IMHO we should divide criteria into two categories, reflecting two
different kind of issue:
*someone *cannot* partecipate because of a certain issue -> the proposal is
rejected
*someone may not feel comfortable in partecipating -> the proposal is
somehow penalized
In other words, if LGBT people is at risk in Saudi Arabia then Wikimania
cannot be held in Saudi Arabia. If LGBT people might face some difficulties
in North Carolina then North Carolina will lose a certain amount of
preference to -for example- Belgium where LGBT people might be more
comfortable.
I know this might weaken our effort to reach non-Western countries but I
rather support giving anybody the *opportunity* to partecipate.
Vito
2016-10-18 12:42 GMT+02:00 Gerard Meijssen <gerard.meijssen(a)gmail.com>om>:
Hoi,
I do care that everybody can come to places where they are safe. All the
specific LGBT attention to safety is however on many levels problematic
when we prioritise this over other safety aspects. The big picture for me
is that we need to go to places where bringing Wikipedia and what it stands
for the most good. It is why I would go to Russia, to China to India to
South Africa.
They all have their issues but remember what our aim is not for the perfect
holiday destination. We aim to bring the sum of all knowledge everywhere.
The thing with safety is that it is very much in behaviour. I am not at
ease when I travel. When I go to places like the USA, I am amazed and feel
harassed by all the visible guns. It feels like I am in a police series...
I know it has nothing to do with me but I feel as safe there as I did in
Alexandria, Mumbai, Buenos Aires because I am there for one thing only.
Wikimania.
By excluding destinations, we restrict our ability to reach out to places
where our message needs to be heard. That is why I am filled with mixed
feelings about all the attention of safety in "other places". The USA is
another place to me where I feel not safe, where LGBT rights are not
guaranteed either.
It is possible to be safe particularly when I concentrate why I am there in
the first place.
Thanks,
GerardM
On 17 October 2016 at 23:39, Ellie Young <eyoung(a)wikimedia.org> wrote:
Yes we are doing a review and I can vouch that
issues like this will
always
be a part of the criteria when selecting a venue.
In most of the recent
Wikimanias the selection committee and WMF have included the security of
our LGBT community as one of the criteria when considering bids.
Another critical issue that you mention below when deciding what to do
for
future Wikimanias is whether the conference in
its present form
(program,
location, etc.) is serving the community and WMF.
That is a longer
conversation that I hope we can continue to have and make some progress
in
the near future.
Ellie
On Sun, Oct 16, 2016 at 10:26 AM, Pine W <wiki.pine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Pax,
>
> My understanding is that WMF is doing a strategic review of Wikimania.
If
> that is correct, considerations like the
ones you raise about location
> could be included in the scope of that review. I'm pinging Ellie with
the
> hope that she can provide information about
the status of WMF's
thinking
> about Wikimania, perhaps in a new thread.
Wikimania involves
significant
> amounts of time and money, and I am hoping
that WMF will develop ways
to
> align Wikimania with WMF and community
strategic goals.
>
> Pine
>
> On Oct 16, 2016 08:10, "Pax Ahimsa Gethen" <
list-wikimedia(a)funcrunch.org
wrote:
> Hello all. I had a positive experience at WikiConference North America
> last weekend, where I gave a talk on transgender issues and
Wikipedia.[1]
>> I'm posting because there's an active discussion in Wikipedia Weekly
on
>
Facebook about choosing a host country for Wikimania 2018.[2] I am
> concerned that some of the suggestions are not taking into account the
> safety of LGBT+ people; not just those attending the conference, but
also
> those living in the host country.
>
> As a queer trans atheist in a same-sex marriage, there are a number of
> places where I am considered a criminal for just existing or going
about my
> daily routine. This applies to some parts of
the U.S. as well, by the
way;
>> I won't be visiting North Carolina as long as it's illegal for me to
use
>> the men's restroom there. Please
keep these considerations in mind
when
>> planning meetups and conferences. Thank
you.
>>
>> - Pax aka Funcrunch
>>
>> [1]
http://funcrunch.org/blog/2016/10/12/making-connections-at-w
>> ikiconference-north-america/
>>
>> [2]
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wikipediaweekly/permalink/11
>> 14259788621851/
>>
>> --
>> Pax Ahimsa Gethen |
http://funcrunch.org
>>
>>
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Ellie Young
Events Manager
Wikimedia Foundation
eyoung(a)wikimedia.org
c. 510 701 8649
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