[Foundation-l] Concern for the safety of Wikimaniansin Alexandria

[Marc Riddell]

I guess I don't take directions (or even "requests") very well; especially
when they are shouted at me :-). The question is then, if the investigation
by Mike and Sue does reveal that there is overt prejudice against
homosexuals in Alexandria, will the location be changed to a more tolerant
city?

Marc


on 3/6/08 11:31 AM, Brian McNeil at brian.mcneil at wikinewsie.org wrote:

> I have a simple request here - and it applies to this topic but does not add
> to the discussion on it.
> 
> SHUT UP UNTIL MIKE AND SUE HAVE DONE THEIR INVESTIGATION/ANALYSIS!
> 
> In the space of approximately 12 hours I ended up with over 170 messages in
> my foundation-l folder, mainly on the Alexandria issue. Those that I read
> added little or nothing to the discussion and were rehashing of already
> flogged-to-death aspects of the location decision. No wonder board members
> don't want to be involved in this list; some people make it a full-time
> occupation just to read it.
> 
> Sue has been asked to look into this by the board, and I'd guess that's why
> Mike is posting about it to keep people informed on an investigation that
> has been partly delegated to him and is ongoing. I have every confidence
> that Mike will liaise with the WM2008 organisers and get details on what
> contact they've had with local law enforcement about security measures. A
> little understanding about the fact that some security is "security through
> obscurity" is required.
> 
> I've tried to stay out of this debate-cum-debacle that the mailing list has
> become; instead I'm trying to put together a team of Wikinewsies to turn up,
> do coverage of the event, talks, and workshops. Hell, I even managed to
> persuade Mike Halterman to put his name down and he makes no secret of being
> gay.
> 
> 
> Brian McNeil
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org
> [mailto:foundation-l-bounces at lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Marc Riddell
> Sent: 06 March 2008 17:16
> To: Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Foundation-l] Concern for the safety of Wikimaniansin
> Alexandria
> 
> on 3/6/08 10:58 AM, Mike Godwin at mgodwin at wikimedia.org wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Marc Riddell writes:
>> 
>>> Thanks, Chad, for your clarification. I am frankly amazed by the
>>> decision to
>>> hold the event in Alexandria. Given what has been said about the
>>> cultural
>>> and social attitudes toward homosexuality; it would be like having a
>>> sponsored gathering in 1950s Birmingham, Alabama, and telling the
>>> African-Americans not to "flaunt their blackness". It is one of the
>>> most
>>> insensitive decisions I have heard an institution make in a long time.
>> 
>> I want to be clear about one point -- no one at the Foundation has
>> urged anyone not to "flaunt" anything at Wikimania.
>> 
>> There is plenty of reason to believe that all sorts of expressions of
>> affection between men or between women are acceptable public behavior
>> in Alexandria (as in many other cultures).  As I've said, I'm
>> consulting with a number of sources to obtain good guidelines for all
>> of us to follow. I hope to have further useful information soon.
>> 
>> 
>> --Mike
>> 
> Thank you for this, Mike. I still am, however, puzzled why the decision was
> made to hold a major, sponsored event in a place where a sizable portion of
> the guests are not welcome; and, in some cases, are treated with hostility.
> Is this not condoning bigotry?
> 
> Marc
> 
> 
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