Choice is a publication by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). In September 2003, an unnamed reviewer at Choice wrote one of the few positive reviews for the transphobic book The Man Who Would Be Queen by J. Michael Bailey. This led to several academic libraries spending limited resources on a hardcover book that was available for free online from the publisher Joseph Henry Press.
Marketing Director Ann Merchant quoted Choice in revised promotional material for the book:
“Bailey is a sympathetic and compassionate believer who wants to convert others. This is a fascinating read… Summing up: Highly recommended.”
CHOICE, September 2003, via Joseph Henry Press (PDF)
2004 Stonewall Book Award nomination
In December 2003, Cecil Hixon, Chair of ALA’s 2004 Stonewall Book Award Committee, announced that Bailey’s book was one of 39 books shortlisted as a nonfiction nominee. The winner was John D’Emilio’s Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin.
References
American Library Association – ALA (ala.org)
Association of College & Research Libraries – ACRL (ala.org/acrl)
Choice (ala.org/acrl/choice)
GLBTRT Newsletter (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Round Table)
- Winter 2003 (PDF)
- http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/newsletter/newsletters/winter03.pdf