Amazon described its reasons for removing a book from its online stores.
James Martin / CNET
Amazon told Republican senators on Thursday that it removed a book from 2018 because the e-commerce site will no longer sell literature that frames LGBTQ identities as mental illness, the Wall Street Journal reported. This came in response to a letter asking why people couldn’t turn to Amazon, Kindle or Audible for print versions, e-book or audiobook by Ryan T. Anderson When Harry became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment.
The book explores the representation of gender identity in the media, as well as public policy approaches to the subject.
“We carefully consider the content we make available in our stores and regularly review our approach,” wrote Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy at Amazon. “We chose not to sell books that frame LGBTQ + identity as a mental illness.”
In your letter, Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, Mike Braun of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri said that Amazon’s action told “conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on their platforms,” reported the Journal.
Huseman said that Amazon offers people “a wide variety of content that includes disparate opinions”.
Anderson said Amazon is making it difficult to exchange ideas. “Nothing good comes from ending a debate on important issues on which reasonable people of good will disagree,” wrote the author in a statement. “Amazon is using its enormous power to distort the market for ideas and deceive its own customers in the process.”
Amazon declined to add any further comments.