Diversity

***NOTE: This is currently a DRAFT in progress***

Diversity and the OSGeo Foundation

The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) supports diversity in the community: OSGeo community members can safely interact, contribute, share, learn, and be respected for who they are. OSGeo is a large, international organisation made up of members with different cultural, historical, and linguistic backgrounds. Diversity involves acceptance and respect for these differences and more, including ethnicity, race, cultural traditions, religious expressions, age, gender, socio‐economic status, mental or physical ability, and sexual orientation. OSGeo strives to foster growth and innovation in the geospatial industry, and diversity must be respected to reach this goal.

Where Diversity Applies in OSGeo

Diversity and its acceptance applies to everything that OSGeo does including mailing lists, projects, documentation, language in code comments, code sprints, and events.

Feedback and Concerns

OSGeo is a worldwide organization. People converging in the organization have different cultures and background. In some cultures, some behaviors are considered normal, whereas in other cultures might result as disrespectful and offensive. Before getting offended from other people's behavior, consider that there could be a misunderstanding in the communication. Ask yourself if you really think that the other person meant to be disrespectful towards you. Translation is also a common cause of misunderstanding.

Most people in the organization speak English as a second language, and it is possible that they do not always use the language with accuracy or in the way you would.

If you are in an unpleasant situation where one person's behaviour is causing discomfort to you or someone else, consider one or more of these options:

• Raise a direct protest against the person who is causing your discomfort: talk to each other.
• Ask friends or others there directly for help - you are never alone, others will always help you.
• Contact event staff, members of the local organizing committee (LOC), or volunteers.
• Contact anybody from the OSGeo Board of Directors either personally or by email, private and in confidence, at board-priv(at)osgeo(dot)org.
• You may also contact the President of OSGeo directly at president(at)osgeo(dot)org.
• If you think it is appropriate, contact event security staff or local law enforcement.