I just discovered (thanks to the #Mastodon social media platform) that there is now an Amateur Radio Inclusivity Pledge, a project that calls for both individual hams but also ham radio organizations to make public positions on their inclusivity but also to take proactive steps in this direction.
This is wonderful news and is long-over due. I love #AmateurRadio but one of the biggest problems with the hobby is how unwelcoming the hobby can be to folks who are not older, white, Christian men. I am seeing some positive movements away from this (especially online), but OTA (over the air) — it can often be pretty bleak, with casual racism and sexism being frequent occurrences, and with even outright slurs against LGBTQ+ folks being often tolerated. — So I’m glad for some pushback.
In that spirit, I’ll give my own KG5JST Amateur Radio inclusivity statement (modified a bit for brevity and clarity from a sample statement on the ARIP’s website):
I commit myself to affirming and promoting participation in our hobby and service by ALL operators, and I celebrate the diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, neurodivergence, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, socioeconomic status, cultural practices, and physical characteristics represented in our community. I do this because of my belief in the power of human dignity in diversity, peace, and liberty.