From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.fandom

In 2024 there were a couple of antisemitic incidents connected with
fannish awards and conventions. I haven't heard of anything on that
scale recently, but it's something to be aware of. I've written a blog
post on the issue.

https://garymcgath.com/antisemitism-in-sff-fandom/

Here's the content of the post, without links:


In 2024, there were some disturbing actions in science fiction/fantasy
fandom against people who are from Israel or support its existence. IrCOve blogged about some of them before. Vancouver Comics Arts Festival banned
an artist for being Israeli. A statement by the convention berated the
earlier organizers for their rCLignorancerCY in inviting someone who had served in IsraelrCOs armed forces in the early 2000s. The CRIT awards put
a blanket exclusion on nominating anyone who supports Zionism (i.e.,
supports the existence of a Jewish state). Both sets of bigots got
slapped down and are now being less public, but theyrCOve shown that the problem exists in fandom.

IrCOm not Jewish, but IrCOm part of northeastern filk fandom, which has a heavy Jewish component. Till recently, I was the only non-Jewish officer
of MASSFILC, and at one point I was the token goy on a con committee.
IrCOm aware of the issues. There have been online discussions by Jewish
fans about the hostility theyrCOve experienced.

Clear lines are important. It isnrCOt antisemitism to criticize IsraelrCOs conduct in Gaza or even to think establishing the modern nation of
Israel was a bad idea. But it is to ban people for being Israeli or
supporting IsraelrCOs existence, especially when thatrCOs the only category thatrCOs banned.

How much of this is happening? I havenrCOt found other documented
incidents besides those two, but IrCOm inclined to think that where there
are two that have gotten attention, more must be hiding out of view. The Vancouver event banned the artist because of rCLactivists protesting the individualrCOs presence in a manner that caused concern for the safety of
our volunteers, staff, and exhibitors.rCY Banning people rCLfor their protectionrCY is disgusting, but it tells us that other people were acting dangerously. Or maybe that the organizers invented a threat where there wasnrCOt one; that happens too. IrCOve run into a claim that Tel Aviv is in rCLoccupied Palestine,rCY in the context of a Worldcon bid, since withdrawn, for that city. (Hebrews or Judaeans or whatever they were called at
different times have lived in that area continuously since a rather
large number BC.)

The parts of fandom IrCOve involved in skew toward older people who are
well read, and the antisemitism seems to come more from younger fan
groups. Antisemitism has lately been increasing in younger demographic
groups. A lot of people in that demographic also like to call anyone
they disagree with a rCLNazi.rCY Make whatever sense you can of that.

IrCOm not advocating panic, but in fandom we need to recognize bigotry
when we see it and call it out.
--
Gary McGath http://www.mcgath.com

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.fandom

On Thu, 6 Nov 2025 09:41:50 -0500, Gary McGath wrote:

Clear lines are important. It isnrCOt antisemitism to criticize IsraelrCOs conduct in Gaza or even to think establishing the modern nation of
Israel was a bad idea. But it is to ban people for being Israeli or supporting IsraelrCOs existence, especially when thatrCOs the only category thatrCOs banned.

Don't know why your bring this here, but...

People aren't banned for being Israeli or supporting Israel's existence.
They are banned because they refuse to take a stance against Israel's
actions concerning the genocide in Gaza and/or because they support the
IDF that is committing these war crimes.

BTW the word 'antisemitic' has lost all of its meaning nowadays due to
people like Netanyahu who cry 'antisemitic' every time someone takes a
position against Israel (not the Jews in particular, but Israel as a
_state_). People who dare doing this are either wrongfully labeled as 'antisemitic' or 'pro Hamas'. Usually even both in the same sentence.
This is only to distract of is really going on: a genocide and the
creation of a 'Greater Israel', something that Netanyahu, wanted by the
ICC for war crimes, supports.
--
s|b
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.fandom

On 11/8/25 9:07 AM, s|b wrote:

On Thu, 6 Nov 2025 09:41:50 -0500, Gary McGath wrote:

Clear lines are important. It isnrCOt antisemitism to criticize IsraelrCOs >> conduct in Gaza or even to think establishing the modern nation of
Israel was a bad idea. But it is to ban people for being Israeli or
supporting IsraelrCOs existence, especially when thatrCOs the only category >> thatrCOs banned.

Don't know why your bring this here, but...

People aren't banned for being Israeli or supporting Israel's existence.
They are banned because they refuse to take a stance against Israel's
actions concerning the genocide in Gaza and/or because they support the
IDF that is committing these war crimes.

This person tried to put the same words into a comment on my blog post.
I don't allow lies there.

Neither of the two organizations I cited claimed refusal to make a
statement or support for the IDF as the reason for the exclusion. The Vancouver Comics Arts Festival gave two different stories. First they
claimed that Libicki was banned for having been in the Israeli military
(which is obligatory for citizens) long before the current conflict.
Later they changed their statement to claim it was because of "public
safety concerns."

The CRIT Awards banned anyone who supported Zionism, which means
supporting the existence of Israel.

But let's suppose they did ban people for the absence of making a
statement. I've never heard of non-Jews being required to express their opinion on the Gaza war as a condition of being considered for an award
or admitted to an event. We'd be talking about a special requirement
imposed on Jews. And maybe you'd want a yellow star, just to be safe?>

BTW the word 'antisemitic' has lost all of its meaning nowadays due to
people like Netanyahu who cry 'antisemitic' every time someone takes a position against Israel (not the Jews in particular, but Israel as a _state_). People who dare doing this are either wrongfully labeled as 'antisemitic' or 'pro Hamas'. Usually even both in the same sentence.
This is only to distract of is really going on: a genocide and the
creation of a 'Greater Israel', something that Netanyahu, wanted by the
ICC for war crimes, supports.

The bans I cited weren't directed against any state, but against people
who are from that state or favor its existence. The word "antisemitic" continues to have a clear meaning, and it applies to you for all your
verbal gymnastics.

Don't ever try to dump your dirt on my blog again.
--
Gary McGath http://www.mcgath.com
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