Why is RuPaul’s online store Allstora filled with homophobic books?

The online bookstore co-founded by the 'Drag Race' icon defended its choice to carry the controversial books

This week RuPaul launched Allstora in partnership with the founders of the Rainbow Book Bus. The marketplace bills itself as offering more than 10 million titles that appeal to a wide range of audiences with a focus on uplifting the voices of underrepresented groups, including LGBTQ2S+ people, women, and communities of colour.

But the site has come under social media fire after some eagle-eyed users realized among it was also platforming and selling a slew of anti-trans and anti-queer books and authors.

When reached by Xtra, Allstora declined to comment directed to a newly updated FAQ page, which defends carrying the controversial books as part of a “marketplace devoid of censorship.”

Xtra senior editor Mel Woods breaks down what’s going on, and how these books ended up there in the first place.

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Books, Video, Culture, Video, Drag, Trans, Censorship

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