Dear OSGeo Board,
On the 20th of February I wrote in response to a concern raised on LGBT+
concerns in Dar es Salaam. To this, set out the following four action
points:
To help move forward on this, we will 1. Ensure that we provide
guidance
to those in our community on this issue; 2. Seek dialog within our
community
on this issue, I am personally contactable on this and fully
welcome any and
all people who wish to discuss this on a face-to-face (over VC) or
any other
medium that the community would feel better with; 3. Recommend that the
board puts in place guidance for future OSGEO conferences other
this issues;
4. Support the formation of an LGBT+ grouping within OSGEO to
better support
appropriate guidance on this issue.
To update on this:
1. We are collaborating with Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team on this
issue,
to ensure that the response to our mutual communities are in
lock-step on
this issue. Guidance will be published for consultation for the
conference
shortly;
2. I have reached out to members of the LGBT+ community that I know
personally on a bilateral basis. I would welcome further dialogue
with the
OSGeo LGBT+ community on a bilateral, private basis for people to voice
their concerns in confidence;
Points 3 and 4 are of specific interest, in the view of the LOC of
FOSS4G
2018, as we can set policy direction for our conference, but have no
mandate
nor mechanism to set policy across OSGeo. To this end, I would formally
request, in my role of Chair of FOSS4G for the OSGeo Board to provide
direction to future FOSS4G conferences and to further support and
service
this community within our wider community.
Clearly, there is a desire for LGBT+ to be considered further in our
community - as noted in the transcript of the previous board meeting
[1],
but I think this needs to be communicated to our wider community - I
see the
discussions on the OSGeo board mailing list, though this may not
have the
widest circulation. I am also available to have a video conference
with the
board, at their earliest possible convenience if such an invitation was
extended.
Finally, I really want to stress this for our conference in Dar es
Salaam
this year to our community: We want to have the most inclusive
conference
that we can possibly have. In the same way that previous FOSS4G
events in
Boston and North Carolina have demonstrated, our conferences have
dealt with
challenges within the wider legislative framework of their host
country, we
as a community are welcoming to any and all with open arms. We will
publish
guidance for those travelling, and if you still wish to participate but
cannot come to Dar es Salaam, get in touch with us - we will help
you get
involved! Our FOSS4G will only be successful due to ALL the people
in our
OSGeo community; we are a big and dynamic family - we will reflect
and live
that this year in Dar es Salaam, and I hope in the many years to come.
Best,
Mark
[1] https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Board_Meeting_2018-03-01
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: jorge.dejesus <jorge.deje...@geocat.net
<mailto:jorge.deje...@geocat.net>>
Date: 21 February 2018 at 08:26
Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Conf] LGBT in Tanzania
To: conference_...@lists.osgeo.org
<mailto:conference_...@lists.osgeo.org>
Hi to all
I was following the LGBT in Tanzania discussion, and I am happy to
see the
question added to the next RfP.
The discussion on LGBT rights and safety requires a bit of common
sense, I
am LGBT it is one part of my live as being OsGEO member is another
(one of
many) part(s), normally these two don't intercept much, personally I
think
this is why the LGBT community is present in OsGEO but very invisible.
What?? No LGBT birds of the feather in FOSS4G ???
Having a code of conduct that is non discriminatory, we must take into
consideration the rights of minorities and safety of ALL the
participants of
and a OsGEO conference, the LOC have to do their best for the
safety. LOC
should also informed participants on what are the real problems that
participants may have to face, then is up to the participants to
decide if
they fell comfortable to to attend the conference.
Again, nice to see this topic discussed and remember these comments
are my 2
cents
Enjoy your day
Jorge
On 21-02-18 10:30, Till Adams wrote:
Darrell, @ohers,
thanks for the sum up, I agree in including such a question in the next
RfP. In order to preserve your proposal, I've added your
questionTill here:
https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Rfp
I will add this to the next RfP-text.
Till
Am 20.02.2018 um 18:32 schrieb Darrell Fuhriman:
"FOSS4G attracts a global, diverse community. Are there any laws, or
social norms, in your proposed location that would make members of our
community feel unsafe or unwelcome? That could include, but is not
limited to, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, policies that would prevent the free
exercise of religion, restrictions on certain activities based on
gender or other factor, etc?”
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