Amazon Update: Online retailer calls LGBT book “glitch” an “embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error” while Christopher Rice speaks out

It seems to me that Amazon.com has not at all succeeded in the damage control department today after it was learned that many books – including a large number of classic LGBT titles such as Brokeback Mountain, Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story, Rubyfruit Jungle and The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk had been deemed “adult” and taken off of the sales charts.

There has been no appearances from top company brass, just this comment from the customer service department: “This is an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error for a company that prides itself on offering complete selection. It has been misreported that the issue was limited to Gay & Lesbian themed titles – in fact, it impacted 57,310 books in a number of broad categories such as Health, Mind & Body, Reproductive & Sexual Medicine, and Erotica. This problem impacted books not just in the United States but globally. It affected not just sales rank but also had the effect of removing the books from Amazon’s main product search.

Many books have now been fixed and we’re in the process of fixing the remainder as quickly as possible, and we intend to implement new measures to make this kind of accident less likely to occur in the future.

Also Monday, Lambda Literary Foundation President Christopher Rice said his organization “applauds the diligent work of writers, bloggers and activists in calling attention to this deeply distressing turn of events.”

“I have seen my first novel stripped of its sale ranking by this apparent computer glitch so I join other writers who are baffled to the point of anger,” Rice said in a statement. “I take great solace in the quick mobilization of our community in response to this apparent marginalization of LGBT books; the grassroots power of the Internet has been placed on glorious display for all to see.”

“Over the next few days, we at Lambda Literary will be monitoring the situation very closely. Amazon is one of our nation’s largest general book retailers. In their commitment to creating and sustaining technological advances in the publishing industry, they have laid claim to the future of book distribution. As such, they have a pressing responsibility to create an unfettered exchange of stories and ideas. If a quick and decisive response to this problem is not forthcoming within the next few days, we at Lambda Literary look forward to leading a sustained and impassioned dialogue on this issue, which will seek to harness the energies that have been released by our community’s admirable response.”

Here is a LINK to Christopher Rice’s NPR interview today.

Earlier posts:

*** Amazon.com blames a “glitch” for gay-themed titles being tagged “adult” and removed from sales lists

*** Amazon.com purge? Many LGBT titles, including Brokeback Mountain removed from sales ranks