The SFWA Blog today posted a “Statement from the SFWA Membership Credentials Committee” about an unidentifed writer:

Recently, a science fiction writer made a very public announcement of his application to join SFWA. SFWA Bylaws section VI.1.c.i gives discretion to the membership credentials committee “regardless of qualifications.” Based on the behavior of and online statements by this writer over the preceding year or so, which the credentials committee believes is inconsistent with the obligations that SFWA members have to one another, the committee has determined that it has good and sufficient cause to deny this membership. We did not take this step lightly, and we are sensitive to suggestions that this action is due to the writer’s political opinions: it is not. SFWA does not, and will not, impose a political test or political standard for membership. We strive to be welcoming to all SFF writers of good will, whatever their personal beliefs or opinions. However, the membership credentials committee, comprised by the sitting Board of Directors, believes that admitting this writer would not be in keeping with our obligations to our membership.

Interestingly, when SFWA revoked Theodore Beale’s membership, he also went unnamed in the announcement.

However, the “very public announcement of his application” (see “SFWA: Pending Membership” at the Internet Archive) and the attention given it in social media (such as the widely-read Twitter thread by A.Merc Rustad) in recent weeks means one name immediately popped to mind.

And in any case, Jon Del Arroz promptly self-identified:

I was just banned from @SFWA despite qualifying. 🙁 — Jon Del Arroz???? (@jondelarroz) January 20, 2018

Is there anyone else who's ever been pre-banned from entering @SFWA for pre-crimes? — Jon Del Arroz???? (@jondelarroz) January 20, 2018

Support for SFWA’s decision has already been voiced by several writers, as in this dialogue with critic Gareth M. Skarka by Scott Lynch and Chuck Wendig.

I have to respectfully disagree with you, G. 1. Nothing SFWA did was ever going to placate JDA. Staging his public martyr act in ostentatious bad faith is what he does. He was going to continue claiming martyrdom and victory regardless of objective reality forever. *Forever.* — Scott Lynch (@scottlynch78) January 21, 2018

2. I'm not super-inclined to agree to the idea that SFWA has any obligation to help a known troll troll it harder from the inside. — Scott Lynch (@scottlynch78) January 21, 2018

Real talk, if SFWA let him in, I'd likely quit. And I wouldn't be the only one. — Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) January 21, 2018

Ann Leckie tweeted:

Turns out when you trash talk an org, and harass, stalk, and threaten its members, that org turns out to be less than eager to admit you as a member. Huh. Who could have guessed. — Ann Leckie ? (@ann_leckie) January 20, 2018

Critics of the decision itself (not merely as tactics) already on record are Richard Paolinelli, Mad Genius Club columnist and writer Jason Cordova, and Superversive SF editor Jason Rennie, with doubtless more to come.

I wish I could say I was surprised but they've done this to myself (2007) and I'm sure a few others over the years. So much for them being "welcoming" and promoting "all" of SF/F. — An Eclectic Scribe: Richard Paolinelli (@ScribesShade) January 20, 2018

I’m not going to go out and claim that I won’t join the @SFWA now that they’ve declined @jondelarroz membership application. Why? Because I already swore I’d never join years ago. — Jason "Warp" Cordova (@WarpCordova) January 20, 2018

[Thanks to all who pointed me to this story.]