Hi Ruben, et al.,
Seeing and contributed to increased LGBTQ+ representation during the last RIPE meetings I too have mixed feelings about hosting the event in locations that are hostile towards LGBTQ+ folx.
They might feel not safe traveling in person to these meetings, though the meeting venue itself might be safe enough.
Yeah, the hybrid meeting setup might alleviate such concerns, but it also feels like a compromise one does not like to make. I don’t know.
I agree. Telling people that would potentially be unsafe in such a location to move their attendance online feels horrible. I wouldn't want to do that. The in-person meetings should welcome everybody and not force them to make those weird compromises. If we want to offer an open meeting, we need to pick the location accordingly. Cheers Sascha