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I appreciate all the earnest folks who are explaining why their institution's DEIA program was good, what impact it had, and why the govt eliminating it is awful. Really. I do.
But you're communicating the wrong thing. Because that's not the fight you're in.
The fight you're in is about segregation. The government is forcing you to choose segregation -- the obstruction of non white people (and white women) -- as well as queer, trans, and disabled people -- from entering or advancing in your industry.
You need to start clarifying THAT.
Be. Clear.
Help the media and public call a Thing a THING.
Hold your industry accountable by CALLING THE THING THE THING.
Make that room, that meeting, effing uncomfortable.
And force the question: Are we choosing segregation so that we don't end up on a fucked up list monitored by some 19 yo incel?
@DeliaChristina Hey Delia, is this something I can share on other platforms?
@DeliaChristina
Thank you for this clear reminder.
@DeliaChristina > Are we choosing segregation so that we don't end up on a fucked up list monitored by some 19 yo incel?
Thank you for this perfect phrasing.
@DeliaChristina I'd kinda like to paste this on LinkedIn but I know I'd get in trouble...
@DeliaChristina I'M DOING IT!
Alt text: One of my mutuals posted this on Mastodon:
"I appreciate all the earnest folks who are explaining why their institution's DEIA program was good, what impact it had, and why the govt eliminating it is awful. Really. I do.
"But you're communicating the wrong thing. Because that's not the fight you're in.
"The fight you're in is about segregation. The government is forcing you to choose segregation—the obstruction of non white people (and white women) from entering or advancing in your industry.
"You need to start clarifying THAT.
"Be. Clear.
"Help the media and public call a Thing a THING.
"Hold your industry accountable by CALLING THE THING THE THING."
---
On Friday I skipped work and allowed my autistic daughter to skip school so we could attend the Neurodiversity & Disability Symposium at California State University, Chico. One of the key topics was accessibility (the new A in DEIA), a poignant subject because we've spent the last two months working on color contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen reader upgrades for the educational platform I work on.
The removal of DEIA affects people of all colors, genders, and abilities. Another open-web social media post I saw the other day said that DEIA doesn't exist to prevent a qualified white person from getting a job due to an unqualified "diversity" candidate. *It exists to ensure that a qualified disabled person or person of color can get hired instead of an unqualified white man being hired simply because he is a white man.*
So I plead with you: *Do not obey in advance.* Make them take you to court before you discontinue your DEIA policies. Make sure your employees know that you are taking this stand, not just for the sake of the known benefits in productivity that having diverse viewpoints brings to the bottom line (as emphasized in the annual HR videos), but because the cause is a righteous one.
Thank you. That’s exactly what we need to get across to those who don’t grasp it already.
The Notorious Kyo 
@DeliaChristina @alice_watson “I will not work for a whites-only company”
@DeliaChristina AMEN. It needs to NOT come off as trimming charity work that was beneficial.
I posted the wording under my name on Linked in. I'm retired, have a long technical resume and contacts. I don't expect any serious backlash.
@DeliaChristina does this not also apply to those of us who are non-Christian, members of the LGBTQIA community, the disabled, etc as well?
A lot of people reduce this to just race and gender assigned at birth....
Trump's complaint about DEI was directly attacking disabled people
@LeatherCubAndrew
You're right.
@DeliaChristina I didn't want to come across as being more right, but that some people don't even recognize that removal of DEI impacts them too... their ignorance make them think it's okay and they definitely need to wake up.
I came across a youtuber who I once agreed with who now sides against DEI as a white woman and she immediately attacked me for "separating" people based on identity. DEI is about equity and inclusion among individuals with diverse identities which is a good thing
@DeliaChristina I just don't know if I am capable of convincing others that they have "skin in the game" too
I find that I am less interested in 'convincing others.'
I am, however, compelled to say what needs to be said. Folks can do whatever with it.
But saying THE THING is important.
Because it creates accountability.
@DeliaChristina absolutely I agree! I will try looking at it from that perspective moving forward.
My responsibility doesn't include convincing people, just saying what needs to be said and what is within my power. Thank you for providing enlightenment on the situation 
@DeliaChristina This has been my take on the attack on DEI. It is mandating racism.
@Polychrome @DeliaChristina Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility.
@DeliaChristina Won't work, because the modern right isn't openly racist. They are covertly, deniably racist. The racism of 'I think he just feels a bit shifty' that is next to impossible to prove in individual cases, even though statistical evidence for it is compelling. They will never openly call for segregation. They just call for the most qualified candidate to get the job, and if it somehow turns out that 90% of the workforce are white men, well... no idea how that happened.
Which is why explicitly reframing and exposing the fight we're actually in is important. Shine that light. Remove the deniability.
@DeliaChristina Thank you for this. I am the last person at my job doing DEI work after loss from attrition. The BOD has discussed ending out DEI program. I am taking your post to my 1 on 1 meeting with the CEO next week.
I had this discussion recently with a well meaning liberal who wondered whether the backlash we are seeing was due to abuse of DEI programs. Based on my experience, I explained that DEI literally can’t be abused as the whole point of it is to remove barriers. You can’t discriminate *against* anyone by removing barriers. Anti DEI rhetoric is about reestablishing barriers to protect a privileged group.
@DeliaChristina Unfortunately you have to first establish the predicate that what’s taking place is actually segregation, before asking whether or not it’s acceptable. A lot of people have the perception that DEIA is an industry where you get paid a lot to do nothing. You have to show the people who support eliminating these policies how doing so will directly harm them. Veterans are a great example of this–the US government serves veterans, they’re very up front about that, and a lot of them voted for Trump. It’s important to tie their loss of services to these purges, or they will just go on blaming “the blob.”
Actually, I don't need to establish that.
History points to it.
Their words and actions are pretty much neon signs announcing it.
It's also a shared understanding for the people most impacted.
WE know what is happening.
We can see it and can predict it.
It's *everyone else* who needs to catch up.
@DeliaChristina Not everyone affected knows what is happening. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/veterans-praise-pete-hegseths-plan-to-clean-dei-out-of-military-revamp-forces/
These guys are praising the policies that will degrade their quality of healthcare and curtail disability benefits they need to live. They need to understand that when it happens, or we won’t increase our support.
We’re at about half the country thinking DEI is good, that needs to be at like 80/20 minimum.