[Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2008 will happen in Alexandria, Egypt

[Carlos Thompson]

Mark Williamson wrote:

> I personally object to the decision of the jury and hope the
> location is changed and the decision overturned on the following
> basis:
>
> Safety of conference participants, namely transgendered and
> transsexual individuals. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals
> are at a significantly lower level of risk.
>
> The risk for T. individuals is so great that it would be totally
> unsafe for them to enter the country at all.
>
> This is not a matter of boycotting a country because we disagree
> with its politics, this is a matter of not holding a conference
> in a country because we cannot ensure the safety of ALL
> participants.
>
> Just because you are not transgendered or transsexual yourself
> does not mean it is not your responsibility to ensure that people
> who wish to participate who ARE are not as safe as possible.

Bye bye my plans for a Wikimania in Bogotá.  There is a very small risk, but
certainly not null, that any people who want to participate would face
unsafety conditions.

It was a nice idea, though.

-- Carlos Th