mollymolly wrote: surrealrain wrote:
Groups who are historically excluded from the hobby, or who are discriminated against generally, need explicit welcome. It's not enough to just say "everyone is welcome" because that often comes with strings attached.
It seems like the survey was a lot about LGBT issues and that isn't me.But, as a female and multi-racial attendee, I find this comment to be somewhat offensive. We need explicit welcome? That's basically saying we aren't welcome into spaces unless specifically invited. Do you hear yourself?
What you and this survey are doing wrong is 'othering' us. And, if you aren't familiar with the concept, look it up. I've never felt like an outsider at the convention until now. I'd like to just show up at the convention and not feel like I have to put on a diversity show for you so that you can feel better about how inclusive you are.
As others have said here, you can market to underrepresented communities especially if your demographic info shows need to do so. But that's a lot different than pointing at those of us here and saying look how different they are. That's like a gaming table that says OMG A GIRL IS GOING TO PLAY WITH US. I've never had that experience at Gen Con and I don't want to.
So, you did not take my meaning, and I'll clarify. Explicit support is more accurate to what I'm saying than is welcome.
Saying "everyone is welcome" does not address the historical exclusion of certain groups, and does nothing to address implicit exclusivity. Spaces that have been primarily populated by cis hetero white males can feel unwelcoming if one doesn't fit into those categories. That's why I'm wary of going into game stores, comic shops, etc, that aren't explicit in their support for other populations. It's all well and good to say everyone is welcome, but being clearly anti-racist/LGBTQIA+ supporting/anti-misogynist and so on makes it much more comfortable and safer to enter and participate. I've been in shops where "everyone is welcome" that just turned a blind eye to creepy and transphobic comments, and at cons where "everyone is welcome" and no one did anything about racists making nasty remarks at Black cosplayers.
Again, the survey was oddly worded in places, but exactly how are potential problems to be addressed if they aren't pointed out?