OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO FANS OF SLASH

Open Letter
Title:	OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO FANS OF SLASH
From:
Addressed To:	Blake's 7 fandom
Date(s):	February 1989
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Blake's 7
Topic:
External Links:
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OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO FANS OF SLASH is a early 1989 open letter by Helig Benedict (a pseud).

the letter

It addresses The Blake's 7 Wars and slash zines.

The letter was printed in Magnificent Tails #2.

Some Topics Discussed

• the author assumes that everyone is telling the truth about what correspondence they have sent and received
• the author says there is "documented proof" of her statements, but doesn't provide any
• suggests that good fans in Australia will make the correct decision and not read or write any more slash; but that won't stop bad fans from continuing
• the author states that she doesn't like slash art so her friends don't show it to her, a courtesy she thinks fans can extend to the Darrows - this is a false correlation unless she is talking about the fic that almost certainly doesn't exist. The Darrows had the right to not seek it fanworks out as well as not engage when presented with them. What the author is hoping is tht fans (in Australia!) won't "write/read" slash anymore.
• a lot of naivete, wanting to believe, protecting one's turf

The Letter

There is going round this fandom some nasty rumors, innuendos, attacks and plain misstatements. Some of you have heard some of it, and some of you may be worried about the future of slash.

Here are the facts, backed by documented proof should any of you require it (this fandom is driven on too much hearsay as it is).

FIRST, there is no plan, attempt or effort whatsoever on the part of Paul or Janet Darrow, or Terry Nation, to control, ban or abolish slash. There is no intention anywhere of doing so. As a matter of fact, several fans had a frank discussion with Terry Nation in January about the subject, explaining to him why they liked slash.

SECOND, there is coming out of Australia a voluntary cessation of slash, as a courtesy to the Darrows who don't like slash. I repeat, voluntary, and that means it's up to you, folks. No one is demanding that you stop reading/writing it. Some fans in Australia just thought it would be a nice thing to do. If you don't, don't.

THIRD, there is a rumor promulgated by certain parties that the Darrows have started to ’blacklist' certain writers of slash with a cease and desist order. The fact is that Ann Wortham, Leah Rosenthal and Linda Terrell have gotten a cease and desist, not for writing slash, but for slander, libel and harassment. Linda Terrell continues to harass people in the UK, New Zealand and California.

She calls it 'passing on information.' As a recipient, I call it harassment. There has been an attempt to cause difficulty with Immigration for certain guests with whom certain other fans have problems. The Darrows have been 'informed' that their actor friends talk behind their backs about them. Letters, telephone calls... harassment, folks. The three women in question have already demonstrated their contempt for Paul Darrow and Michael Keating. I think it is only fair if these gentlemen consequently wish to restrict the use of their own faces. The cease and desist, contrary to Ms. Terrell’s objections to the contrary, is a legal document, binding as evidentiary in court of law. And that is the only correspondence to these women by the Darrows except for returned unwanted letters. These three women are hardly being harassed in turn, as they claim.

Where does that leave the rest of us? Reading and writing and publishing slash if we want. The Darrows don't like slash. They don't have to like it. It is their right to voice an opinion (in particular when it is Paul's body and likeness being used). But they do understand that slash is popular and have absolutely no intention of 'stamping it out' or denying you your constitutional rights to 'free press.' Neither do they have to keep silent about their opinion. That is their constitutional right as well - freedom of speech. You would grant that right to a fellow fan, wouldn't you?

For example, I really object to slash art, and a slash publisher/writer friend knows that objection, and so she doesn't show me the art. I think we could at least extend the same courtesy to the Darrows.

So again, you stand in no danger of losing slash fiction. You have no reason to worry, just because three women don't want to be alone with their cease and desist, handed to them on reasons totally unrelated to slash.

Peace, Helig Benedict, Magnificent Tails