THE CRISIS
Beginning in mid April, reports began emerging from the Russian Republic of Chechnya of gay men being arrested and tortured. Humanitarian organizations across the globe are marshalling resources to do what they can about the situation, and international leaders are putting pressure on Putin to intervene. Organizations on the ground have been successful helping a few individuals escape to safety, but more resources are needed.
If you would like more information about the crisis, here’s a LINK to get you started.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
A group of authors has banded together to spread the word and raise money to help. Readers & Writers for LGBT Chechens has vetted the charities most directly involved in providing assistance in Chechnya and have already raised over $7,000 U.S. They have put together several ways to contribute:
IF YOU ARE A READER
You can make direct donations to organizations helping vulnerable Chechens.
You can bid at an on-line AUCTION May 5-12 where authors have donated books and services. Proceeds will benefit the Russian LGBT Network, ILGA-Europe, and Rainbow Railroad, which are helping LGBT Chechens escape to safety.
IF YOU ARE AN AUTHOR:
You can set aside royalties for the Russion LGBT Network.
You can make direct donations to organizations helping vulnerable Chechens: the Russian LGBT Network, ILGA-Europe, and Rainbow Railroad, which are helping LGBT Chechens escape to safety.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
We are participating in the auction by donating an autographed paperback copy of our erotic romance ménage The Reunion, which won the 2014 Bisexual Writers Association award for best erotic fiction.
BLURB
Dark and brooding, Adam Granger was always the bad boy out of reach—but now he’s in Sarah Atkinson’s bed, the morning after their twentieth high school reunion. When Adam beats a retreat to his Pacific Palisades estate, former good girl Sarah throws caution to the wind and pursues him.
Petite copper-skinned Maria Ramirez greets Sarah at Adam’s front door. The former exotic dancer doesn’t challenge Sarah’s assumption she’s the maid—how long will it take the dark-haired beauty to figure out Maria is Adam’s live-in lover? Better yet, how long before Maria can entice her into their bed?
Determined not to rock his hard-won lifestyle, Adam resolves to push Sarah past her sexual limits so she’ll leave. When she stays, he watches helplessly as the two women fall in love with each other. Will they shut him out? And, if they let him in, what must he sacrifice?
WHY WE CARE
It’s simple. We have a gay son who is fortunate to live in a nation where marriage equality is the law of the land, even though bias, prejudice, and discrimination still impact all our lives. This is one small way we can reach out to others whose very lives are at risk.
We hope you’ll join us.
