A recent tech conference aimed at providing a platform for women and non-binary individuals in the field was embroiled in controversy and chaos as male attendees unexpectedly overran it. Here’s what happened.
The Event
The Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), organized by AnitaB, has been a pivotal event for women and non-binary individuals in the tech industry.
Things Took a Turn
However, this year’s conference, held in Orlando, Florida, took an unexpected turn when a substantial number of cisgender men attended.
A Flood of Male Attendees
The organizers of GHC, which welcomes all genders but encourages male attendees to participate as allies, were caught off guard by the massive influx of male attendees.
Men Were Welcome
While men were welcome to support and learn from women and non-binary individuals, the number of men attending this year’s conference created a significant disruption.
The CEO Spoke
Avni Barman, the founder and CEO of Generation She, described the stark contrast between this year’s event and previous editions.
She expressed shock at the sudden turn of events, with hundreds of female attendees approaching her in distress.
Men Claimed They Were Non-binary
One of the main points of contention was that many male attendees claimed they were non-binary during registration to gain access to the event.
They Lied
This deception sparked outrage among the conference’s intended participants, leading to concerns about the fairness of the registration process.
The situation reached a point where some men attending the conference were seen wearing lanyards with he/him pronouns despite prior registrations suggesting otherwise.
The Frustration
Some attendees expressed frustration at men taking up spots that could have gone to women and non-binary individuals.
They also reported instances of men cutting in line and trying to sell their slots for substantial sums.
The Criticism
Critics argued that GHC should implement measures to restrict men from registering through academic quotas to ensure that women have fair access to the event.
These concerns found their way onto LinkedIn, with AnitaB’s page drowned with comments from outraged individuals.
The Video
In response to the mounting concerns, Young Lee, the Advisory President of AnitaB.org, released a video addressing the situation.
She acknowledged the collective sentiment of feeling unsafe and unheard among attendees.
Feeling Unsafe Physically and Psychologically
She said, “In the past, it has always felt safe and loving and embracing. And this year I must admit I didn’t feel this way. And I know that many of you feel this way. Many of you are feeling unsafe physically and psychologically, and you’re feeling unheard. I want you to know that we’re taking this so personally and I’m taking it personally.”
Twitter Users Expressed Their Views
Several social media users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “Turns out woke workplace policies aren’t as fun in the real world…”
Men Need to Celebrate Trans Women
Another user added, “I’ve come to the conclusion that to get a majority of women to stand up against the Trans movement, men need to celebrate when Trans women triumph over actual women. When actual women see the men are happy, they will move quickly to correct the situation.”
What Wokies Want
A third user commented, “This is what the wokies want. Why complain now? How do these women know that they are men and not non-binary?”
The Irony
A fourth user wrote, “The irony of a ‘women’s tech conference’ turning into a non-binary playground. Who knew gender labels were such a versatile accessory?”
The post Men Masquerading as Non-Binary Crash Women’s Tech Event first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
