Ada Initiative

    From: Valerie Aurora
    Date: Monday, February 25, 2013
    Subject: Re: Bsides talk on sex and drugs
    To: Michael Dahn <[email protected]>
    Cc: Ian Fung <[email protected]>, Jack Daniel
    <[email protected]>, "BoardMemberBsides"
    <[email protected]>, Mary Gardiner <[email protected]>


    Hi all,

    I'm afraid this is a bit out of context and I apologize. Mike Dahn and
    I discussed a potential example anti-harassment policy for Bsides some
    weeks ago, which could be voluntarily adopted by individual Bsides
    conferences. I understand that Mike isn't organizing this conference
    and has no control over any of the individual Bsides conferences. I
    sent him the information about today's talk as an "FYI" piece of
    information on what is happening at a Bsides conference because it is
    relevant to his interests and goals.

    Ian, if you are interested in learning why this talk is part of a
    pattern of behavior that results in extremely few women attending
    BsidesSF (I counted 8 at one point yesterday), I'm happy to work with
    you, but only if this is a goal of yours. I don't try to convince
    people to care about how many women attend their conferences or
    whether they are safe or welcome, I only advise people who have
    decided they want more information about it. I would never have sent
    the below email to you directly; it was intended for someone who had
    already expressed interest in the topic.

    It is inappropriate for me to speak to the presenter directly. It is
    the conference organizers' decision who speaks about what topics at
    their conference.

    -VAL


    On Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 11:27 AM, Michael Dahn <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Valerie,
    >
    > Ian Fung is organizing BSidesSF this year. Also, I am not aware of Violet's talk and content. I suggest talking to her directly.
    >
    > I've also cc:ed Jack and Michelle to keep them in the loop.
    >
    > Mike
    >
    >
    > On Feb 25, 2013, at 10:28 AM, Valerie Aurora <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >> Hi Mike,
    >>
    >> FYI, Bsides SF just updated their schedule today to show that Violet
    >> Blue is giving a talk entitled "sex +/- drugs: known vulns and
    >> exploits."
    >>
    >> http://bsidessf.org/schedule
    >>
    >> This is total bullshit even if it somehow ends up giving an anti-rape,
    >> pro-consent message. Framing a talk about sex in the vocabulary of
    >> computer security does not magically make it on-topic, and it
    >> definitely doesn't stop it from being a giant "You are not welcome or
    >> even safe" sign for women.
    >>
    >> -VAL
    >>
    >> --
    >> Increasing the participation of women in open technology and culture
    >> http://adainitiative.org