Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 18:04:48 -0400
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Subject: Re: "All-Inclusive" Bookstore Co-Founded By RuPaul Yanks Conservative Titles Following Backlash
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On 3/12/2024 5:28 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
> In article <usp3jm$666q$5@dont-email.me>,
>   Ubiquitous <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:
> 
>> An online bookstore that advertised itself as being committed to sharing
>> ideas, even those which are deemed controversial, has removed titles from
>> conservative authors amid backlash.
>>
>> Television host and activist RuPaul is a co-founder of the "all-inclusive"
>> online bookstore Allstora, according to National Review. He started the
>> online store with LGBTQ advocate and author Eric Cervini and drag performer
>> Adam Powell.
>>
>> The site advertised that they would carry titles from authors of all points
>> of view, and books for sale on the site initially ranged from Adolf Hitler's
>> "Mein Kampf" to the graphic, controversial coming-of-age book "Gender Queer".
>>
>> "We're a marketplace for all books and all stories, with a focus on elevating
>> marginalized voices," the site originally touted, according to NR. "You may
>> find books you disagree with," a pop-up ad warned, while the FAQ page said,
>> "Allstora has made the decision to carry all books" and "censorship of any
>> book, perspective, or story is incompatible with the survival of democracy."
>>
>> "Banning books is never the answer," the site's messaging, which has since
>> been deleted, said, according to The Mary Sue. "We cannot fight the
>> ideologies of hate if we lack the ability to study, understand, and react to
>> them. We do that by reading books."
>>
>> However, left-wing activists were outraged that Allstora offered titles by
>> Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Matt Walsh, Riley Gaines, and Libs of TikTok founder
>> Chaya Raichik, among others. At first, the website's founders attempted to
>> diffuse tension by promising to create "a community-led flagging system for
>> titles that are contrary to our core values and donating all proceeds from
>> these titles to fight book bans," National Review noted.
>>
>> But that wasn't enough. After three days of critics railing against Allstora
>> for selling "homophobic", "transphobic", "anti-woke", and "Nazi" books, the
>> founders relented and removed all free speech messaging from the page. Many
>> works by conservative authors were removed from the page, while some other
>> titles remained available.
>>
>> The drama comes on the heels of RuPaul announcing a "Rainbow Book Bus" that
>> seeks to distribute "diverse books to communities facing book bans and
>> censorship, especially in LGBTQ+ communities". The bus will embark on a cross
>> country tour later this year, the DRAG RACE host told People during an
>> interview this month.
> 
> Just goes to show you how downright hypocritical leftists are when the
> screech about "Republican book bans".
> 
> They'll ban a book in the blink of an eye if it doesn't meet their
> ideological rigor.

Well, yes, it's outrageous that an organization who made a show of 
understanding well the "Skokie" aspects of free speech should've so 
flatly capitulated.  I wish them all manner of highly visible reprisal.