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thrownaway114on ElectronConf postponed until a “more diverse slate of speakers” can be delivered

True. It would be very interesting to see who actually applied.

thrownaway114on ElectronConf postponed until a “more diverse slate of speakers” can be delivered

One wonders how they they ended up with an all white group if the '...break ties and bring a balance to the speaking line-up' step had actually been applied?

thrownaway114on ElectronConf postponed until a “more diverse slate of speakers” can be delivered

I know.

I am genuinely embarrassed not to associate my real name with my public speech. Having calculated the potential cost (and the low-impact of my message), though, it was either speak pseudonymously, or not at all.

thrownaway114on ElectronConf postponed until a “more diverse slate of speakers” can be delivered

It is really worth considering that this conference used a blind review process[1]. Subsequently, there is zero chance that the reviewer's decisions were influenced by racism or sexism.

As a society, we need to consider the implications of what is going on here. In what way could this move possibly be said to be anti-racist/anti-sexist? It just isn't. If anything, abandoning your speakers because they are male/white (presumably), is itself bigoted. Consider how it would feel to be bumped from a speaker line up because of your race/gender.

[1] https://cfp.githubapp.com/events/electronconf-2017