any compassion and understanding of other cultures and beliefs. That’s just plain wrong.

So what to think about the Romance Writers Ink contest and their banning of same-sex romances?

I think it’s fucked up.

I’ve thought about it. I’ve thought about the reason given for excluding same-sex romances; they feel uncomfortable reading the content.

Fucked. Up.

I want to say…deal with it. Fix this! We have so many damned walls between us as it is, why create more? Why keep adding bricks to these walls?

But it all comes down to one thing… the Romance Writers Ink contest depends on people entering and paying an entrance fee. Want to make a difference? Ask your fellow authors to boycott the contest. Spread the word and ask people to deny funding for the contest and the chapter. Explain why you’re boycotting but do so reasonably. Send RWI a letter stating your disappointment in them and that you will be acting accordingly. Contact their “mother” organization the Romance Writers of America and do the same, express your disappointment in their child chapter.

I hope our voices are heard. We don’t want special treatment.

Just equal treatment.

Contacting Romance Writers Ink:
Vice President Kathlyn Smith: kathlynwrites@gmail.com.
Membership Officer Susan Shay: sshay@cimtel.net
Contest Contact: jackie.rwimagic@netscape.com

Contacting Romance Writers America:
Romance Writers of America
14615 Benfer Road
Houston, TX 77069

Phone: 832-717-5200
Fax: 832-717-5201

E-mail: info@rwa.org