October 5, 2019

Dear Stack Exchange, Inc.,

We, the undersigned moderators and users of the Stack Exchange network, feel that it is necessary to elaborate on a few points that were omitted in our general letter, in order to keep that letter focused.

We are members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and we are hurt.

We are hurt that in the time since the announcement in the Teachers’ Lounge was made, we have seen an outpouring of transphobic behavior from both other moderators and the community at large, under the guise of ‘friendly’ discussion.

We are hurt that over the years, there have been multiple users and moderators who have stepped away from using the site because they felt unwelcome due to anti-LGBTQ+ behavior by the community (and sometimes even moderators). The affected users and moderators have given multiple testimonies to that effect, yet have received no response from Stack Exchange, Inc.

We are hurt at how long it has taken for us to be heard, and hurt by how now that we are being heard at all, it has been tainted by mishandling by Stack Exchange, Inc, causing the community to be doubtful of our goals.

We are hurt that resignations from LGBTQ+ moderators have only started to receive notice due to the uproar over a correlated issue.

We are human, we are hurt, we are tired, and we ask that Stack Exchange, and the community as a whole, listens to our concerns.

We ask that several things be done:

  1. We ask that Stack Exchange, Inc does more to pay attention to the complaints and requests of the LGBTQ+ community and does more to ensure that rules are properly applied such that LGBTQ+ people are treated with the same respect everyone should be treated with.
  2. We ask that the consequences for not respecting members of the community be more explicit, and be consistently carried out. Too many times have transphobic or homophobic comments gone by with no response from the Community Team, leaving LGBTQ+ individuals to explain their validity again and again and again.
  3. Moderating is hard, and the LGBTQ+ community has been underrepresented in media for long enough that many moderators do not know how to handle some specific situations. Some moderators have requested sensitivity training. This would help those who work so hard on behalf of the Stack Exchange community to receive the support and guidance they need to carry out their duties.

It is time for something to be done about a situation that has become, frankly, untenable. Please listen to us - each of us, individually. The ways we have been hurt vary, and the things we feel could improve the situation vary. Too many of us have already left because nothing has been done. Thank you.


We, the undersigned, support the sentiments expressed in this letter, and join with its authors in asking that Stack Exchange take steps towards fostering community spirit once again.

hichris123
Oct 7

Em C
Oct 6

Denis Nardin
Oct 8

Anton Menshov
Oct 7

Bryan Krause
Oct 7

Matthew Read
Jan 2

Mark Booth
Oct 14

whuber
Oct 10

heather
Oct 6

AviD
Oct 6

nitsua60
Oct 7

doppelgreener
Feb 19

Wrzlprmft
Oct 7

Web Head
Oct 8

Matt E. Эллен
Oct 8

Cascabel
Oct 8

Cyn
Oct 13

Mithrandir24601
Oct 7

Helmar
Oct 15

Rory Alsop
Oct 7

gung
Oct 7

Scortchi
Oct 11

Kit Z. Fox
Oct 7

StrongBad
Oct 7

Vogel612
Oct 6

Paul White
Oct 6

Daniel Fischer
Oct 7

Wipqozn
Oct 7

Madara Uchiha
Oct 8

jcolebrand
Oct 7

V2Blast
Oct 7

sztupy
Oct 7

avazula
Oct 7

ArtOfCode
Oct 6

rolfl
Oct 6

Xander
Oct 6

Emilie
Oct 7

yannis
Oct 7

random
Oct 7

Wrigglenite
Oct 7

terdon
Oct 6

rob
Oct 8

Glen_b
Oct 7

fedorqui
Oct 9

rubiksmoose
Oct 7

Robotnik
Oct 7

HDE 226868
Oct 6

Michael Hampton
Oct 10

Charo
Nov 11

Gilles
Oct 7

Tensibai
Oct 7

user58
Oct 7

Aza
Oct 6

glenh7
Oct 7

BlackShift
Oct 15

knrumsey
Oct 18

K7AAY
Mar 1

IEatBagels
Oct 7

New Delli
Feb 19

Anne Daunted
Oct 8

GodEmperorDune
Oct 7

weegee
Oct 7

Sonic the Anonymous Hedgehog
Oct 6

yivi
Nov 7

Carlos
Oct 9

joelostblom
Nov 5

Konrad Rudolph
Oct 8

Magisch
Oct 8

PM 2Ring
Oct 7

edchum
Nov 7

coagmano
Nov 5

Nick A
Oct 25

GypsySpellweaver
Oct 7

Secespitus
Oct 7

Derek Pollard
Oct 7

ypercubeᵀᴹ
Oct 7

Zanna
Oct 10

OnStrike
Nov 2

realityChemist
Dec 19

O.O.Balance
Oct 7

Owen Blacker
Jan 14

isherwood
Jan 16

aloisdg
Oct 14

muru
Oct 7

Medix2
Feb 28

Isaac
Oct 10

Elise M
Oct 7

Nog Shine
Oct 7

JIMMYPlay
Nov 15

Gavin Yancey
Oct 8

Jenny D
Oct 13

Josh Caswell
Nov 10

Michael Campbell
Oct 9

tripleee
Oct 7

stajs
Oct 8

Obscerno
Oct 17

Lordology
Oct 21

Linny
Oct 8

r.uckus
Oct 17

Rietty
Oct 19

Todd Wilcox
Oct 9

Max Vernon
Oct 7

Christoffer Lette
Oct 7

Jake
Jan 17

amon
Oct 7

John Omielan
Oct 7

mason
Oct 16

Nij
Oct 7

Bart van Ingen Schenau
Oct 7

Mari-Lou A
Oct 7

Chappo
Oct 8

benknoble
Oct 7

shellster
Oct 11

Shree
Oct 7

Patrick Q
Oct 9

Worthwelle
Oct 19

Unionhawk
Oct 7

FryAmTheEggman
Oct 7

duplode
Oct 6

gadzooks02
Oct 11

FreezePhoenix
Oct 7

rahuldottech
Oct 10

Derek Adams
Oct 19

cat40
Oct 7

SaintWacko
Oct 7

Katrina Knight
Feb 21

Nate Strickland
Oct 7

rene
Oct 7

Raaja
Oct 8

LemmyX
Mar 26

zaanton
Feb 19

ElizB
Oct 7

connectyourcharger
Oct 9

mx. sparks
Oct 10

jimsug
Mar 2

Ilmari Karonen
Oct 7

TemporarilyAnon
Oct 17

Marcpusu
Oct 7

franka waaldijk
Oct 20

Jehoshaph Akshay Chandran
Oct 18

Charlie
Oct 7

AProgrammer
Oct 9

Martheen
Oct 7

cs95
Oct 25

Akixkisu
Mar 9

sourcejedi
Oct 11

PatJ
Oct 25

kylefairns
Oct 17

Daniil
Oct 7

bruglesco
Oct 6

senia
Oct 7

Suraj Rao
Oct 7

Ave
Oct 7

ABoschman
Oct 17

ckitching
Oct 22

Bookman B.
Oct 15

March Ho
Oct 8

Laure
Oct 9

Eliah Kagan
Oct 21

camille
Oct 7

Austin Hastings
Oct 9

nobody
Oct 26

T. Sar
Oct 9

Zoe
Oct 7

briantist
Oct 9

Mr.Mindor
Oct 7

Makyen
Oct 7

Andras Deak
Oct 6

bdares
Oct 9

puzzlepiece87
Oct 7

David Bowling
Oct 10

Ash
Oct 7

LinkBerest
Oct 8

a3nm
Oct 12

Ælis
Oct 7

Ankit Sharma
Oct 7

GhostCat
Oct 7

parttimeturtle
Oct 7

Billy Jo Ayakatubby
Jan 6

bjb568
Oct 26

Binary Worrier
Feb 26

legrojan
Oct 21

Sam
Oct 8

Lamak
Oct 7

April
Oct 7

Memor-X
Oct 7

angussidney
Oct 7

Arcanox
Feb 27

agucova
Oct 7

qharr
Oct 7

Richard
Oct 9