Hundreds Flock To “LGBTQ in Technology” Group That Began With A Tweet

A new online community is attracting hundreds of tech-savvy LGBTQ people. Built on Slack, a platform typically used for workplace communication, the LGBTQ in Technology community now has over 400 members.

The community serves as a safe place to meet and connect with other LGBTQ individuals in technology, and includes over 150 “channels” that members can join, ranging from different programming languages, design, music, politics, news, to startups.

It Began With A Tweet

LGBTQ in Technology was started by Laurie Voss, a San Francisco-based web developer originally from Trinidad. Voss is currently the CTO of npm, the company that develops the npm Javascript package manager.

LGBTQ in Technology started back in December when Voss tweeted asking if anybody thought it was a good idea.

“The response was strong and immediate, so I set it up just a few minutes later.” recollects Voss, “It grew strongly over the holidays (people need a lot of support over the holidays!) and was solidly established by the time the new year rolled around.”

“Any of you who are LGBTQ and work in tech […] should be in this Slack” —Keith Kurson, an early member of the group.

Voss says the idea was inspired by a Slack he heard about from his co-worker for “Latin@s in tech” and thought an equivalent for LGBTQ people would be an obvious extension given his experience with online communities.

During the beginning of January 8th, various members of the “#frontend” (programming) channel on the group put together a website and Voss registered the lgbtq.technology domain name.

LGBTQ in Technology includes over 150 channels ranging from a variety of tech and programming topics to non-tech topics like music and fashion. Some members have set up location-specific channels such as Los Angeles and Canada.

Slack is typically meant for companies and teams to communicate internally – not necessarily for “communities” like this – but new groups like this have been forming recently and it’s not something Slack discourages. In fact, one of Slack’s developers is a member of the group.

Moderation and Rules

Other than Voss, LGBTQ in Technology is moderated by 7 different admins. “The other admins (there are 7) are all volunteers who responded to my requests for help, and I picked people on the basis of being distributed across time zones, so that there is always usually at least one admin awake to handle things.”

The community is highly moderated, making sure it remains a safe place for LGBTQ people. The website outlines its Code of Conduct and has an easy way for members to ping an admin if anyone is violating their guidelines.

A Safe Environment for LGBTQ People in Tech

LGBTQ in Technology is providing an environment for LGBTQ people to network, share stories, and give each other advice.

When asked about the importance of the group, Aria Stewart, one of the group’s admins, stressed the importance of workplace diversity and cited the underemployment rates of trans women.

“[LGBTQ in Technology] has been important because a lot of us get left out of broader diversity initiatives; it’s easy to get caught up in the easy and broad injustice of women in tech, but we’ve got race and sexuality and gender presentation to contend with.”

A 2009 survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force found that 26% of people lost their jobs because they are transgender. A shocking 97% of respondents also reported that they had experience mistreatment, harassment, or discrimination on their jobs.  

Getting an Invite

The group is by invitation-only but “invitations are freely granted.” LGBTQ people who are interested can send an email to lgbtqintech@seldo.com.

Already on LGBTQ in Technology? Join the #equaldex channel to chat about Equaldex!

The community is both accessible on the web and via Slack’s mobile apps.

More details can be found at LGBTQ in Technology’s website.

equaldex:

Today Is The Transgender Day of Remembrance

Take a moment to honor and celebrate those lives that were lost due to anti-transgender hate. Above is a list of the individuals who lost their lives this year. This is just a fraction of the trans people who were murdered this year — many more were documented but were unidentified in the media.

View the full list
Learn more on transgenderdor.org

—

Join us: Equaldex is a crowdsourced knowledge base for the LGBT movement.

November 20th, 2014: The Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Korean University: No Jobs for Homosexuals

Korea Nazarene University, a Christian university in Cheonan, South Korea, is telling its job applicants that “drinking, smoking, and homosexuality are not allowed.”

The listing was published on Tuesday and spotted by The Korea Observer, who contacted the university:

Ahn Kwang-jin, a senior official at Korea Nazarene University, told The Korea Observer that his university has a strict policy against drinking, smoking and homosexuality.

“We are letting you know that even if you make an application, you wouldn’t get the job unless you meet the stated requirements,” he said.“

A clipping of the job listing for the Korea Nazarene University:

Further, the full job application includes a "self health check list” that requires applicants to disclose if they are HIV positive or have had a “transsexual operation.”

Learn more: LGBT rights in South Korea or LGBT rights by country

In 29 States You Can Be Fired For Being Gay [Infographic]

Barack Obama tweeted his support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on Monday morning. “It’s time to put aside politics and extend basic workplace protections for LGBT Americans” the site’s campaign said.

Obama tweeted the infographic:

In 29 states, no state law protects you from being fired for being gay. Let’s fix that: http://OFA.BO/SfVv1Z #ENDA

View the campaign’s site

View more LGBT infographics

Nonprofit Buys House Across From Westboro Baptist Church, Paints It Rainbow Colored

Aaron Jackson, one of the founders of charity Planting Peace, decided to purchase a house across from the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church and then paint it the colors of the gay pride flag.

According to The Huffington Post, the organization purchased the Topeka, Kansas house for roughly $83,000. Planting Peace calls it “Equality House” and is the beginning of a campaign against the hate group.

“I didn’t know anything about the church or where they were located, but that story kept popping up. And one night I wondered, Where is this church? I got on Google Earth, and I was ‘walking down the road,’ and I did a 360 view. And I saw a 'For Sale’ sign sitting in the front yard of a house. Right away it hit me, Oh my gosh, I could buy a house in front of the WBC! And immediately I thought: And I’m going to paint that thing the color of the pride flag.”

Read the full article at The Huffington Post.

(Photos: Carol Hartsell / Huffington Post)

More: LGBT Rights in Kansas, United States

Lesbian teacher wins £15000 in discrimination case

A special needs teacher in Ireland who claimed she was discriminated against for being a lesbian was given a £15,000 payout, reports The Belfast Telegraph.

Jill Young, 37, began working at the Dundonald school in September 2003. She blamed the principal for bullying and harassment and accused him of suggesting she should leave. She left after three years.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board agreed to pay the money without admitting liability.

8 things gay people can’t do

Ranker.com user cdu827 created a [mostly US based] list of things gay people can’t do:

After Gay Pride in Los Angeles this last weekend, and the recent news that the ban on gay men giving blood may have a hard time being overturned, and ENDA being in question again, we thought it would be a good time to give the world a reminder of things that gay people still can’t do (but should be able to); from donating blood to even living in certain communities. Hopefully this list is an eye-opener for people (of any sexual orientation) who aren’t paying attention.

View the list »

What do you think? Is anything missing from the list? Reblog and share your thoughts!

City can’t force owner to remove “to be gay = death” sign

A Wyoming man who has painted “to be gay = death,” on his fence near a high school cannot be forced to remove it, according to city officials.

According to the report by trib.com, the sign is placed where many students walk to high school. Chris Trumbull claims that he painted it there because “because society is not looking at the truth.”

The sign is Trumbull’s interpretation of the Bible passage Leviticus 20:13, which states:

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

After refusing to remove the message when asked, city officials claim that the message is protected speech and there was nothing the city could do to remove it.

(Photo: Dan Cepeda/Star-Tribune)

Kentucky teen kidnapped, almost pushed off cliff for being gay

A homosexual Kentucky teenager was kidnapped last Friday in an attempt to push her off a cliff.

According to LEX18, Kentucky State Police are investigating an incident where 18 year old Cheyenne Williams was kidnapped by three teens; 18 year old Ashley Sams, 18 year old Corinne Schwab and a juvenile.

Williams was brought to Flat Lick Falls where the three attempted to push her over a cliff. Williams escaped and ran to help.

All three are being charged with criminal attempt to commit murder and kidnapping. 

LEX 18 reports that friends have told the station that Williams was attacked for one reason only—because she is homosexual.

(Photo: LEX18)

Day of Silence on Twitter: Equalitopia’s Photo Project

Equalitopia is running this campaign to promote awareness on Twitter and to allow participants to creatively express their support.

The Day of Silence is the GLSEN’s annual day of action to create awareness of the bullying and harassment that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students go through. Supporters take a vow of silence to protest and raise awareness about these issues.

Add Your Photo to the Project »

Equalitopia and this project are not affiliated with GLSEN.