Amazon removes LGBT-friendly books from search

http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166 259.asp

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/20 09/04/amazon-deranks-gayfriendly-books-the-tw itterverse-notices.html

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23amazonf ail

...oh my.

Crazy!  This triggers such an impulse in me to go off on a rant about the sexual obsession that so often accompanies casual homophobia, but I think I will spare the world ;)

Thanks for passing this on, though, my blood pressure notwithstanding!

I can't tell you how much I hate it when one of my favorite companies (used text books? Win!) does something that forces me to boycott them.Rrrrggggh. Anyone else who is disturbed, please send your comments directly to Amazon.com and urge them to reconsider this foolish and insulting strategy.

I heard this but was able to search my friend's graphic novel on gay teens and several other LGBTQ themed books and CD's last night. Then I heard it was the RATINGS that were removed and sure enough, they were gone. Though when I signed in it gave me opportunity to rate gay stuff, but what I clicked did not show up.

Also thanks for an LA Times link. Until now people were directing me to blogs denouncing them as "Nazis" and such--not exactly professional journalism.

At least there's still B & N and wasn't there another book thing that began with an "S" or something?

Effing Amazon. So great in so many ways and then ruin it with a move like this. Boo-urns.

Edit: Amazon's explanation http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166 384.asp ;

So Amazon's sent out a new email.  Excerpt:

This is an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error for a company that prides itself on offering complete selection.

It has been misreported that the issue was limited to Gay & Lesbian themed titles - in fact, it impacted 57,310 books in a number of broad categories such as Health, Mind & Body, Reproductive & Sexual Medicine, and Erotica. This problem impacted books not just in the United States but globally. It affected not just sales rank but also had the effect of removing the books from Amazon's main product search.

I don't really know what to think of all this: I mean, the whole thing hit on Easter Sunday, so I'm inclined to give their PR department a moment to get all their ducks in a row.  But where's the "sorry?"  Also, they're saying that the "cataloging error" affected more than just LGBT-related books, but, as one blog I was reading pointed out, the fact still remains that LGBT books were overwhelmingly targeted while books with similar but heterosexual themes were not. 

And, of course, it must be pointed out that not all LGBT-related books were removed - the first results for "homosexuality" on amazon.com, even now:

A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality
You Don't Have to Be Gay: Hope and Freedom for Males Struggling With Homosexuality or for Those Who Know of Someone Who Is
For The Bible Tells Me So
Can Homosexuality Be Healed?

Unintentional glitch or no, not cool, Amazon.

I heard that this might have been caused by a hacker.

Jennifer--do you have a link for the hacker theory? I'd like to know more about that.