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LGBTQ+ of FIRST Partnership

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LGBTQ+ of FIRST

LGBTQ+ of FIRST is a student lead organization dedicated to raising awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ+ participants in FIRST Robotics. LGBTQ+ of FIRST was started to spread visibility of the LGBTQ+ community within FIRST and help teams become safe spaces for their members.

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The mission of LGBTQ+ of FIRST is to increase queer visibility in FIRST and the STEM community as a whole by providing resources, both online and offline, to help and educate LGBTQ+ people and their allies.

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Why the partnership?

  • We have multiple LGBTQ+ students on the team
  • Help make our team a safe space for all
  • Help other teams become a safe space for all
  • Seminar opportunity for the team
  • Positive way to connect with other teams

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How will this help the team?

  • Make LGBTQ+ students feel more safe on the team
  • Seminar opportunity at Offseason and Regional competitions
  • Increase productivity if all students feel welcome and safe
  • Increase team morale
  • Increase communication between students and mentors
  • Increase attendance
  • Increase team diversity

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How will this change the team?

  • Better policing of any inappropriate behavior and language
  • Specific consequences for breaking policies would be outlined and enforced
  • Addition of "Pronoun" and "Preferred Name" to our Activities sign up sheet
  • Review and develop rooming policies and expectations for LGBTQ+ students

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What the LGBTQ+ team Reps need to do

  • Host an LGBTQ+ of FIRST event
  • Promote LGBTQ+ of FIRST at competitions and other events by handing out informational flyers, displaying promotional materials in our pit area, and answering questions about LGBTQ+ of FIRST
  • Be supporters of LGBTQ+ people

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Examples

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What we expect from the team

  • Respect all people on our team
  • Not everyone needs to actively participate in the partnership but we ask for support by respecting the students on the team that want to participate
  • You do not have to wear rainbow suspenders (but you can if you’d like!)

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The Letters and what they mean

Lesbian

Gay

Bisexual

Transgender

Queer

+

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Pronouns

  • Pronouns are used to refer to people
  • Common pronouns are
    • she/her
    • he/him
    • they/them
  • Respect and use the name and pronouns students want

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Questions?

  • We understand that this topic can be confusing
  • If there are any further questions, feel free to ask

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Resources

Here are some resources to help learn about the community