SFWA Statement and Plan of Support for Asian Diaspora Communities

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) board unanimously signed a statement about anti-Asian hate crimes and racism. The statement reads, in part,

Anti-Asian racism has long been a part of America’s fabric from the Page Act to the Chinese Exclusion Act and includes our own SF/F communities. We’ve seen it in the tropes and stereotypes that fetishize Asian women as dragon ladies and butterfly maidens, portray Asian people as suspicious or perpetually foreign Others, and treat Asian cultures as exotic settings to be used and consumed for entertainment.

We condemn the anti-Asian racist hate and violence that has targeted some of the most vulnerable among us, including women, seniors, disabled people, sex workers, queer folks, low-income workers, and immigrants. These attacks are influenced by narratives put forth by elected officials, public figures, and by the stories that we tell. SFWA is committed to creating a safer, more equitable industry in SF/F for Asian and Asian American creators, and other marginalized communities.

The board listed a series of concrete steps they plan to take, including hosting a free seminar on responsible representation in science-fiction and fantasy, creating a free five-part panel series by Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) creators, appointing a dedicated liaison for outreach, and providing free registration for 25 Asian and AAPI writers to attend the 2021 Nebula Conference. For details, see their official statement.

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