Heat Level Rating & Queer Characters

[WriterInChains]

So last night I was wandering through the tubes looking for publishers to submit my ERom and came upon something that just hit me wrong. Thought I'd pop in for a little perspective since it's still bothering me. If this has already been dissected please point me to that thread--I ran a quick search but it's not been my best week & my Google-fu may be suffering for all the drama. TIA.

A publisher listed their criteria for a heat scale of 1-3, with one allowing for graphic sex scenes & three being "extreme" and not required to have an HEA. They only listed non-het genres beginning on the second level.

Is it industry standard for publishers who accept both het & non to group LGBT Romances into a 2nd tier ranking just because they're not straight? (I'm guessing no, since I hadn't seen it before in submission guidelines.) Is it widely regarded as acceptable to lump LGBT in with "subjects that may offend some readers" regardless of the specific nature of the sex scenes?
Am I nuts to be offended by this?

Obviously I won't be subbing there, but at least I can talk about this thing that's bugging me.

[elindsen]

I would say always check their current list. See if there is any gay erotica.

[WriterInChains]

Thanks for your reply, elindsen!

In this case that doesn't really matter -- they could be a huge player & I still wouldn't sub to them after reading that.

Just trying to get an idea of the bigger picture. I read widely in my genre but have only recently begun submitting.

[KimJo]

Unfortunately, in some venues GLBT romance is considered "erotica" even if there's no sexual content whatsoever.

[Ann_Mayburn]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of publishers using that. Gay=instant heat rating of 2. This is becoming less prevalent and I for one am thankful. I love having steam in my romance so for me as a reader, when I buy a M/M romance with a heat rating of 3 I expect someone to get it on. Instead I ended up with a sweet romance where I can't even remember if they kissed. :P As a reader, that pisses me off, and as an author that pisses me off but like I said some publishers are beginning to see the light.

[veinglory]

Yes, some publishers treat GLBT purely as a sexual kink. It really pisses me off.

[WriterInChains]

Originally Posted by KimJo

Unfortunately, in some venues GLBT romance is considered "erotica" even if there's no sexual content whatsoever.

None at all!? I'm glad I never stumbled on any of those -- if I paid for "erotica" & nobody got off I'd be very upset.

Originally Posted by Ann_Mayburn

Yeah, I've seen a lot of publishers using that. Gay=instant heat rating of 2. This is becoming less prevalent and I for one am thankful. I love having steam in my romance so for me as a reader, when I buy a M/M romance with a heat rating of 3 I expect someone to get it on. Instead I ended up with a sweet romance where I can't even remember if they kissed. :P As a reader, that pisses me off, and as an author that pisses me off but like I said some publishers are beginning to see the light.

I guess I thought if a publisher was into queer romance they'd be the kind of folks who got it . . . I shouldn't be shocked to be wrong, but it is disheartening.

Originally Posted by veinglory

Yes, some publishers treat GLBT purely as a sexual kink. It really pisses me off.

Somehow I thought that wouldn't exist in the epub world -- maybe that's why I didn't notice it for so long. It's bad enough that in other media a same-sex couple holding hands can be considered porn.