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Criticism of diversity issues at AWP inflamed by Kate Gale piece

Questions are swirling about diversity at the Association of Writer & Writing Programs conference.

Questions are swirling about diversity at the Association of Writer & Writing Programs conference.

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By Carolyn Kellogg
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It looks like AWP has a diversity problem.

Social media has been aflame with commentary over a Huffington Post piece meant to address charges that AWP -- the Assn. of Writers & Writing Programs -- doesn't support diversity at its annual conference. Titled "AWP Is Us," the post's references to ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians rehearsed outdated cliches that immediately offended a wide readership.


Critics were particularly concerned that the post was written by Kate Gale, one of 18 members of the Los Angeles subcommittee involved in planning events around AWP's 2016 conference, which will be held in the city. Gale, founder and managing editor of the L.A.-based Red Hen Press, has removed her piece from the Huffington Post site, replacing it with an apology, sort of.


Gale's piece -- which can be read in its entirety in a screen capture at Publishers Weekly -- followed a petition launched last week that claims the organization "is not meeting the needs of writers with disabilities." Gale's piece listed a number of minority and marginalized groups and appeared to make light of their complaints.

Gale's piece included this anecdote: "This summer I was at a dinner and someone leaned across to me and confided, 'AWP hates Native Americans.' 'Really now?' I said. 'I'm going to be in Washington this summer and I'd love to discuss this with them.' I took out a pen and paper. 'Who hates Indians at the office there? Is it Fenza?' I pictured [AWP Executive Director] David Fenza saddling up a horse, Stetson in place, going out to shoot Indians." She attempted to express her affinity for minority groups by explaining that she herself is "50% Jewish" and "30% gay."


On Wednesday, AWP officially distanced itself from Gale's statement.

Some longtime supporters of AWP such as professor and critic Rigoberto González expressed support of the organization as a whole.

Others pointed out that Gale had not represented Los Angeles particularly well.

When reached for comment, Gale declined to respond to the Los Angeles Times' questions, instead supplying her previously written statement.

Book news and more: I'm @paperhaus on Twitter.

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Carolyn Kellogg

Carolyn Kellogg was Books editor of the Los Angeles Times from 2016 to 2018. She joined the L.A. Times in 2010 as a staff writer in books with an emphasis on digital projects. Her work was recognized with the paper’s editorial award. For six years, she served on the board of directors of the National Book Critics Circle. Prior to coming to The Times, she served as editor of LAist.com, web editor of Marketplace and as the web editor of the California Community Foundation. In her spare time, she ran a podcast interviewing authors called Pinky’s Paperhaus. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California.

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