The repercussions of North Carolina's HB 2 — the so-called bathroom law, that would limit the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people — continue to spread, and are sparking discussions about whether boycotts are simply hurting those they intend to help.
Renowned poet, filmmaker and writer of literary fiction, Sherman Alexie, recently canceled a planned May appearance in Asheville, N.C., tweeting to his followers “In honor and support of the LGBT community, I am cancelling all upcoming events in North Carolina. #RepealHB2.”
Alexie’s appearance was organized by the Malaprops bookstore, and included visits to schools and a ticketed event at the Asheville Community Theatre. (Alexie announced that he would, instead, make a visit to Little Shop of Stories, in Decatur, May 18.)
In an op-ed published in the New York Times this week, Linda-Marie Barrett, general manager of Malaprops, pointed out the damage that Alexie's decision would do to a bookstore that prides itself on being inclusive. The piece was entitled "Why Should My Store Be Boycotted Over a Law I Despise?"
Wrote Barrett, “This horrible legislation goes against what we stand for: human rights, tolerance and inclusiveness,” adding that the bookstore has lobbied vigorously against the law.
The store not only will lose revenue from the event, she wrote, but “We also lost an opportunity to connect a beloved, charismatic author with fans in a city who would have been empowered by his outrage over the law.”
This week Daren Wang, CEO of the AJC Decatur Book Festival, wrote an open letter to Alexie applauding his stand against the law, but also asking him to change his mind.
“I believe the perpetrators of HB2 are happy to hear that aren’t coming,” Wang wrote. “The last thing they want is a strong voice rousing the rabble. They’d like to see the pockets of understanding and compassion that exist in their state snuffed out. And Malaprops Bookstore is certainly one of them. It is that smart, beautiful, and vital store that suffers most from your boycott.”
Wang pointed out that the Georgia legislature passed a similar law which — if it hadn’t been vetoed by the governor — could have had a devastating effect on the AJC Decatur Book Festival.
“I don’t think we would survive if the writers we love and admire chose to boycott us for things we can not control,” he wrote.
Alexie, whose latest work is the children’s book “Thunder Boy Jr.,” will appear at Little Shop of Stories May 18, at 7 p.m. C0-owner Diane said that while she is thrilled to have Alexie visit the store, her sympathies are also with the independent book stores, “who have to bear the cultural and financial consequences of North Carolina’s discriminatory legislative action.”
At the same time, she said she hopes Alexie’s decision has the desired effect. “While we may differ in tactics, we’re all on the same side.”
