As an erotica author, I have written some M/M myself, and yes, I’ve personally encountered some questionable comments from reviewers over my M/M passages, including the back-handed compliment and the snarky dig. The most personally disturbing comments have been the OH MY GOD HOW COULD SHE WRITE THIS! type from some reviewer or other who works for sites that promote themselves as supposedly welcoming to all genres of erotica. Welcoming as allegedly in “we’re tolerant, we’re open-minded, so feel safe to submit to us, baby”. Since I’ve personally encountered these unexpected and unpleasant reactions, then yes, I have no doubt that there’s more than a little validity in the outcries about practiced discrimination toward the genre.

As a reader and observer, however, I do have my own thoughts on a few things that writers and particularly their publishers of this genre could do to help combat the misconceptions played upon by the eagerly biased. (We all know it narrows down to the Eagerly Biased who want the public perception to remain too closed-minded to accept the genre, let alone buy it and read it.) So, in my opinion, as long as stereotypes are promoted, then M/M writers and publishers are only giving a perceived credence to their naysayers. I am probably treading on thin ice here, as surely some publisher or other I’m acquainted with will read this post. But tempting wrath here for the sake of trying to help, here are some suggestions. (Take these as you will; my thoughts aren’t the last word on anything):

1. Publishers –refrain from bad cover art.

Again, I’m just trying to help, and honestly –there are a lot of potential readers out there who will be a lot less likely to buy the book/story if it has some cover that looks like Francisco de Goya-weds-Ed, Edd and Eddy. All too often we come across these types of covers used for M/M titles. I can’t fathom why these unappealing things are used, but I do feel publishers who use them are only making matters worse.

2. On Author Bios

Hey, don’t leave me –one of your potential readers- in the dark wondering who you are, or why you feel you have the background to write the genre well. If you have experience in M/M relationships, heck, even M/M/F relationships, I am going to know that this experience can only be an asset to your storyline.

3. Get some men in here writing the genre (if they’re not already!)

This goes back to suggestion TWO. There’s nothing wrong with a guy owning up to the fact he writes the genre, and I really feel it will help break the chain of misconceptions if the world doesn’t think only females have an interest in writing about two guys in love.. or even having sex for that matter!

4. Not all M/M is Yaoi

Publishers, please learn what Yaoi is before marketing any title as such.

5. Authors and editors: Provide a good plot, too

The sex isn’t all there is to any romance or erotica book. I have read several M/M titles this last year where the story is just glossed over for the sake of the sex. While people certainly should be at liberty to buy pornography, as a reader I just don’t like being led to believe a book or story is one thing when its not.

6. For everyone thinking of complaining-

be specific in complaints/charges/allegations of discriminatory behavior from any source. There’s nothing less likely to make an impact on the public mindset than a big-ass whine. And some of the most convoluted, ill-written and annoying complaints I’ve encountered on this subject have come not from the M/M writers themselves but from their well-intentioned friends. To go off on a vehement offense in the name of justice does not serve justice. Be specific, be well-spoken, and more than anything, demonstrate the ethics and principles that the Eagerly Biased have failed to show.

7. Publishers: Bias is bias is bias

Lastly, if the world is going to finally accept M/M lit. then publishers are going to have to be just as welcoming to F/F stories. For the life of me I can’t understand why some publishers –while admitting the majority of their readers are women- will promote the absolute hell out of M/M titles but refuse F/F submissions. Who knows? Some of the hostility encountered over the years just may have originated from organizations or persons who like F/F and simply found the preoccupation with M/M a slap in the face. In the end, bias is bias is bias. To fight discrimination on one hand while clutching it in the other is no better than any other program of intolerance.

I hope these suggestions will be taken in the light they are intended. I look forward to the day when M/M discrimination –and all other discriminations found in the industry- are NO MORE. So Good Luck to everyone and be nice to one another. And to those who practice discrimination, remember the old adage: When you deal in prejudice then prejudice will, inevitably, some day come to deal with you.

©June 2007 by Desiree Erotique