Kudos to the author for tackling this topic in his novel and being one of the first to shout that the emperor has no clothes. I just upvoted all the positive reviews on Amazon. Best of luck to you in your lawsuit!
Everytime I read something on FAIR I am encouraged that there are smart people who just want truth and fairness. Best of luck with the book and the lawsuit
Thanks! I'm doing everything I can to get the story out there. If there's any journalists you know who are looking for a story to break, please let me know. I'm doing what I can to get the funds together for the lawsuit.
This whole situation hasn't been easy but I'm keeping my head up!
Try Bari Weiss @ The Free Press. It's on Substack I subscribe. They tackle lots of stuff nobody else will, and have become very popular on X and FB. They all used to work for legacy papers. Good luck to you, I'm sure your granddaddy would be proud.
I'll try to get in contact with them. Thank you so much! I think the country needs to hear this story. If anything else, I hope it will get people to stop accosting my family over my book.
There is a Gender: A Wider Lens podcast interview of Sascha Bailey in which he talks about the phenomenon the novel is about, transmaxing (transing for functional reasons). It’s episode 157, if anyone is interested.
Wow. So, no one can ever write about anything unless they have experienced it? SOoooooooOOOOO stupid. ALL historical fiction would be eliminated by this idiocy. Most romance novels, all science fiction, most mysteries. The ONLY form of literature would be the memoir. How tiresome.
One of my favorite characters growing up was Black Panther, who was written by Stan Lee, who is not African. We should extend that same attitude toward people of different genders. I'm not pro-segregationist like that.
No...that only applies to certain groups. I have yet to see a female being lit up for writing from a male POV, for example.
One point of writing is the ability to explore new experiences and perspectives, especially when we're talking about fiction. It has to do with broadening one's mind and perspectives, which of course this latest brand of National Socialism is deeply opposed to (unless, of course, you're on the magical 'approved' list which means you can write whatever you want without reproach).
Busboys and Poets needs to be sued; it would be good for them. They might learn that the cost of stupidity is not always free. It's acceptable to be opinionated. It's acceptable to be ignorant. What's not acceptable is to be opinionated on a subject about which one is ignorant. When one is, it might cost them. In this case, their succumbing to confirmation bias has kept them ignorant.
Bravo! Finally, someone has the courage to do what we should all do when we are being discriminated. Maybe lawsuits are the only way of stopping this authoritarianism. And one other thing: these people are not even in sync with their own ideology: aren t trans activists claiming that gender is simply a feeling and you can transition simply by declaring it? In thato case, how can they tell if you are trans or not? Your face has nothing to do with what you feel. Isn t the whole concept of trans about something inside you that you alone can experience? Really, how can anyone else tell if you are trans just by your face?
Thanks Jordan, I was a mixed-race teenager in Columbia MD. I wish I could say I was surprised. While Columbia may be a model city in many respects, the chosen slogan of the Howard County and its partners is Choose Civility. That appears to only be applied when civility means you agree with what I agree with.
Could you work with the Howard County or PG County libraries for a reading? I am now living in Laurel, what about at The Last Word in Savage Mill? Also, what help do you need?
Currently, I've been struggling to get press for this situation. It has heavy implications for the area I grew up in, and hopefully getting this story out there will stop the harassment. I filed a charge with the MCCR, FAIR and I are getting together funds to hire an attorney to outright sue. If you can help in either of those ways, this could make the process much easier. People have to know where the morals of a company that prides itself on inclusivity and equality, actually lay.
Now I am definitely interested in reading this book and will encourage my friends to buy it too! Kudos to the author for persevering in this unfair, illegal situation. Kudos to FAIR for supporting and sharing his story. Mad Honey, a popular story with a transgender protagonist, was written by Jodi Picoult - who is not trans-identified. Is every book going to be vetted this way by bookstores? Of course not - because that is not really why this author was canceled by this bookstore.
Woman? Black? Jew? Asian? We're all privileged now when compared to trans/queer. It's ironic because Columbia, MD, where this Busboys and Poets is, was established in the 1960s as a community that welcomed African American homeowners when much of the country wouldn't allow Black families to buy homes. But now the most vulnerable, marginalized among us are upper middle-class white males who call themselves girls.
As an avid reader of fiction, I am greatly saddened by the new dictate that you can only write stories based on your own identity. How boring!! And please stop using the term cisgender, I am in the camp that views it as a slur. Not being transgender doesn’t need a word.
Their reaction is exactly what is wrong in this country right now and is taking it down a slippery slope that may have no return without brave people like you standing up to them.. I support you and any other author denied publication because of the reason yours was denied. I hope you sue them for enough to put them out of business.
The funny thing is, I don't even want Busboys and Poets to be put out of business. I don't want to take the food out of anyone's mouth. I contacted them about hosting an author event because the location quickly became a staple of my community that even the local government explicitly welcomed, and it seemed like a place to have an honest discussion about literature.
I didn't expect them to break the law after they confirmed my date. It was humiliating going to my church, family and friends, and members of my community and having to tell them that they canceled my event because of my gender. When I speak online about the experience, BB&P's reputation makes people assume that I wrote a bigoted manifesto the likes have been compared to Mein Kampf. It's a flat-out misuse of their influence.
Yes, I have anger. Yes I have been humiliated. Yes, what they did was wrong. But I can't let that make my entire existence be a vendetta against them. All I want from them is a public apology and a reinstatement of my event, so hopefully this will be a step in the right direction to repairing my reputation.
Excellent essay. I like to search and find good bookstores to find good books. Have not found your book locally and not on BandN site but found on Amazon. Our fall east coast trip will not include Columbia, Maryland, called Busboys and Poets. Ethics is important and I can see I would get much from your book. Amazon has it and on Kindle. I enjoy reading and often will read the book and then listen to it again on Audible. Amazing how much more I get on the second 'read''. Your book is on my birthday and Father's Day list as friends and family know what I like as gifts. Thank you
I am usually litigation – adverse, but suing this bookstore is the best thing to do. Unfortunately, until you bring in the big guns of litigation to the table , small minded people can remain as small minded people.
Since the Planned Parenthood website says anyone can transition at any time perhaps you should write to Busboys and Poets and tell them you recently realized that you actually are non binary and that want your contract back Maybe that would make them realize how absurd their views are
Kudos to the author for tackling this topic in his novel and being one of the first to shout that the emperor has no clothes. I just upvoted all the positive reviews on Amazon. Best of luck to you in your lawsuit!
Everytime I read something on FAIR I am encouraged that there are smart people who just want truth and fairness. Best of luck with the book and the lawsuit
Thanks! I'm doing everything I can to get the story out there. If there's any journalists you know who are looking for a story to break, please let me know. I'm doing what I can to get the funds together for the lawsuit.
This whole situation hasn't been easy but I'm keeping my head up!
I posted your piece on X and tagged her.
Try Bari Weiss @ The Free Press. It's on Substack I subscribe. They tackle lots of stuff nobody else will, and have become very popular on X and FB. They all used to work for legacy papers. Good luck to you, I'm sure your granddaddy would be proud.
I'll try to get in contact with them. Thank you so much! I think the country needs to hear this story. If anything else, I hope it will get people to stop accosting my family over my book.
No problem. Yea, bothering your family is just rude. People need to learn their Ps & Qs again.
There is a Gender: A Wider Lens podcast interview of Sascha Bailey in which he talks about the phenomenon the novel is about, transmaxing (transing for functional reasons). It’s episode 157, if anyone is interested.
Wow. So, no one can ever write about anything unless they have experienced it? SOoooooooOOOOO stupid. ALL historical fiction would be eliminated by this idiocy. Most romance novels, all science fiction, most mysteries. The ONLY form of literature would be the memoir. How tiresome.
One of my favorite characters growing up was Black Panther, who was written by Stan Lee, who is not African. We should extend that same attitude toward people of different genders. I'm not pro-segregationist like that.
No...that only applies to certain groups. I have yet to see a female being lit up for writing from a male POV, for example.
One point of writing is the ability to explore new experiences and perspectives, especially when we're talking about fiction. It has to do with broadening one's mind and perspectives, which of course this latest brand of National Socialism is deeply opposed to (unless, of course, you're on the magical 'approved' list which means you can write whatever you want without reproach).
Busboys and Poets needs to be sued; it would be good for them. They might learn that the cost of stupidity is not always free. It's acceptable to be opinionated. It's acceptable to be ignorant. What's not acceptable is to be opinionated on a subject about which one is ignorant. When one is, it might cost them. In this case, their succumbing to confirmation bias has kept them ignorant.
Bravo! Finally, someone has the courage to do what we should all do when we are being discriminated. Maybe lawsuits are the only way of stopping this authoritarianism. And one other thing: these people are not even in sync with their own ideology: aren t trans activists claiming that gender is simply a feeling and you can transition simply by declaring it? In thato case, how can they tell if you are trans or not? Your face has nothing to do with what you feel. Isn t the whole concept of trans about something inside you that you alone can experience? Really, how can anyone else tell if you are trans just by your face?
Thanks Jordan, I was a mixed-race teenager in Columbia MD. I wish I could say I was surprised. While Columbia may be a model city in many respects, the chosen slogan of the Howard County and its partners is Choose Civility. That appears to only be applied when civility means you agree with what I agree with.
Could you work with the Howard County or PG County libraries for a reading? I am now living in Laurel, what about at The Last Word in Savage Mill? Also, what help do you need?
Currently, I've been struggling to get press for this situation. It has heavy implications for the area I grew up in, and hopefully getting this story out there will stop the harassment. I filed a charge with the MCCR, FAIR and I are getting together funds to hire an attorney to outright sue. If you can help in either of those ways, this could make the process much easier. People have to know where the morals of a company that prides itself on inclusivity and equality, actually lay.
“Inclusivity” and “equality” are generally just hollow slogans and don’t have any consistent meaning.
And sometimes, exclusivity and inequality are the way to go.
Now I am definitely interested in reading this book and will encourage my friends to buy it too! Kudos to the author for persevering in this unfair, illegal situation. Kudos to FAIR for supporting and sharing his story. Mad Honey, a popular story with a transgender protagonist, was written by Jodi Picoult - who is not trans-identified. Is every book going to be vetted this way by bookstores? Of course not - because that is not really why this author was canceled by this bookstore.
Woman? Black? Jew? Asian? We're all privileged now when compared to trans/queer. It's ironic because Columbia, MD, where this Busboys and Poets is, was established in the 1960s as a community that welcomed African American homeowners when much of the country wouldn't allow Black families to buy homes. But now the most vulnerable, marginalized among us are upper middle-class white males who call themselves girls.
As an avid reader of fiction, I am greatly saddened by the new dictate that you can only write stories based on your own identity. How boring!! And please stop using the term cisgender, I am in the camp that views it as a slur. Not being transgender doesn’t need a word.
Their reaction is exactly what is wrong in this country right now and is taking it down a slippery slope that may have no return without brave people like you standing up to them.. I support you and any other author denied publication because of the reason yours was denied. I hope you sue them for enough to put them out of business.
The funny thing is, I don't even want Busboys and Poets to be put out of business. I don't want to take the food out of anyone's mouth. I contacted them about hosting an author event because the location quickly became a staple of my community that even the local government explicitly welcomed, and it seemed like a place to have an honest discussion about literature.
I didn't expect them to break the law after they confirmed my date. It was humiliating going to my church, family and friends, and members of my community and having to tell them that they canceled my event because of my gender. When I speak online about the experience, BB&P's reputation makes people assume that I wrote a bigoted manifesto the likes have been compared to Mein Kampf. It's a flat-out misuse of their influence.
Yes, I have anger. Yes I have been humiliated. Yes, what they did was wrong. But I can't let that make my entire existence be a vendetta against them. All I want from them is a public apology and a reinstatement of my event, so hopefully this will be a step in the right direction to repairing my reputation.
I sincerely appreciate your support!
Good for the author. We need LOTS more of this. Thanks for sharing, FAIR.
Excellent essay. I like to search and find good bookstores to find good books. Have not found your book locally and not on BandN site but found on Amazon. Our fall east coast trip will not include Columbia, Maryland, called Busboys and Poets. Ethics is important and I can see I would get much from your book. Amazon has it and on Kindle. I enjoy reading and often will read the book and then listen to it again on Audible. Amazing how much more I get on the second 'read''. Your book is on my birthday and Father's Day list as friends and family know what I like as gifts. Thank you
I am usually litigation – adverse, but suing this bookstore is the best thing to do. Unfortunately, until you bring in the big guns of litigation to the table , small minded people can remain as small minded people.
How dare they misgender you based on your photo 🤬 Definitely sue them for blatant transphobia 😉
Bravo—good for you. These disgraceful sanctimonious frauds need to suffer some consequences.
Since the Planned Parenthood website says anyone can transition at any time perhaps you should write to Busboys and Poets and tell them you recently realized that you actually are non binary and that want your contract back Maybe that would make them realize how absurd their views are