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Amazon users this weekend noticed that a wide variety of books with gay and lesbian themes -- including Heather Has Two Mommies and books on how to come out -- were reclassified as "adult" and consequently no longer given sales ranks, nor would they come up on search requests, even though what appeared to be heterosexually oriented books with similar themes were not so classified.

Discussion broke out among a variety of social media systems, most notably on Twitter, using the hashtag #amazonfail, as people checked various books and reported back. The controversy also hit major print media, including the and Los Angeles Times. There is also the requisite Facebook group, , with 2,180 members.

Amazon called it a "glitch" and said it would be repaired, and in fact as of Monday morning people were reporting that sales ranks were back on a number of the books. It was also pointed out that some authors had been reporting this "glitch" since .

However, Amazon is not saying how the "glitch" happened, and the Internet continues to be ablaze with speculation, ranging from posts calling Amazon a Republican-oriented company to an organized plot by religious conservatives over the holiday weekend to mark gay-themed books as "adult" and so have them removed from the system. One LiveJournal poster even claimed responsibility.

Meanwhile, though, Heather Has Two Mommies is no longer ranked as an "adult" book and has its sales rank back.

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Dani AI

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As pointed out, this thread documents a sudden, large-scale classification problem that made many LGBT-themed titles harder to find. That spike in visibility loss looks disruptive — and it’s exactly the kind of catalog/metadata problem that can be both technical and operational rather than proof of intent. Below are concise, practical points to help diagnose and respond if anyone encounters the same behavior.

Common technical/operational mechanisms that can produce the effect described:

  • Automated classification or moderation filters that tag product records as “adult” based on metadata, keywords, or pattern matches.
  • Metadata or category (BISAC/subject) errors supplied by publishers, distributors or third-party sellers.
  • ASIN/listing merges, splits or suppressed offers that temporarily remove a product’s sales-rank and search visibility.
  • Manual takedown or review actions (policy enforcement) that remove discoverability while under review.

Steps to diagnose and remediate (authors/publishers first, readers next):

  1. Capture evidence immediately: ASIN(s), ISBN(s), product page screenshots with timestamps and search-result screenshots.
  2. Search by ASIN/ISBN to see whether multiple listings or editions exist. Note any “Not yet ranked” or “Unavailable” flags.
  3. Rights-holders: open a ticket via the appropriate Amazon channel (Author Central / KDP support / Seller Central), include ASIN/ISBN, screenshots, and the exact wording shown on the product page. Ask specifically for catalog classification and sales-rank reinstatement.
  4. Readers: use the product-page “report incorrect product details” or contact Customer Service with the ASIN and your screenshots.
  5. Track responses, save all case IDs, and consolidate evidence if multiple titles are affected.

Community and caution: document and share ASIN lists and timestamps so patterns can be analyzed, but avoid unverified accusations. Collective, well-documented reports and calm escalation through the proper Amazon channels produce the fastest fixes; sustained failures to respond are the point to consider broader public or media action.

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