tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post3238380609997944108..comments2023-11-17T01:32:25.790+00:00Comments on Aleksandr Voinov - Letters from the Front: Offering SanctuaryAleksandr Voinovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06583805228909693924noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-46495591640032107342011-12-06T03:22:42.796+00:002011-12-06T03:22:42.796+00:00Am late to the party on this one (I've been si...Am late to the party on this one (I've been sick) but yes - that's it exactly. If we agree with Aj's behavior or not is one thing. Do I? Of course not - obviously I've been flying my freak flag for way too many years now to condone what he did. That said, he is one of us, and I will stand with him and defend his right to *be* one of us. I hope this whole thing has been a learning experience for him (and a f*cuking lot of others - I'm looking at all of you with the pitchforks), and I hope that he finds a way to get right with himself and atone. I know in my heart he meant no offense, and that things just snowballed away from him, and he stood there on the ledge, watching the havoc from above and hoping nobody would see him up there, or that he could fix the damage from afar. Now he has that chance to fix the damage. I've never had issue with Aj for any reason - he has been nothing but kind and caring toward me, supportive when others weren't (and there've been a lot of times when others weren't and a lot of others all too ready to throw stones instead of lending hands). I've been challenged and mocked among the m/m "community", asked to "prove my worth" far beyond merely writing down creative stories. I've been publicly and privately insulted - both by writers AND publishers (don't even get me started on how long it took me to get one publisher to address me by the correct name and pronoun). But I won't be stopped, and I won't let anyone stop Aj. Not because of who he is - but because of what he is. He is a member of our pack. We're wolves and badgers, and we should act like them. :-)DC Jurishttp://www.dcjuris.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-63341392757040573672011-11-19T20:03:07.177+00:002011-11-19T20:03:07.177+00:00I've refrained from commenting on any of this ...I've refrained from commenting on any of this for a variety of reasons. But I have to comment now to say AMEN! I read your previous post with awe and tears streaming down my face, and thought about commenting then but didn't know what to say. I still don't, really. But I think this is the most perfect analogy and summation of the situation I've seen. <br /><br />I'm sorry for the pain you and so many others have felt in all this, but I'm awed by your strength, your courage, and your ability to find words to illuminate the incomprehensible. With posts like this and your previous one, I can only imagine what a net positive gain has just been made in the world, and will continue in an ongoing ripple effect. I've never (yet) read any of your books, but will have to rectify that asap.jeaycihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590767586049649983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-78104783692508186832011-11-19T18:01:00.623+00:002011-11-19T18:01:00.623+00:00Like SueM, VJ, Bryl and others - my hat goes off t...Like SueM, VJ, Bryl and others - my hat goes off to you Aleks! I've never come across such a warm-hearted, tolerant (and literate) person as yourself. Thank you for your blog, your kind-hearted-ness, and HUGE heart.<br />Whatever you do in the future (although if you don't write any more M/M stories I will be devastated), may the grace of God go with you. You deserve it!!<br />*hugs* and *kisses* and *love* forever.<br />Carole-AnnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-76987656275368113092011-11-17T16:22:27.766+00:002011-11-17T16:22:27.766+00:00I'm sorry I called you a quitter. I shouldn...I'm sorry I called you a quitter. I shouldn't have been so hard on you. I get all worked up when I see people giving up things they love, but I didn't know the whole story, so I should have kept my mouth shut.<br />I hope you'll accept my apology.<br /><br />I think it's amazing the way you've laid yourself out as you have, for the sake of others. I hope it all works out as you wish.<br />I will make a donation to breast cancer research today in honor of your friend R.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-11762298198641644052011-11-17T12:42:57.176+00:002011-11-17T12:42:57.176+00:00Sanctuary, with all that implies. A very simple an...Sanctuary, with all that implies. A very simple and elegant analogy.<br /><br />Trust you :DElin Gregoryhttp://www.elingregory.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-64831772678344992342011-11-17T12:01:56.174+00:002011-11-17T12:01:56.174+00:00Thank you for defining the stance, sir. Very much ...Thank you for defining the stance, sir. Very much appreciated.Bryl R. Tynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716656547789198205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-85741262367564130832011-11-17T10:19:38.265+00:002011-11-17T10:19:38.265+00:00::speechless with admiration::
(which doesn't ...::speechless with admiration::<br />(which doesn't happen often, let me tell ya)VJ Summershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00085613206633775797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-55678292105251280962011-11-17T10:00:07.162+00:002011-11-17T10:00:07.162+00:00Mr. Voinov,
You have always had my admiration for ...Mr. Voinov,<br />You have always had my admiration for being a very talented thought-provoking author, but you now have my admiration for being a man who will stand up for what is right, even at the expense of everything he holds dear, simply because it is the right thing to do. It is not only obvious from your previous posts, but this post also shows that you are still taking action because it is the right thing to do. I doff my (imaginary) hat to you Sir, you truly are an honorable man. Thank you for simply being you.<br /><br />Sue.SueMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13812241177913797939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-70882100995379496662011-11-17T06:33:10.624+00:002011-11-17T06:33:10.624+00:00No matter what, even if I don't personally lik...No matter what, even if I don't personally like some other trans folk, even if I don't know them, even if I think they might be appropriating the label, I will stand with them and defend their rights to define themselves. There's enough infighting and if we trans folk don't at least stand with each other then we're in serious trouble indeed. I mean this with all sincerity: this is a brave thing you did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-47104097239967429182011-11-17T05:34:15.245+00:002011-11-17T05:34:15.245+00:00Thanks for taking the time to chat, in view of all...Thanks for taking the time to chat, in view of all the emails and posts you have to catch up on. I do hope, though, that you won't stop writing for the MM romance genre but if you do go ahead and return to mainstream fiction, or full time gardening or teaching, I still know you'll still be in touch.<br /><br />Live well, my precious one:)Elainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-53555323347109263302011-11-17T00:18:06.611+00:002011-11-17T00:18:06.611+00:00Thank you for this post - it was the missing link ...Thank you for this post - it was the missing link for me to reconciling what I knew of AJ's behavior to AJ's welcome into the trans* community. Everything clicked for me. I don't think I've been alone with that disconnect in understanding, which seems as if it's at the heart of much of the current discord.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-90535440644809585412011-11-16T23:54:49.778+00:002011-11-16T23:54:49.778+00:00Again, so to the point. Excellent post and one I c...Again, so to the point. Excellent post and one I can totally agree with.<br /><br />I sincerely hope you will not stop writing, if for no other reason than to stick your finger in the air at those who have a problem with gender identity. <br /><br />Not to mention you're a helluva writer just based on your blog posts. Don't let one massive crap storm ruin that for you. :)Moriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346699663889878207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-28304135646813082812011-11-16T22:52:55.929+00:002011-11-16T22:52:55.929+00:00I have not read many of your books,but the one tha...I have not read many of your books,but the one that stays in my mind is Test of Faith that you co-wrote with Raev Gray. I read this in May 0f 2010 and to this day when I think about it I sob. It was a brilliant story of Faith,between two men. Talent like yours should continue in this genre Please. Maybe all this trauma is like a line in the sand for the GLBTQ, community and for the straight community to understand a little of what people suffer. There needs to be more conversation so all can understand each other.Stay strong!!!arl215https://www.blogger.com/profile/00747040265102553914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-35976181459033361382011-11-16T22:17:18.255+00:002011-11-16T22:17:18.255+00:00You continue to amaze me my friend. Since I'm ...You continue to amaze me my friend. Since I'm still doing the blabber your ear off everywhere else thing, I'll just say... I love your post, you rock my socks.Freiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06485424380074216407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-33586843673202171462011-11-16T21:45:02.886+00:002011-11-16T21:45:02.886+00:00I must agree that was awesome and thank you.
I wa...I must agree that was awesome and thank you.<br /><br />I was very disappointed when I read your earlier post about not writing M/M anymore and the reasons behind that decision. I really felt that you misunderstood why a majority of people were upset about AJ. I don't think people were upset about his being transgendered. I really felt bad that you or anyone else in the GLBTQ community thought that.<br /><br />I am glad you did this follow-up blog. Because although I am sorry you are leaving I now feel you don't think it was a transgender issue regarding the AJ uproar. <br /><br />I agree it is wrong and insensitive to question/doubt someone on gender identification. I don't think people were doubting/questioning transgenders as a group. But, I can see how it could/would be interpeted that way. <br /><br />So, I will say again thank you for this post. It opened my eyes to how an issue can be interperted many different ways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-70606665517959274852011-11-16T21:23:39.618+00:002011-11-16T21:23:39.618+00:00An amazing response (yet again!) and I'm learn...An amazing response (yet again!) and I'm learning to expect no less from you. You are a treasure.Emme Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359249693926718949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-61774186358546685262011-11-16T20:19:09.936+00:002011-11-16T20:19:09.936+00:00You have entered the sanctuary, now it is time to ...You have entered the sanctuary, now it is time to atone. A perfect analogy. Than you.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14019590986674098815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-41405671198111442562011-11-16T20:09:36.791+00:002011-11-16T20:09:36.791+00:00Aleksandr Voinov
I really hope that you would re...Aleksandr Voinov <br /> I really hope that you would reconsider quitting writing under this name because I know that as a reader I myself buy everything that is release under this name automatically because I have not found anything that is not good. I know that I cannot be the only reader out there in this genre that does not care about the gender of the writer if the material is good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-67640667541034141002011-11-16T19:24:43.758+00:002011-11-16T19:24:43.758+00:00Yeah, I'm just gonna echo V here. Love.Yeah, I'm just gonna echo V here. Love.Kateyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727622678452936037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29109752791794032.post-47341425951894472122011-11-16T19:03:45.448+00:002011-11-16T19:03:45.448+00:00One word: Awesome.
I swear I'm usually much m...One word: Awesome.<br /><br />I swear I'm usually much more articulate, but all I can think to say is: Awesome. You are awesome Aleks.Vicktor Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01335249239525296297noreply@blogger.com