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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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