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

[ajdoming]

Originally Posted by TheModMaster8

i should have clarified my meaning of putting happiness in others, I meant putting happiness/acceptance in friendships will normaly fail given enough time.however you normal can find both of these in other forms of relationships, I.e spouse or your kids/parents, (these are normal the ones that last forever) as the saying goes. "friends come and go but family is forever."

Unfortunately, there are many people for which "family is forever" doesn't apply. As young people likely to spend the next several years moving around and interacting with thousands of people I would discourage an attitude that 'friendship is fleeting'. If you cultivate and maintain your close friendships they can easily be lifelong and as fulfilling as familial relationships.

[GabrielaH]

Very glad to see this. Can't wait to see it's impact on creating an inclusive environment for the LGBT+ community in FIRST!

[jweston]

This sounds like a wonderful idea. Statistically speaking, all teams have LGBTQI people living in their communities. That includes your community whether you realize it or not. It is my hope that we all understand how valuable it is to diversify our teams if we want to fulfill our mission of spreading interest in STEM. Unfortuntely, there is still a lot of prejudice against and fear of non-heteronormative people in the world. This blog has the potential to help teams become better acquainted with LGBTQI people and understand some of the unique issues they face, especially issues that pertain to their participation on a team.

I wish you well in your effort to bring another resource to make FIRST one of the most inclusive communities in the world.

[indieFan]

Can someone please list some of the issues that affect the LGBT+ members within the FIRST and/or STEM contexts that would be addressed by this blog?

I'm trying to understand how it fits in, but still have no clue.

[Carolyn_Grace]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Can someone please list some of the issues that affect the LGBT+ members within the FIRST and/or STEM contexts that would be addressed by this blog?

I'm trying to understand how it fits in, but still have no clue.

I'll start!

1. People posting on Chief Delphi, questioning why a blog like this is needed.

[Dival]

I am betting that in most teams homophobic jokes/phrases are told on a daily basis, and are passed. Really, homophobia is everywhere, just try to pay some attention...

Yes, it is important to discuss about LGBTs in FIRST just as much as it is important to discuss it in the context of any other educational program, especially one which requires an extensive amount of team, and in which being able to trust your fellow twam members /mentors is essential.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Carolyn_Grace

I'll start!

1. People posting on Chief Delphi, questioning why a blog like this is needed.

2. I'd be a lot happier if there was a visible, vibrant community of LGBTQ FIRST participants I could point to when approached about the subject by students on my team.

I'll proudly wear the badge of Social Justice Warrior (SJW, for the uninitiated). You may think I'm taking over FIRST, but chances are I've been around since most of y'all were born.

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Can someone please list some of the issues that affect the LGBT+ members within the FIRST and/or STEM contexts that would be addressed by this blog?

I'm trying to understand how it fits in, but still have no clue.

I would like for you to read these quotes:

Like most academic and research institutions in the US, the overwhelming majority of the lead researchers in the museum department where I did my research were white cis-gendered (a term used to describe people who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth) heterosexual men. Growing up in the Midwest as a mixed-race, gay, Jewish, boyish girl, I never saw myself reflected in any of the science teachers I had, and struggled to visualize myself in a career in science.

Most people in science don’t intend to make life difficult to for trans researchers, but there are still many barriers, both systematic and cultural, to recruiting and sustaining the next generation of transgender scientists.

from this wired article.

This shows that while you may not understand why a blog like this is needed, many who would otherwise choose STEM fields choose to not pursue them because they feel ostracized and have no role models to look up to. This is not just true of trans people, but of all people. That is why groups supporting women, minorities, etc in STEM exist. It is to help the marginalized realize that there were trailblazers before them and to have mentors and leaders to look up to.

Many in FIRST look up to Dean, Dr. Flowers, and all of the WFFA and WFA winners because they all inspire us in one way or another. The LGBTQ+ community deserves to have these role models as well, and while many may not be as visible as a WFA winner, or Dean or Dr. Flowers, if a blog like this has the potential to provide that inspiration, and if for no other reason, isn't that good enough?

[Liam Fay]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Can someone please list some of the issues that affect the LGBT+ members within the FIRST and/or STEM contexts that would be addressed by this blog?

I'm trying to understand how it fits in, but still have no clue.

Happily. A lot of these are just little things that pile up. One great thing a blog bringing light to these things could do is make people realize that they were unintentionally harming others and stop.

1. The use of the phrase "that's gay". Unless you are pointing at a gay wedding, that phrase gives a sense of negativity to being gay. If I see someone call something bad "gay", how will that affect my perception of myself?

2. Hotel rooms (and other methods of grouping) for those in the trans community. Sticking trans kids in a separate room because you can't figure out where they belong gives a sense of otherness.

3. FIRST is also an avenue through which to break the stereotypes that gay men are "fairies" and are not engineers, in the same way that FIRST has inspired many young women to follow their dreams.

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by Liam Fay

Hotel rooms (and other methods of grouping) for those in the trans community. Sticking trans kids in a separate room because you can't figure out where they belong gives a sense of otherness.

What would be a better course of action in this scenario?

[Liam Fay]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

What would be a better course of action in this scenario?

I unfortunately can't give you a perfect answer, but I can say that a LGBT+ FIRST blog would certainly open it up for discussion and give people who might have a better solution a voice.

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by Liam Fay

I unfortunately can't give you a perfect answer, but I can say that a LGBT+ FIRST blog would certainly open it up for discussion and give people who might have a better solution a voice.

Why would a thread on CD not serve the same purpose?

[Liam Fay]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Why would a thread on CD not serve the same purpose?

It could! But threads on CD come and go, and it would just make sense to have a website dedicated to the discussion of all of these topics.

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by Liam Fay

It could! But threads on CD come and go, and it would just make sense to have a website dedicated to the discussion of all of these topics.

Then explain to me how a blog works. I was under the impression that they are not designed for discussion.

[Mr_Moko]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Then explain to me how a blog works. I was under the impression that they are not designed for discussion.

You are correct when you say blogs are not the best when it comes to discussion. The blog is a way to share with the community.
For discussion on the other hand, we currently have a Discord server in the works to see how that can help interaction with other staff members and just anyone interested in communicating with one another!