Cross-project-council: Ensuring equal representation from under represented groups

[joesepi]

As mentioned in a previous CommComm meeting and raised again in the comments of the Joint Town Hall on Feb 19:

Jake Niemiec​: Question, In the node.js Jan 25, 2019 51:22 Comm Comm meeting, Michal D and Dan S indicated that gender identity and race would be a factor in membership. Is this still a goal?

Is equal representation in membership a goal and if so, what ways can we ensure that goal be met?

[MylesBorins]

@jakeNiemiec while our community has aspirations for increasing diversity from underrepresented groups (race, gender, creed, religion, or any other protected category), these will never be used as factors to exclude anyone from participation. To be explicit, there will never be quotas.

Is this a sufficient answer to close this issue?

[Tiriel]

Hey there!

Since I've been summoned in this thread, I'd like to say a few words.
Most importantly: please do not take bits of discussions on another (although related) subject out of context.

My reaction there was precisely caused by a cultural difference between my own country (France) and North-American (I think, but do apologize if I'm wrong) culture. This was not some white-dude whining against inclusive strategies but on the contrary, an attempt to raise a flag against a strategy I thought might lead to quotas and still under-representation of some groups. The idea was never to say that we should be wary of recruiting less white males.

Hence, I am deeply uneasy about my reaction being quoted here to make a case against possible discrimination toward white males.

I regard to the original question, I think @MylesBorins 's answer is perfectly satisfying, and that @dshaw 's citation must be observed in its entirety. There was never an intent to discriminate against anyone. There was on the other hand and intent to not have just one gender/ethnic identity, and so to reach out to under-represented groups to include them also.

At least that's what I understand from the meetings and from my time in the CommComm.
If I'm overstepping, please feel free to edit/delete my comment or request that I do so myself. Please do remember that English is not my first language (and that my country is terrible at teaching it).

[MylesBorins]

@jakeNiemiec if you believe individuals from the foundation are acting in a way that is not inline with our code of conduct please follow the steps outlined in or moderation guidelines e.g. sending an email to [email protected]

I believe I've answered the content of the initial question and politely request that this issue be closed and concerns about conduct go through official channels.

[Tiriel]

@jakeNiemiec Again, I not in favour of including these kinds of quotes in here to justify some other parts I don't condone. Plainly, I don't think there was any discrimination against white males in everything you quoted from the bootstrap meeting, and the other answers seemed fully satisfying in that regard.

Edited

Plus, I'd like you to please edit your post to remove this quote. I said this and stand by it, but this is taken out of context. I lacked some context too at that time, otherwise, I would have formulated another way.

I do appreciate your concerns on the topic of inclusivity/diversity though, it's an important topic in my opinion.

[jakeNiemiec]

It's a sad state of affairs when "you are deeply welcome here" is a statement that needs to be removed.

@MylesBorins, feel free to close or even remove. I see now that my point of view is unwelcome. Good luck on the merger.

[bnb]

Going to close this, since the original question was answered.