Yes, SFWA has definitely had a problem, and it's not only the older men causing it - the incident of the overly-sexist cover most recently was one, and one that people spoke out about, immediately. The Bulletin has long been problematic, and people have been discussing it for a while now.
However, saying the issues were "ignored" is both unfair and untrue. The results may not have been visible to the public, but there hasn't been a culture of ignoring these issues in at least two and possibly three administrations. Mainly because people stepped up and took charge and said "this needs to change." We've already taken steps to make the SFWA spaces safer, and not allow the recent convention crap to happen in our official areas. And other things that are ongoing.
Unfortunately, as I said in my original post, we don't have the ability to toss a member just because they're an asshat. If I'd been the Bulletin editor, would I have let the recent articles go? No. I would have kicked it back so hard the writers would have spun like tops. I don't think there's ANY disagreement in this thread on that matter.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-02 05:45 pm (UTC)However, saying the issues were "ignored" is both unfair and untrue. The results may not have been visible to the public, but there hasn't been a culture of ignoring these issues in at least two and possibly three administrations. Mainly because people stepped up and took charge and said "this needs to change." We've already taken steps to make the SFWA spaces safer, and not allow the recent convention crap to happen in our official areas. And other things that are ongoing.
Unfortunately, as I said in my original post, we don't have the ability to toss a member just because they're an asshat. If I'd been the Bulletin editor, would I have let the recent articles go? No. I would have kicked it back so hard the writers would have spun like tops. I don't think there's ANY disagreement in this thread on that matter.