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

[Herbblood]

I'd totally help out but i graduated last year.

[Madison]

I thought the questions were below were valuable and did a bit of digging this weekend to better understand the policies adopted by Seattle Public Schools.

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

I have a few questions:

• Any mentors have advice on best practices to develop environment conducive towards inclusion of minorities (and specifically LGBT+ students)?

While perhaps not the same, I can speak a bit about what seems to work on my team to make ethnic minorities and women seek us out. I think all of it falls under the umbrella of 'visibility.'

Our team has been headed by a Chinese woman, Donna, and her family for most of its history. She understands the challenges faced by many students in our schools more than, say, someone like me ever could. Consequently, the students and -- most importantly -- their families trust her. In the past, she's had to visit several students' homes to get their families to allow them to be part of the team, but she's never failed to get it to happen. If someone wants to be on the team, she'll find a way to make it happen.

The team is also led by women. Donna handles all of the team's administrative needs. I lead the engineering team and have been the drive coach since I joined the team in 2005.

The team is very present in its community. We focus our outreach heavily on recruitment. I've lost track of the number of students that have joined our team instead of others that are based in the school they attend or nearer to their homes because they interacted with us at an event and felt more comfortable with us.

• Any mentors familiar with common public school policies surrounding these topics?

Our team operates its field trips using rules set by Seattle Public Schools. We haven't had to deal with an openly LGBTQ student in about ten years, however.

Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action: Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students

Originally Posted by From Above Link

• Names/Pronouns: Students shall have the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun corresponding to their gender identity consistently asserted at school.
  ...
• Restroom Accessibility: A student should be provided access to a restroom facility that corresponds to the gender identity the students consistently asserts at school.
  ...
• Dress Codes: Students shall have the right to dress in accordance with the gender identity they consistently assert at school, within the constraints of the dress codes adopted at their school site.
  ...
• Gender Segregation in Other Areas: As a general rule, in any other circumstances where students are separated by gender in school activities, students shall be permitted to participate in accordance with the gender identity they consistently assert at school.

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

• If hotel assignments are a "red herring" in these conversations, are there other "real" challenges towards inclusiveness/equity that mentors face when serving LGBT+ students?

I'm as guilty as anyone of treating these subjects like it's debate club, but I wanted to include another link here -- http://www.thetrevorproject.org/page...-about-suicide -- to remind folks that mentoring kids can be a lot more than just showing them how to design robots. This is the stuff that matters more than anything else.

Moving on...

Originally Posted by anonymous123

And that is the fundamental point where we disagree, Madison. I do not (can not) know what it feels like to be "trapped in a man's body", to “have no choice”.

I won't say much to address this or the rest of the paragraph that followed since my thoughts echo those of others who've already responded.

I am afraid of dogs. I feel nothing but terror when I'm around a dog. My good friends are absolutely in love with their dog and, though I can't imagine how that's possible, I don't disbelieve that it's true. I respect them enough to take what they say as truth and realize that my discomfort is less important than their happiness. Maybe there are parallels to be drawn here; maybe not.

How do you feel about sharing a public restroom with everyone, not just women?

Couldn't care less.

[Kartoffee]

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.

First off, you say that we are overlooking how this is relevant to FIRST. This is FIRST, not college football. It is about making your impact on society and culture, hence the term "more than robots" and the significance of the Chairman's award. Also, even if you are against LGBT, it is probably because you have an image in your head of a bunch of men with weird voices marching down the street with pride flags. I have to say, the public image of the LGBT community is very poorly depicted. For all you know, your best friend could be bisexual and wouldn't ever tell you because you are against the LGBT community. It truly is oppression when people are afraid to speak out about who they are because it's seen as "weird" or "freakish". The blog is necessary for students and mentors, and it isn't just about the LGBT perspective versus heterosexual perspective. The blog is about acceptance of LGBT people into a community that has overlooked then for so long. The blog doesn't plan to " force ideals onto "normal" people" or anything along those lines. It is simply there for the few people who are too afraid to try their best. It's to prove that gender and sexuality is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. You aren't required to visit this blog, so don't even try to complain.

[Kartoffee]

Originally Posted by trumpthero786

But how is this any different than Women in STEM/FIRST campaigns?

Forget women in STEM, how about any gender, any race, any sexuality, any age, any wealthiness, any anyone? While many teams, including my own, promote women in STEM, I believe that it shouldn't be limited to gender. It's the whole idea of "fight fire with fire" that I don't like. An all inclusive world would be easier for everyone, but we get in our own way sometimes.

[piclefefe]

Why is this thread relevant shouldn't everyone just talk about robotics the same???

[nerdrock101]

Originally Posted by piclefefe

Why is this thread relevant shouldn't everyone just talk about robotics the same???

Everyone in this world is different and can experience the same thing in a different way. If you and I were both watching the same TV show, maybe I relate to a character more than you because of my background and vice versa. Maybe I find a scene funny but you find it mean, even though we're watching the same scene.

This is a group of people wanting to talk about how they experience FIRST in a different way than non gender and sexual minorities do. What a boring world it would be if we all talked about things the same way.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by piclefefe

Why is this thread relevant shouldn't everyone just talk about robotics the same???

No, we shouldn't. If teams only talked about robotics (and worse, talked about it in the same way) FIRST wouldn't be nearly as impactful of an organization, and boy would our robots be dull.

[piclefefe]

But is it not possible to talk about robots from different aspects without having to drag sexuality into the mix. I understand that people can talk about robots differently but I do not understand how sexuality affects it.

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by piclefefe

But is it not possible to talk about robots from different aspects without having to drag sexuality into the mix. I understand that people can talk about robots differently but I do not understand how sexuality affects it.

Robotics do not involve sexuality, and shouldn't. Nor should they involve religion or politics. But there are instances where all 3 intrude upon our sport. When someone is treated unfairly because of their religion, or sexual orientation in robotics then it should be discussed. When we need to enter into politics to obtain grants and funding, that should be discussed.

In this case, much like political grants and funding, we have a website devoted to creating a more positive environment for students so it's definitely worth discussing.

[FrankJ]

So looking at the Championship conference schedule for the First time. I see there is one (actually a couple. more than that if you include the ones specifically on women in stem) on diversity & inclusion. I know nothing about it other than seeing it on the schedule.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by piclefefe

But is it not possible to talk about robots from different aspects without having to drag sexuality into the mix. I understand that people can talk about robots differently but I do not understand how sexuality affects it.

Well, you addressed part of what I said. I'm not really interested in doing something one way just because it is possible.
And the idea that robotics students should "just" talk about robots would be quite a few steps in the wrong direction from where teams are now. As they often say, FIRST is about more than the robots.

[FrankJ]

What is appropriate to talk about in a peer to peer relationship and what is a appropriate in a mentor to student relationship is often different. Especially is your team is school affiliated.

[Mr_Moko]

Hey everyone, Josh here!
I just wanted to say that I love that we're bringing this to the community and all the discussion that has taken place on this thread over that last few weeks.

Today is the big day though!
If you applied to be a staff member then you should check your email.

To those who were accepted into the the staff I would like to congratulate you!

To those who have not been accepted I would like to say that you can still contribute to the blog! We'll have Submissions and Asks open to anyone who would like to help out or ask questions! Same goes to those who have not applies, Submissions and Asks will be open to everyone.

One thing that is also being worked on is a Discord server. The server is currently reserved for the staff members, but once we get everyone situated and the logistics of how we'll run the Discord server then it will be open for everyone who would like to talk to one another!
We'll have everything from a General Chat to a place to dump your FIRST memes to AMAs and game talk!

Good luck to any and all that are attending Worlds!

[anonymous123]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Note: This rambles entirely away from my original point, but feels like a good post instead of whatever I was deleting earlier today, so I'm posting anyways.
I feel I should point out that you've already, scientifically, lost on this point. There's SO much complication, subtlety, and gray area just in how gender genotype translates into realized phenotype:
XX males
XY females
Genetic Chimeras
Various other Intersex Humans

Welcome to biology, where all your engineering notions of sharp lines and strict categories are about as useful as a calculus book in a jungle. "Gender of a person's body" is a scientifically vague concept. And if your answer is "I knows it when I sees it"... well that doesn't seem like a useful way of organizing a society.
...

So you're saying that those who are LGBT+ have a medical condition that makes them that way?

[indieFan]

Originally Posted by anonymous123

So you're saying that those who are LGBT+ have a medical condition that makes them that way?

I know I said I would bow out, but I do need to respond to this.

What he is saying is that it is based on genetics, the same way eye or hair color is. Eye and hair color are not a medical condition, whereas something like Down's Syndrome is. Being LGBT+ is genetic, but not a medical condition.

I hope that makes sense,
indieFan