Amazon transitions on stance against Catholic book on transgenderism

Talking about transgenderism–especially if you are skeptical about the concept of non-binary gender fluidity–is risky business.

Best-selling author J. K. Rowling learned that in 2019, she tweeted her support for Maya Forstater, a tax specialist who had lost her job for what were termed “transphobic” tweets. Rowling was quickly blacklisted by followers who took offense at her commonsense viewpoint that there are only two genders. Even before that, Rowling had mistakenly hit “like” on a Twitter post–and her “like” was deemed evidence of conservative wrong think, launching a tirade of protests from readers.

She was dubbed, by trans activists, a “TERF” or (in case you’re not familiar with contemporary transgender insults) a “Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist.”

The aggression shown toward the traditional understanding of sexual differences has caused many to sidestep the discussion. On Reddit, for example, the subheading r/AskConservatives imposed a ban on any discussion of gender. “Transgender discussion is banned,” said the group. “Please do not attempt to skirt the rules. The only allowable comment is ‘That topic is banned.’ Any attempt to continue discussing a banned topic is against the rules.”

Ryan T. Anderson, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, encountered a similar hostility following publication of his book When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. When the book was first published by Encounter Books in 2018, it was available at bookstores and also on Amazon. In 2021, though, Amazon decided to ban all books that promoted what they deemed to be hate speech. Anderson’s book, they thought, was a classic “hate” book, and they removed it from their listings.

In reality, many would argue that Ryan Anderson’s work, while frank in describing the transgender movement, was respectful in its approach.

Last week Amazon did an about-face, once again offering When Harry Became Sally for purchase. Was this decision, once again offering When Harry Became Sally for purchase, due to a change of policy, a loss of business, or both? Let Amazon officials answer that in their own words:

Balancing free speech and content that could be construed as hate speech is one of the most difficult adjudication decisions we make as a company. A few years ago, we removed “When Harry Became Sally” from our store after concluding that it violated our guideline prohibiting books that promote hate speech. This was not an easy decision and was hotly debated. Since then many other retailers (e.g. Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Powell’s, etc.) have continued to sell this book, and we’ve continued to receive feedback from customers that the ideas presented in this book, while controversial, should be available for those who want to read and understand the perspective of its author. The combination of our peer retailers continuing to sell the book and the ongoing feedback made us re-examine our decision. As was the case when we reviewed the book a few years ago, it was not an easy decision, but we concluded that we erred on the side of being too restrictive last time and decided to return the book to our store.

Ryan Anderson read Amazon’s explanation with skepticism. “I think this is purely a political move,” he told Fox News Digital. “Four years ago, with the Biden administration, they thought that they were on the right side of history. And now, four years later, they see that they’re not.”

The book, once available on Amazon, went to #1 in LGBTQ Demographic Studies.

What does Anderson say in When Harry Became Sally? Is he unkind toward those whose perceived gender identity differs from the traditional understanding of gender?

Actually, Anderson is straightforward in his explanations and presentation of facts. He emphasizes the importance of biological sex and asserts that what makes us a man or a woman is God’s design, not personal wishes. He talks with de-transitioners–people who had lived a “trans” lifestyle but then regretted the steps they took to physically change their bodies. He contends that the most beneficial therapy is that which helps the patient to come to terms with his true identity. He expresses his serious concerns about gender-affirming care for young children, arguing that many will grow out of these feelings without medical intervention.

When Harry Became Sally is a clearly written defense of the human person. Robert George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, writes, “As Ryan Anderson shows in his rigorously argued critique of transgender ideology, we can speak and stand up for truth while loving those who identify as transgender as our neighbors.”

Melissa Moschella, assistant professor of medical ethics at Columbia University, says, “Regardless of political persuasion, all concerned citizens, especially parents, policymakers, and health-care professionals, should give serious consideration to the evidence presented in this thoughtful and balanced book.”

(Editor’s note: The article was edited for precision and clarity after the original posting. You can order When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment from Ignatius Press.)