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LGBTIQA

New Google LGBTIQA+ Glossary Literally Erases Bisexuality/Pansexuality

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LGBTQIA+ Glossary Google

In a new LGBT+ glossary, aiming to educate the public and media on LGBT+ language and community, Google has literally erased bisexuality. Last week, the Google News Initiative announced the project in partnership with VideoOut, titled the “LGBTQ+ language and media literacy program”. The tool, essentially a glossary of 100 words that uses Google Trends to track the popularity of LGBT+ terms, was created with queer PhD linguists. But, despite being in the acronym used throughout the project, the word “bisexual” was left out of the glossary, as were “pansexual” and “Two Spirit“. Full Story from Pink News

FOR READERS: When is It Queer?

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queer book - pixabay

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Paula Wyant: How much does a character’s sexuality have to feature explicitly in a story for it to fall into the LGBTQUIA category? Do they have to be a relationship? Does the relationship have to be the central focus to the story? What’s enough to make a story queer? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

FOR READERS: Queer Action Heroes

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superhero - pixabay

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: Who are your favorite LGBTQIA action heroes? Not necessarily spec-fic. What do you like about them? How do they satisfy action hero tropes? Are they “gay” enough, or does it not matter, because they’re blowing things up? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

FOR READERS: Reading the QUILTBAG

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quiltbag - pixabay

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Denise Dechene: Who do you want to read more of in the queer alphabet in spec fic? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

ANNOUNCEMENT/GIVEAWAY: A Deceptive Alliance, by Sydney Blackburn

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Deceptive Alliance

QSFer Sydney Blackburn has a new MM romance book out: A Deceptive Alliance. Kel and his twin sister Isabel have traded places before—to escape lessons, to prank their royal cousins, and for Kel to flirt with handsome men at royal balls. But when Isabel runs away in tears shortly before her proxy wedding to Prince Darin of Pervayne, Kel takes her place, knowing he could cause serious problems between Pervayne and their home kingdom of Karleed if discovered. Isabel will show up—eventually—and take her rightful place and no one will ever know. The question is, will Isabel arrive before Kel … Read more

FOR WRITERS: Historical Accuracy in Queer Fiction

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FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Heather Rose Jones: When we write queer stories set in history, how do we deal with the historic reality of queer lives? Or, from another point of view, are queer historic novels held to a different standard of “historical accuracy” than straight ones with respect to the lives of their characters? Join the chat

ANNOUNCEMENT: I Shall Not Be Jilled, by David Holly

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I Shall Not Be Jilled

QSFer David Holly has a new queer sci fi book out: What will you do if you are a teenager or a young man, and the governing board demands that you submit to a procedure that permanently eliminates your manly parts and turns you into a new gender? What will you do when government, society and even your loved ones are swept up in a fanatical mass movement that demands your emasculation? Will you become an androgyne so you can play on an athletic team? Or will you resist, even though your doomed resistance is viewed as rebellion or treason? … Read more

FOR WRITERS & READERS: Defining Who We Are

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FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: QSF is a very diverse group with a lotta knowledge. So I thought it would be fun to create a dictionary on the site of identity terms (orientation, gender, etc) – things like gay, transgender, enby, demisexual, scoliosexual, etc – with definitions and references 9ie: who submitted the term) as a resource for our writers and readers. So… please include in the comments below in a new comment post for each – any community or identity terms you are familiar with: Term: Definition (ok to post your name/FB link … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Once Upon a Rainbow Anthology

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Once Upon a Rainbow

QSFer K.S. Trenten has an FF fairytale story in a new queer anthology book: FAIREST: On the eve of my sixteenth year, I’m cursed to prick my finger on spindle and fall into a hundred year sleep. This is what the witch with the snow white skin and haunting dark eyes promised me, as I lay in my cradle. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind, since. She haunts my dreams, steals into my quiet moments, when I think I’m alone. Everyone thinks she’s my enemy. Everyone thinks I need to be protected from her. I … Read more

FOR READERS: My LGBT Community

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FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer A. Catherine Noon: How do you see the “LGBTIQA community” where you are in the world? I’m in the States, and I think, for me anyway, there’s a tendency to have blinders on in terms of our multi-country origins. Being LGBT isn’t unique to any one locale. We know cultural differences are real; to what extent do you see that affecting your own LGBT community specifically? I’d add to Catherine’s question – do you feel like you are connected to your local LGBTIQA community? Writers: This is a reader chat – you … Read more