Stop Amazon's Discriminating Censorship
On April 10, 2009, Amazon.com began taking sales ranking away from GLBT books. When questioned by Mark R. Probst about this, they replied
"In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature. " (from Mark R. Probst's blog, which is copied below).
Amazon has kept Playboy up on its sales ranking, but removed such books as "Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws" and the Advocate's College Guide for Gay and Lesbian Students.
This discriminating censorship cannot be tolerated. Please sign this petition and forward it on to your family and friends.
If you are feeling extra rambunctious, you may also email your letter to connect-help@amazon.com.
For more information, visit these blogs:
http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html
http://community.livejournal.com/meta_writer/11369.html
And for a list of censored books, visit:
http://community.livejournal.com/meta_writer/11992.html
Dear Amazon Customer Service,
I am writing to express my concern over the removal of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) books from your sales ranking system. In an email response to the concern (http://markprobst.livejournal.com/15293.html), your member service representative wrote that you were removing all "adult" material from certain searches. Yet, you let "Playboy: The Complete Centerfolds" keep its ranking, but not "Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws" and The Advocate's Guide to College because they mention gays, lesbians and transgendered issues.
This discriminating censorship is wrong and will not be tolerated. Until you reinstate the rankings and publicly apologize for your hypocritical heterosexism, I will not be shopping at your store.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
