The goal of #ownvoices as a movement is not to create a concrete set of rules for who can write what. The goal is to alter a publishing status quo that is hostile to marginalized people.

Different methods are used to exclude different types of people and story. The big obstacles queer childrens' books face, historically, are censorship and lack of school/library buy-in. Homophobia is used to justify a minimal investment.

This does not mean white queer people are excluded from working in the industry. Despite facing censorship of our content, our privilege lets us get a foot in the door.

Recently, many people of color have spoken publicly about the discomfort they feel at white authors writing main characters outside their race--especially because so many talented POC are very obviously being passed over in favor of white authors

Abstract discussions of who can write "well" outside their lane should, I believe, in this moment, be discarded in favor of collective, concentrated, and concrete action to equalize the racial inequities in the industry

White queer people and all people of color are both marginalized. AND it is, on average, much easier for a white queer person to sell an #ownvoices book than a person of color, whether they are queer or nonqueer.

We cannot build a biblical rule set of what authors are and aren't 'allowed' to write. Because the actions needed to equalize the industry will change with time and circumstance.

I should have specified here--this is aimed at white authors, asking they stop pushing POC about edge cases where they're allowed to write certain stories, and instead work to make sure marginalized voices get through the door https://twitter.com/ZREllor/status/1303514180889214977

The prioritization of non-ownvoices narratives is a major systemic problem in writing about race and disability. It is not a systemic problem, however, in queer books.

Historically, censorship has limited the market for queer books. There has never been a broad financial incentive for non-queer authors to jump in, no broad appetite as there are for books whitewashing racism or peddling disability 'inspiration porn.'

If every queer female author in YA swore off writing MM for the next decade, it would not substantially alter the market. It would not dismantle the homophobic structures that prevent queer children's books from reaching teens.

Assuming the obstacles white queer people face are the same as the obstacles queer and non-queer POC face, for the purpose of making an easy rule for who should and shouldn't write MM, doesn't remove the obstacles queer white people face.

One of the best ways to support queer books is by requesting them at your local library and donating them to schools in needs. You can read more about the banning of queer (esp. trans) books here: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/74017-the-top-10-most-challenged-books-of-2016.html