FIRST LGBT+ (A blog by and about LGBT+ people in FIRST)

[AJCaliciuri]

First off, I think this is an awesome idea!

I've read a lot of the comments in the thread, and I understand why some people may be concerned. But, when I was in High School, I had a really hard time fitting in and it was difficult for me to make friends. Being on a FIRST team was one of the first times I felt that I belonged. The way I see it, FIRST teams are supposed to be a safe place where students can explore their love of science and technology without being discriminated against for any reason (race/religion/gender/sexual orientation etc).

I don't think FIRST being open and welcoming to anyone who wants to be involved takes any political or social stance. Besides, this is a private effort that isn't directly affiliated with FIRST HQ.

Good luck on the blog and keep up the awesome work!

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Aura_

I believe this post is just to present an uproar in the FIRST community to unite over some pointless propaganda for a new blog.

It may benefit you to read the OP again, and to read Mr_Moko's subsequent posts. If you can read those thoroughly and still believe that his intent is only to ignite uproar, I think you may need to reevaluate how your own beliefs are affecting your judgement.

The intent is very clearly to provide resources to a group of student/mentors who are in the minority in FIRST. Similar to how we try to provide resources to women in engineering, LGBT+ is another group that could use them. That's it.

[Kingland093]

Originally Posted by AJCaliciuri

First off, I think this is an awesome idea!

I've read a lot of the comments in the thread, and I understand why some people may be concerned. But, when I was in High School, I had a really hard time fitting in and it was difficult for me to make friends. Being on a FIRST team was one of the first times I felt that I belonged. The way I see it, FIRST teams are supposed to be a safe place where students can explore their love of science and technology without being discriminated against for any reason (race/religion/gender/sexual orientation etc).

I don't think FIRST being open and welcoming to anyone who wants to be involved takes any political or social stance. Besides, this is a private effort that isn't directly affiliated with FIRST HQ.

Good luck on the blog and keep up the awesome work!

+1. My experience has been the same way as well. My FIRST team was really the first place I felt I belonged and could really excel at something I was really passionate about.

At the core, FIRST is about inspiration of ALL students and I think that this blog can be a great way to help inspire an extremely under represented minority.

Great work with the blog and good luck!!

[Aura_]

Originally Posted by Monochron

It may benefit you to read the OP again, and to read Mr_Moko's subsequent posts. If you can read those thoroughly and still believe that his intent is only to ignite uproar, I think you may need to reevaluate how your own beliefs are affecting your judgement.

The intent is very clearly to provide resources to a group of student/mentors who are in the minority in FIRST. Similar to how we try to provide resources to women in engineering, LGBT+ is another group that could use them. That's it.

I read it thoroughly the first time and believe this is a waste of a thread on chief delphi.

[MrRoboSteve]

FIRST's welcoming, accepting attitude is one major reason that I became involved. It's easy for someone in my position to think that things are perfect -- but that's my point of view showing.

The blog that Josh and others are creating helps me understand others FIRST experience, good or bad. I have the same goal as Alfred Adler: "Seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another".

[Liam Fay]

Originally Posted by Aura_

The thing that I believe that everyone is currently overlooking right now is how this topic irrelevant to the nature of FIRST. I am strongly against the ideas and beliefs of the LGBT+ society, but I do not think it is right to force my own opinions down someone else's throat. I do not see why it matters if a gay man writes an interesting blog post versus a straight one. It is not think that interacting with robots is a blatantly straight activity. I believe this post is just to present an uproar in the FIRST community to unite over some pointless propaganda for a new blog.

While my own opinions my differ from yours, you are entitled to your own opinion and I appreciate you feeling comfortable enough in this format to speak your mind. That said,

The importantance of having an FRC blog run by those in the LGBT+ community is perspective. We want to learn about FIRST from all perspectives and angles.

Second, I want to speak personally and say that the gays do not have some sort of propaganda-driven agenda.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Aura_

I read it thoroughly the first time and believe this is a waste of a thread on chief delphi.

Then we have nothing to discuss, you have my opinion about your perception. There are a good many people who have suggested their support for this thread so I recommend that you respectfully withdraw from the conversation. We don't have to speak about it further if you like.

[grstex]

Originally Posted by Aura_

I read it thoroughly the first time and believe this is a waste of a thread on chief delphi.

The value of this thread is a matter of perspective. No one's forcing you to join the conversation. In fact, you don't even have to respond to this post. I and others will understand if you don't want to open the link to this thread again, since you feel its a "waste."

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Aura_

I read it thoroughly the first time and believe this is a waste of a thread on chief delphi.

"I don't like this and disagree with it, so nobody should have to read about it."

This is the internet, feel free to not click on the incredibly clear thread title.

Who the hell cares if some people want to discuss this and some don't?

[mrnoble]

My team has a strong connection with LGBTQ in our community; a disproportionately large number of students are gay, bisexual, nonbinary, or have gay parents or siblings (about one in five on our team). I'm very happy to see INDIVIDUALS and TEAMS addressing the experiences of these folks as they relate to FIRST and other STEM activities. A shame (but not a surprise) that some folks find this to be negative. FRC is a large organization and there will be all kinds.

[mrnoble]

And Aura can earn respect for her/his/their opinion when he/she/they can drop the anonymous status.

[the_godfaubel]

First off, I would like to say that I love the blog idea. But, I would like to make a point after just listening to what Andy Baker had to say at the Indiana District Championship.

Those of you who are saying that FIRST is only about STEM couldn't be any further from what it truly is about. While you might only see students building robots and learning about STEM, you miss that we, as mentors, are trying to build better individuals. We teach them that sometimes failure is an inevitable step towards success. They need to understand that everything is not always going to going their way. Like any team, they need to learn to work together to achieve their goals. It's an application to the real world that you're not always going to like everyone that you work with. They learn to lean on and trust their teammates when they need to get through those tough times. A team, if built right, is like a family. True family will accept anyone for who they are, no matter what. To quote Dean Kamen off of the FIRST website, "FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect- of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future."

So, we eventually get to this idea for an LGBT blog for fellow FIRSTers. I don't know if many of you have been paying attention to the real world, but some people are saying some pretty cruel things about their community. Young people see what these people are saying and some of them are from the LGBT community. They get scared that they won't be accepted because of who they are and that's just not right. So, if this blog helps even one student by letting them know that they are not alone and are strong enough, then it's a perfect idea. You know what, if you don't agree with it, that's totally fine, but don't go complaining about how it doesn't represent FIRST because it absolutely does. If you don't like the blog idea, don't read it! No one is going to force you to.

To conclude, I am going to call out anybody who wants to exclude people because of how they look, who they love, or what gender they are. We need the world to be a more accepting place, and if you're preaching the opposite, well, you're part of the problem.

[asid61]

This sounds like a great idea! It's things like this that set FIRST apart from other organizations.
I don't think you'll end up integrating into the actual FIRST corporation, to avoid controversy, but as an outside movement I think it can be very successful.
Aura has given us a great example of why we need blogs like this.

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by grstex

I think Josh's stated goals are to provide resources for everyone, with a emphasis on and perspective from the LGBT+ community. It may be a separate page, but its a resource everyone can utilize when trying to confront diversity issues. Would you say groups like NEMO segregate non-engineer mentors from the rest of the FIRST community?

No, I don't view NEMO the same way. First, it is directly involved in FIRST. Second, many of the issues that are brought up are pertinent to the running of a team that engineering mentors aren't necessarily aware of. Third, I don't believe they started out as a group of people that felt disenfranchised. I believe it started as a group of people trying to figure out how they could contribute to teams and FIRST to advance the program.

Two other things is like to state:
1. I am an ally of LGBT+. I am only trying to raise questions about this idea to make people think about whether it truly is the best thing.
2. Instead of the logo being as it currently is, I'd suggest making it

LGBT+
in
FIRST

The way the logo currently appears, it seems as though this is an officially sanctioned FIRST concept/blog.

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by 1493kd

Sorry but your comparision of racism, anti-semitism, and pro-life/choice to LGBT is completely off.

You can choose to not be one and the other is who you are....

That is why such a blog can be helpful

How exactly does one choose their race? How exactly does one choose to be Jewish if they were born into a Jewish family? Racism and anti-semitism are the rhetoric that disenfranchises people in the situations.