[Hallry]

Posted on the FRC Blog, 5/23/16: http://www.firstinspires.org/robotic...RC-and-LGBT%2B

FRC and LGBT+

Written by Frank Merrick, 2016 MAY 23.


In case you don’t know, and might be interested, there is a blog run by LGBT+ students in FRC for LGBT+ folks in the FRC community. You can find it here.

I think this blog is a great idea, and would feel the same for any segment of the FRC community that might not always feel fully welcomed, and wanted their own customized space to talk about their experiences, share resources, and maybe help people not familiar with their situation learn more. I want to believe that all of FRC is welcoming of the full, magnificent diversity of our species on this planet, but I know that when it comes down to it in practice, that is not always true, and it hurts my heart.

As part of my job, I’m lucky enough to meet all kinds of people, from CEOs, to politicians, to students from all over the world, to AmeriCorps VISTA program members, just barely scraping by and supporting FIRST in underserved communities in the U.S. And my personal experience with these individuals, regardless of the size of their bank account, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, or any other attribute, is overwhelmingly positive. If I were mentoring an FRC team, and you were an LGBT+ student or mentor, or a member of any other marginalized group, for you I would have a slice of pizza on a paper plate, a seat at the workbench, and open arms.

It’s not perfect out there, and sometimes it’s absolutely awful, but I’m seeing positive changes, both in society and in FRC, and I can imagine a day, not impossibly distant, when we recognize and value each other for who we are, in all our glorious diversity.

Frank