Publisher admits and defends censoring gay storyline in fantasy novel
A Russian publisher has admitted and defended censoring a gay storyline in a popular fantasy novel series without permission from the US-based author.
Victoria Schwab is the author of the Shades of Magic series, which features a number of LGBT characters, including a bisexual prince who has a same-sex romance.
The bestselling books were translated into Russian as part of a deal with Russia-based publisher Rosmen and earlier this week Schwab said she was shocked to find out that a āqueer plot twistā had been removed from the copy.
Rosmen has now issued a statement admitting that it removed parts of the storyline from the novel.
āWe only did this so that we wouldnāt violate the ban on gay propaganda for minors,ā the publishing houseās spokesperson Natalya Brovchuk said.
āBut we kept the romantic plotline as a whole.ā
But Schwab, who accused the publishing house of breaking contract, has now said she is seeking to terminate the deal.
āIt would have been better not to publish the book at all,ā she said.ring-gay-romance-fantasy-novel-17081617510#rmHwwWbURmiERgfW.99
Earlier this week Schwab tweeted: āThe Russian edition of Shades of Magic has been my favorite. This week I learned that they redacted the entire queer plot w/out permission.
āThey chose to illegally edit and redact [it].
āI was absolutely horrified. Wouldnāt have known if not for a Russian reader who read both editions. Publisher in total breach of contract.
āIām positively devastated.ā
She added: āAs a reader: Iām frustrated. As an LGBTQ+ human: Iām hurt. As an author: Iām indignant.ā
The author continued: āItās important to me that the books be available to Russian readers, but with all their content.ā
She added that she would āgive [the publisher] opportunity to correct the workā.
The country maintains a controversial 2013 law that bans āpropaganda of non-traditional sexual relationshipsā, which has been seized upon by authorities to clamp down on depictions of gay people in public life.
The premiere of a new ballet at Russiaās Bolshoi Theatre was allegedly cancelled earlier this year over concerns about āgay propagandaā.
One of the most anticipated ballets of the season had been set to make its debut in July, but all performances were cancelled on short notice over the weekend under mysterious circumstances.
The decision to pull the ballet led to allegations that the Russian government had intervened, over concerns about male nudity and gay themes.
In a ruling earlier this year, the European Court of Human Rights condemned the oppressive law.
The law also bans people sharing ādistorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationshipsā, which has been widely abused in the country to clamp down on the LGBT rights movement as a whole.
In its ruling, the ECHR found the law to be in breach of freedom of expression protections, as well as ruling that it āreinforces stigma and prejudice and encouraged homophobiaā.
The Russian Justice ministry has vowed to appeal.
In a statement, the department said the law was solely designed āto defend morality and childrenās healthā, and did not impact freedom of expression.
But LGBT activists say the law has had a chilling effect across Russian culture.
Last year, Russian MPs called for football video game FIFA 17 to be banned because it allowed players to take part in the rainbow laces campaign.
A special Pride-themed football kit was made available as a free download for FIFA 17 players across PC, Xbox and Playstation gaming platforms as part of the tie-up.
Russiaās censorship body was urged by lawmakers to open a probe into the potential violation of the āgay propagandaā law.
