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I am going to point out that had this rule been in place 5 years ago, I very likely would not have become the 1st known Filipina Hugo Award winner despite my efforts being integral to Uncanny being a finalist. I may not have gotten ANY Hugos for any of the 5x Uncanny won-- https://twitter.com/worldcon2021/status/1348666640079183882
It is not lost on me how the "minimal number of categories" affected are those heavily featuring the work of TEAMS of marginalized folks, which means LESS marginalized folks who deserve recognition as Hugo finalists/winners will receive what they're due. https://twitter.com/worldcon2021/status/1348666641383620608
Do you know how many ppl work on SFF semiprozines, podcasts, anthologies, etc., to succeed?? Esp in our current economic climate, it takes FAR MORE THAN JUST 4 FUCKING PPL to keep things going! And y'all want to force us to choose who gets a rocket bc "logistics"? FUCK THAT.
Whether intentional or not, limiting Hugo Award categories to only 4 winners/entry is choking more marginalized folks out of contention & denying them the recognition they deserve. If you want to push the Hugo Awards into irrelevancy, congrats, you're now further down that road.
I am furious that the lesson DisCon III seems to have taken from previous Worldcon fuck ups is "limit the number of folks who deserve to be honored by Hugo Awards even more!" esp knowing how this disproportionately affects marginalized folks & ESP after CoNZealand's mess.
I've done a lot of reminding folks that it's possible to criticize the Hugo Awards w/o denigrating what they mean to past winners like myself, esp marginalized folks who've worked 10x harder for a fraction of the recognition. Those awards MATTER to us a lot.
So it is beyond the pale that DisCon III willingly made a decision that *hurts* the prestige & meaning Hugo Awards have in our community, esp when those awards can make a difference in marginalized creators' careers. How's THAT for a "logistical concern"?
I cannot begin to list the number of ways my life was changed by winning that 1st Hugo Award. The last 5 yrs have been far beyond what I could've imagined for myself *and you're now making it HARDER for other marginalized folks to have a shot at the same?!* Again, WTF DisCon III?
I am so fucking tired of ppl making willfully ignorant, harmful decisions bc they'd rather appease those they perceive to have power & influence & maintaining the status quo is "easier" (for them) *esp in this cursed socio-political climate* & ESP WHEN THEY DAMN WELL KNOW BETTER.
I can't stop thinking abt how many amazing folks wouldn't have been recognized as Hugo Award finalists & winners if @worldcon2021's "4 names only" rule had been in place the last several years. Funny how this comes after increasing waves of marginalized folks on the ballot.
I've been furious abt this all day & you know why? In addition to how DisCon's policy hurts potential Hugo Award finalists, it's cast yet another pall on an award & celebration that folks WANT to look forward & to do that especially NOW?? Amidst all *this*?!
I look forward to the Hugo Awards, despite fuck ups & kerfuffles, bc it's a chance to celebrate the excellence & achievements of my friends & colleagues. I'm excited to nominate creators & works I loved. We're BARELY into 2021 & welp, kinda hard to look forward to it right now.
So it SUCKS that once again, an unwillingness to consider how folks, esp marginalized ppl, will be disproportionately hurt bc "logistics" are more important than REAL inclusion, is screwing up an award that folks should be able to celebrate w/o reservation. Good going DisCon.
