This is a guest post by Bud Talbot, W0RMT, and is cross-posted from https://w0rmt.net/.
Recently, my ARRL membership was up for renewal. I thought about it for a long time, and finally decided to renew so that I could have a (very small) voice in the way the League is operating these days. There have been many recent criticisms of the ARRL. The one that I have chosen to focus on is the League’s lack of commitment to making amateur radio more welcoming and inclusive for diverse individuals. In this aspect, I think the ARRL has been failing miserably. From photographs of a seemingly monocultural leadership and membership, to a lack of discussion about who engages in the hobby, the League is far behind the curve when it comes to understanding society and who our amateur operators are. Consequently, many places in ham radio remain unwelcoming to a large number of talented, well-meaning, and genuinely good people.
I wrote this open letter to the ARRL from my own position of privilege and the associated power that comes with being a cis-gender, heterosexual white male in our society. I have decided that my directive in life is to use my power and privilege to advance those voices who are marginalized or who have been historically minoritized by society. I do this in my professional life, and I think it is important to do this in our hobby if we are to flourish and grow. Indeed, I believe we must make the hobby more inclusive to avoid becoming irrelevant.
I sent the following letter (co-signed by 44 fellow amateur operators) to a group of leaders at the ARRL. Please have a read to learn my main talking points.
To: ARRL President Rick Roderick K5UR; ARRL CEO David Minster NA2AA; ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director Jeff Ryan K0RM; ARRL Colorado Section Manager Amanda Alden K1DDN
From: Dr. Robert (Bud) Talbot W0RMT
Dear Mr. Roderick, Mr. Minster, Mr. Ryan, and Ms. Alden-
I wanted to write about my choice to renew my American Radio Relay League (ARRL) membership for 2024. After much thought, I decided to renew and support the League, if only for the opportunity to use my voice to prompt for progressive change and growth within the ARRL.
I am representative of the perceived dominant demographic of the ARRL. As a 50-some year old white male scientist and former physics teacher, I represent what the “traditional” ARRL member looks like – quite literally, as I even wear glasses. Over the years of teaching, research, and working with students who represent our country, I have decided that my prime directive in my career and in amateur radio is to use my position of power and privilege to elevate those voices who are marginalized and minoritized in our society. Accordingly, I firmly believe that the future of amateur radio (and the ARRL) needs to be one of inclusivity, equity, and belonging for folks in our diverse world.
We should all be working to give voice to those who are underrepresented in our hobby (e.g., LGBTQIA+ folks and BIPOC individuals), and in doing so we will be working to create a more inclusive place. All too often, the response to such positions by amateur operators is “the hobby is open to anyone who wants to participate.” This is not helpful, nor is it true. By foregrounding and giving voice to older white males who are predominately heteronormative, and who often promote very conservative social and political thought, we are creating a space that is unwelcoming (and even hostile) to a large part of our population.
I know first hand that there are many amateur radio operators who are not heteronormative, cis-gendered, middle aged white men and who are doing amazing things in the hobby. But we do not often hear about them in popular social media, in ham clubs, or in the pages of QST. And they often don’t feel safe promoting their activity or themselves because of their underrepresented status. When they listen to the repeater, a talkgroup, or an HF QSO and hear people sexualizing women, using homophobic slurs, promoting violence, or discussing deporting immigrants, they turn the radio off. And this happens every single day.
A shining example of an amateur operator working to create a more inclusive and diverse space in the hobby is that of Jesse Alexander, WB2IFS and his work to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students in amateur radio through the “Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum” project sponsored by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) and Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC). I want to thank the ARRL for highlighting and promoting this project. We need to support the development and expansion of more inclusive projects like this, and highlight their successes in social media and QST. When people see more of these opportunities, they can begin to see amateur radio as a place where they belong.
Another safe place that has been created for amateur radio is on Mastodon, the decentralized, federated social network where a thriving group of diverse ham radio operators enjoy developing and sharing their passion for the hobby. This corner of the internet is amazingly active with amateur operators engaged in so many aspects of our hobby. But many stay within this space because they are actively marginalized in clubs, on repeaters, or in the pages of QST. I know of LGBTQIA+ folks on Mastodon who feel unwelcome on HF ragchews and local repeaters. Just recently, one amateur operator shared a screenshot from WSJT-X where another station had answered their CQ call and entered a homophobic slur in their reply.
We can, and must, do better if our hobby and the ARRL are to survive and be relevant in today’s society. The League needs to promote inclusivity and equity while unequivocally calling out harassment, extremism, racism, homophobia, and sexism. A published position statement on equitable and inclusive amateur radio made by the League would be a good first step. A larger commitment to this work would be in elevating diverse voices and identities by electing and appointing diverse amateur operators to positions of leadership within the League. When people literally see and hear folks in leadership positions who look and act like themselves, they feel a sense of belonging.
Racist, sexist, ableist, and extremist injustices should be denounced by the League and by all amateur operators, while working to promote and build a safe, inclusive environment. As the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “The time is always right to do what is right.” And for amateur radio, that time is now. If we fail to take a stance and grow, our hobby will wither and become increasingly irrelevant.
73 de W0RMT
Robert (Bud) M. Talbot III, PhD, ARRL Member
Co-signatories: Chuck McManis, AI6ZR; Mark Smith, N6MTS, ARRL Life Member; John Duksta, N1DUK; Tom Cuchta, PhD, KE8QZC, ARRL Member; Evan Heisman, KC2IHX, ARRL Member; Vance Martin, N3VEM, Former ARRL Member; Ian Nicholson, KD0ROB; Matthew Burton-Kelly, PhD, W1CDN, ARRL Member; Mark P. Snyder, M.D., Ed.M., AE4WX; Adam Shea, NA9R; Steve Clower, AC9XS, Former ARRL Member; Pete Ezzo, KO4IAA; Darrell “Dick” Johnson, KA6HUM; David Croyle, N6XE, ARRL Member; Denis Kieft, KI7KLT, Former ARRL Member; James Elliott, KK7FMM; Robert Davidson, PhD, WA7IUT, ARRL Member; Radostin Rusev, KZ2FUR, LZ2CFW; Toshen Golias, KE0FHS; Caleb Smith, KZ0P, Former ARRL Member; Lionel Lenoir, KJ7OFH, ARRL Member; Benjamin Becker, KE8TDE; Devin Berg, PhD, N9DRB; Brendan O’Connor, K3QB, ARRL Volunteer Counsel, Trustee, Narwhal Amateur Radio Society; Edward L. Platt, Ph.D., KC1DYK, ARRL Member; Gregory Godsey, K5CVD; Christopher J., M0YNG, admin of mastodon.radio; Ian Renton, 2E0UXV; Chris Anderson, N6CTA, ARRL Member; James Wilson, KC8JC, ARRL Member; Scott Clitheroe, VE3QBZ, RAC Maple Leaf Operator Member; Joe Kopera, KC1SRI; Ethan Schoonover, W7ZOO, Co-founder Cascadia Radio; James Wells, KJ7ARR; Jeff Rizzo, AJ6IY; Patrick Baker, KJ7LFP; Eric Rucker, KD8KXK; Keith Elliott, W6KME, ARRL Member; Jeff Highsmith, WJ3FF; Jim Carson, WT8P, ARRL Member; Mike White, N9UXC; Mark Ingalls KF7AZY; Ariana Rydzkowski, VA3NYA; Evelyn Jacobson, WB0VHF, ARRL Life member, Gold level Diamond Club member, W0MR/Mining ARC trustee
I received the following response from ARRL CEO David Minster. To date, I have not received responses from any of the other recipients of my letter.
Bud
Thanks for your thoughtful email.
Speaking as CEO, there’s three things I’d like to respond to your letter with:
- ARRL does not make political statements as a matter of policy. Clearly the organization does not participate in any communications that could be interpreted as supporting hate or bias of ANY type, and as long as I am CEO, never will.
- I am, as far as I can tell, the only CEO who has ever written about Diversity and Inclusion within ARRL and amateur radio. And I was mercilessly beaten for doing so via numerous emails. Notably the one thread shared by respondents was: don’t write about things that are not directly related to amateur radio.
- Finally, our HQ staff is diverse. We have people from all backgrounds including LGBTQ. I was challenged, angrily, about why I hired a transgender manager. I told the gentleman that I didn’t hire her – I RECRUITED her!
Bud, I believe that the way ARRL conducts itself is very much aligned with what you’d expect from us as an organization. And although I have pushed the line out a bit with my editorial columns, we really stay away from making statements for the sake of making statements as a matter of policy.
Very 73.
David, NA2AA
So it would seem that the League views developing welcoming and inclusive environments as “political” and will make no such statement. And it seems that they are a bit defensive about this (“the staff is diverse”). Notably, there was no response to my suggestion that the League elevate diverse voices by appointing diverse folks to leadership positions. That non-response speaks volumes, I think.
The work of making spaces welcoming and inclusive is only seen as political if one politicizes it because they disagree with the position or are threatened by the potential outcomes. Human dignity is not political. I see dignity as Kant wrote about it. Dignity is afforded to every individual based on their rational autonomy. But I suspect that a philosophical treatise on dignity will do very little to advance this position within the League.
Of course, many inferences can be drawn from this limited response. But I will assert that if the ARRL does not embrace and welcome all of the creative, diverse, and active amateur operators into the hobby by foregrounding their work, we all suffer from the technical debt due to the lack of inclusion. And our hobby is at risk of becoming completely fractured and irrelevant.
Let’s keep this conversation going. I know that I will do so! Please feel free to reach me on Mastodon @[email protected]
You lost my interest and I read no further after you used the term “cis-gender”
I 100% agree, he (is it “he”?) lost me at cis-gender lol. People need to stop feeling “privileged” or “marginalized” or “offended”.
Despite Bud’s blatant hypocrisy in politicizing the issue, the hobby is not now, nor in any way appears to be in any danger of becoming “fractured” or irrelevant.
The hobby was around long before the current “woke” fad, it continues to grow during this fad and it will continue to be around long after this fad withers away like all “pop culture” fads do. Corporate America is waking up to the consequences of trying to implement DEI policies and are now back-peddling as fast as they can. The ARRL can easily learn from that failed experiment.
Leadership should be based on relevant qualifications including, but not limited to, hard & soft skills, demonstrated leadership qualities and merit. Pseudo “qualifications” like skin-color and self-perceived gender are irrelevant to leadership positions and are not “qualifications”, nor should they be used for abusive discrimination. They should not enter into the calculus in any regard — not as a “tie-breaker”, not as an exclusion, not as an advantage. They should be as relevant to the selection process as if the candidate is right-handed or left-handed.
Those who would irrationally advocate for leadership based on over-dramatized, emotion-based politically-correct choices are what would threaten to fracture the hobby.
Bud’s intellectual dishonesty and gaslighting irrationality are shocking. There is no place for a political-correctness insurgency within the ARRL.
So many insults but nothing meaningful to say.
Dunno. If you read any of the comments, it’s pretty obvious that saying “everyone is welcome” is not a bad thing. While there is a certain illigitimi non carborundum that we all must put up with from time to time, it’s nice to a. know that everyone is welcome and b. bad behavior will not be tolerated. Pretty sure that everyone will agree with that.
While we are almost legally able to say anything we want on the air, that doesn’t mean we ough. Hams are a pretty open and welcoming bunch. I suppose a few people on this thread might not care if someone said something shitty to someone which kept them off the air, but anyone with a conscience would not feel great. Don’t forget that many in the hobby didn’t want women, but that attitude changed over time… for the most part. The ARRL – which is anyone who supports it – made sure to reach out to women to include them, and it’s done wonders.
No one is asking for special treatment for anyone, the author is simply making sure we say “congratulations on the new license and hope to talk to soon.” That’s it.
There are those who really don’t feel welcome, despite what many commenters have said to the contrary, because they read things like “the the author an It?” Come on, folks, as hams we are much better than that.
Thank you for taking the time to write and post this. I think it’s important to be open and welcoming to anyone interested in the hobby.
Thank you for this! I really appreciate it as a trans person getting into ham radio, but the backlash you’re receiving for this letter is making me think I’m really not welcome in the hobby.
There are definitely those who would prefer that you disappear into the shadows, but so many of us still welcome and want you in the hobby. I know it’s hard but please stay.
I can understand. I got my license before I transitioned, and one of the first things I did after I got my name and gender marker legally changed was to change the name on my SSN, drivers license, AND my Amateur Radio license.
And I know several other Hams that are transgender, or queer, or both.
We shouldn’t have to wonder if we’re going to get harassed online for being our authentic selves. We shouldn’t have to worry if we go to a field day or another meetup.
And yet, we have to. And it’s not just those of us who are transgender who face this.
Best of luck
I cannot see the other person on the other end of my QSO. I do not know or care what they look like or what their political views are: I am only 100% excited to talk with someone on the air. IMO, respectfully, you are attempting to introduce both of these things to radio.
You are not simply content, it appears, with treating what you view as a “diverse” community the same as everyone else but expect special consideration for groups *you* deem worthy. The absurdity of this is stunning to me .Amateur radio by its very nature imposes “blindness” in the sense that no one can see anyone. You are forcing an agenda on an environment that does not need and will likely suffer from such force.
While I am deeply sorry to hear some people have indicated they have run into unfortunate and clearly unacceptable situations, I am sure this can be boiled down to the individual operator and not the hobby as a whole. I call nets many times a week in the deepest south every week and I never witnessed what you describe. Does it happen? I believe it could. Is it the normal? No, I don’t believe it is. I think perhaps you are detecting an issue with the hobby based on the behavior of a few. You are certainly able to see this issue however you want, I submit that blaming the entire hobby or ARRL is irresponsible. Do it if you want, but while I can appreciate what you’re feeing, I think you’re being a bit too broad in your blame
Just looking at the reddit comments about this post, I can’t say I blame ARRL for their response. They’re trying to not have a Bud Lite situation. Hams ARE diverse, but they’re also mostly old white men, many of whom consider any acknowledgement of LGBT++ to be an intrusion.
I don’t think ARRL is interested in losing subscribers over this issue. I’m sure high frequency traders or WISPs or cell phone companies would love to see ARRL lose 5-10% of their members over culture wars (i.e. these groups would be the ones buying the ads and troll farm time to stoke the outrage). Which chunk of the spectrum should ARRL quit defending? Or can it wait half a generation for the most bigoted hams to go SK?
To be clear, I don’t think this is the morally correct position, but I do think this is precisely the calculus being done behind the scenes.
I will never be an ARRL member if they believe my acceptance and existence as a ham as political.
Would be nice to see more representation and diversity on covers and in league publication content to send the overt signal that all are welcome. Then follow up with leadership biopics on the diverse array of people involved with the ARRL and amateur radio. We can do better for the community and the hobby’s growth. The people that try to frame accepting people for who they are as a political act are trying to legitimize their bigotry and exclusionary behavior as acceptable public discourse. It’s not just a matter of a difference of opinion. It is the difference between a just and free society that honors all and all the dark pits of social despair that history teaches us about.
“I wrote this open letter to the ARRL from my own position of privilege and the associated power that comes with being a cis-gender, heterosexual white male in our society.” and “I have decided that my prime directive in my career and in amateur radio is to use my position of power and privilege to elevate those voices who are marginalized and minoritized in our society.”
This sounds suspiciously like you are elevating yourself above others based on your gender, sexual preference, and race.
“When they listen to the repeater, a talkgroup, or an HF QSO and hear people sexualizing women, using homophobic slurs, promoting violence, or discussing deporting immigrants, they turn the radio off. And this happens every single day.”
I hear this too! I also hear this type of talk in the rest of my everyday life. Actually, I hear it much more in my everyday life. Amateur Radio seems to be ahead of the curve here. The ARRL isn’t the problem here though. Amateur Radio isn’t the problem here either. People are the problem and this can’t be fixed by the ARRL. The ARRL can’t change people’s minds about these minority groups by highlighting a few LBGTQIA+ person’s projects or hiring them to prominent positions. But they are likely to alienate their members. And if the ARRL were to attract more LGBTQIA+ people or other minorities it still wouldn’t get rid of this type of talk. The minorities would still feel unwelcome. The way to combat this is with a grassroots effort to SPEAK UP against this type of degrading talk whenever we hear it. Don’t just change the channel or turn the radio off. Use that cis-gender, heterosexual, white male voice of yours. Let people know that, regardless of their personal views, that sort of speech is not welcome on the radio waves.
“Another safe place that has been created for amateur radio is on Mastodon, the decentralized, federated social network where a thriving group of diverse ham radio operators enjoy developing and sharing their passion for the hobby. This corner of the internet is amazingly active with amateur operators engaged in so many aspects of our hobby.”
Great! I’m glad they have found a community where they feel safe.
“Notably, there was no response to my suggestion that the League elevate diverse voices by appointing diverse folks to leadership positions.”
Wrong! David responded by saying that he has personally recruited a transgender woman as a manager, intimating that he is proud to have her. Is that not a leadership position? It seems like what you want is for the ARRL to chase down LGBTQIA+ people to put on a pedestal. You haven’t made any suggestions as to who they should hire and what qualifications they have for the position. Or do you want them to hire LGBTQIA+ persons simply because of their sexual orientation? Because that would be favoritism and gender bias, exactly the opposite of the equality that the said community claims to want.
“The work of making spaces welcoming and inclusive is only seen as political if one politicizes it because they disagree with the position or are threatened by the potential outcomes.”
So by your own definition you might be considered as politicizing it. You disagree with the position the ARRL is taking and you are arguing it among the many, some of whom, like me, aren’t even members of the ARRL. No wonder you haven’t earned much of a response from them.
“I see dignity as Kant wrote about it. Dignity is afforded to every individual based on their rational autonomy.”
I’m not familiar with Kant. Are you saying that people should be extended dignity based on their ability to rationally govern themselves? So, if they can’t govern themselves in a rational way then they do not deserve dignity? Who’s to say what is rational? I believe in God. I have many good evidence-based reasons for believing in God. It makes sense to me and MANY others. Yet many other people don’t believe in God. They rationalize their beliefs and say my beliefs are irrational. Who’s right? Who is rational in their beliefs? If you are one who doesn’t believe in God and you see that my self-governance is based on my belief in God, does that mean you don’t believe I deserve dignity because you don’t believe I am rational? I have a relative who has Schizoaffective disorder. It is impossible for her to rationally self-govern. Does that mean she should not be afforded as much dignity as we can give her?
I prefer to grant people dignity regardless of my (or anyone else’s) beliefs on what is rational. I dignify LGBTQIA+ persons by not judging them as a person. I show them love. I do my best to treat them as a human and as equals, the same way I strive to treat all other people equally, no matter their religion, their ethnic background, their nationality, their sex, their mental health, etc. I let God do the judging. He’s much better at it than I am. I don’t try to raise anyone on high and give them something because of their “status”. I also try to treat people who are ill with dignity whenever possible.
I think I’ve said enough. I hope this all makes sense to you.
Thanks for writing this. I think it’s unfortunate that so many people think that this is a non-issue.
Clearly no amateur is preventing anyone else from accessing the spectrum and in that way ham radio is “inclusive”,
To your point though, to remain relevant ham radio needs a concerted effort to include, not ostracize. We should look to find and share this hobby with as many people as can enjoy it. We should do this especially for those who are less likely to have exposure in their families or among their friends.
We should also work to make an enjoyable experience on the air for all. Clearly those who are most often ridiculed, mistreated and ostracized deserve the most effort for inclusion.
Thank you for all the effort you put into crafting this letter, finding co-signers, sending it to ARRL leadership, and then publishing their lackluster response. I think the content of the letter stands on its own, but I’d like to elaborate on this message: “the hobby is open to anyone who wants to participate.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a program called “RIC,” which is intended to do exactly what you advocate for here, with an emphasis on making the church more welcoming to LGBTQIA+ members. To sum up a lot of history, one of the key lessons learned is that there’s a difference between, “you are welcome,” and “you are wanted.” The former says you can come join so long as you present the same way as everyone around you. The latter means, “come as you are.” Right now amateur radio is oriented almost exclusively in the former direction. I’m a white, cis-gendered, masculine-presenting, married to a woman but bisexual man. I’m also a veteran who served during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I know all too well the emotional toll of biting my tongue after hearing my peers share their true thoughts about people like me. I’ve all but withdrawn from amateur radio because of how unfriendly the airwaves are. I’d love to engage again, but to do so I’d first need to feel wanted, not “welcomed.”
Instead of complaining about what some organization could or should do, just reach out and do it yourself.
I want to thank you for writing this. Especially as someone who is roughly the same age as you and is an ally. One of the things that turns me off the most is that at least 80% of the time I turn on the radio, someone is making a derogatory remarks about women or minorities or LGBTQ+ communities. Politically, I’m dead center. I own more guns than most of the rednecks on the radio but I don’t believe we should build a wall. Things like that kind of define who I am. When it comes to what you spoke of above, I am in 100% agreement with you. I have heard more and derogatory statements in person at festivals etc. and they always come from the overweight, white boomer in the corner with his trucker hat on. You might say that this kind of crap will die out with that generation, but it won’t because they raised their children the same way. I don’t have the answers, I wish I did, but I would like to be involved so if there is a way that I can help down here in the most red state of them, all, please reach out.
It is no secret that, as a group, amateur radio operators are racist. Walk into any hamfest or club, and what do you see? A room full of old white men. Youth wants nothing to do with the hobby. Heck, hams hate each other. Go to some of the forums and look at how much disrespect there is between groups like DX, CW, and FT8. Today, the hobby is old bald white men arguing over a comb.
You are the racist , when claiming others are by defining there race then that make you a racist.
I found your letter and article to be well written, thoughtful and timely. As someone who is part of the LBTQIA+ spectrum of minorities, and a licensed amateur op for 15 year I find the discourse on the air, at hamfests and clubs to be very challenging.
Too many are taking the “See no evil, hear no evil” approach without accepting that there is a lot of people out there who speaking evil of minorities. The situation of the typical white boomer ham op usually means they don’t feel the need to care and therefore why should the ARRL care. They are oblivious to the fact that their hobby needs to work harder to reach out and show relevance to minority groups so that the hobby can survive in this world of technological change.
It’s not politics to suggest that someone’s right to feel safe need to be protected, and that the should feel safe in the environment of their hobby. That means going the extra distance to have specific activities that show that LBGTQ, Women, POC and others can be welcomed into the hobby as their true selves. Not at the permission of others.
I don’t even feel safe giving my call sign here. That should tell you something.
As a amateur radio operator for more than 40 years.
Do not let the few protesting the ARRL’s actions not taken in abcdefg agenda crap.
Just stay out of it or you will have an organization of 5 % and lose the 95 %.
What someone wants to do in their private life should not be forced on others.
If your going to say you support abcdef then you better say you support straight christain hetero males and females… we are the majority that pay to keep the arrl alive…remember that !
“What someone wants to do in their private life should not be forced on others.
If your going to say you support abcdef then you better say you support straight christain hetero males and females… we are the majority that pay to keep the arrl alive…remember that !”
Well, Joe, it’s 2024, not 1924, ok ?
You’re saying something in the first sentence, only to walk it back in the second, while literally trying to force your “straight christain hetero males and females” beliefs onto others. Do you hear yourself ???
BTW, who really needs the ARRL ? Nobody.
Those who don’t want to change or adapt, die out. They should. Darwin..
PS: It’s “you’re”.
Hey folks- I am the author of this post. I want to thank folks for reading and engaging with it, even those of you who seem to be rather put off.
I just want to say that I *do* read all of the comments here. But I *will not* engage with anyone who launches ad hominem attacks or is generally hateful. If you’d like to converse with me about the post, please comment on the original post on my blog where I will be happy to support respectful, productive discourse.
https://w0rmt.net/2024/02/23/inclusivity-in-amateur-radio/
Thanks and 73 de Bud W0RMT
Several of the comments here illustrate altogether too well why Amateur Radio is seen as noninclusive, closed off, cliquish, sexist, bigoted, and, yes, racist.
“abcdefg agenda crap.”
” you better say you support straight christain hetero males and females… we are the majority ”
“sounds suspiciously like you are elevating yourself above others based on your gender, sexual preference, and race.”
“You lost my interest and I read no further after you used the term “cis-gender””
“People need to stop feeling “privileged” or “marginalized” or “offended”.
“the current “woke” fad,”
“Pseudo “qualifications” like skin-color and self-perceived gender”
Dear Gods, do any of the people spewing these lines actually listen to themselves? Do they care about how their words make other Hams feel? Or are they so invested in keeping Amateur Radio white, cishet, and male – and only the RIGHT types of white cishet males at that!!”
There are other comments were people tell about encountering bigotry, hate speech, and discrimination by other Hams. And yet you get the idea that for some people, making anyone who not white cishet, “christian”, male feel unwelcome is a feature, NOT a bug.
And people wonder why Amateur Radio is seen as old, cliquish, and unwelcoming.
Kudos to all those trying to make Amateur Radio a welcoming hobby for EVERYONE. No matter what color, no matter what orientation, no matter what gender, no matter what creed or faith. But based on some of the comments, they have a long, hard fight ahead of them.
More DEI (Didn’t Earn It) policy. Go to any hamfest and look at the people. Please tell me what you see. Old white male baby boomers, the most racist demographic in the USA, are proud of it.
Do you have a DMR talkgroup? It seems like amateur radio operators lean right and I would like to connect with like-mided folks who believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are personal values.
Hey Jose- I often monitor BM TG 31088 Colorado HD, and 31075 Baynet. As with all TGs, there are a variety of folks who inhabit both. Some are very welcoming and inclusive, some are not. On AllStar, 2105 (Pride Network) is a very inclusive place frequented by good people.
Thank you for writing this letter. As someone who also has virtually every possible form of privilege, I believe it is my responsibility to speak up for those who don’t.
The issues you brought up are not political, they are about humanity. These issues need to continue to be pushed at every level of the amateur community, or we risk not just alienating diverse communities, but threatening the very existence of the hobby.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Brent. Like you, it saddens me when people try to reduce issues of humanity and dignity to “political” issues. I’d like to think we are better than that in our hobby. I am emboldened by the fact that there are so many good amateur operators out there that work to make the hobby more welcoming for everyone.