Daring Dialogues founder Shane Whalley on how DEI bans effect queer Texans. genderinblender
, feels concerned and confused about what this means for their business. Whalley is the assistant professor of instruction at theat UT Austin and has been a nonbinary advocate hirself for 30 years, using the. Daring Dialogues is hir service that offers businesses diversity workshops pertaining to gender and sexuality, unpacking white supremacy, and seeking justice.
The logistics of a DEI ban is tricky when thinking about Daring Dialogues. Whalley says that ze had to dial back on what can be talked about at these workshops for nonprofits funded by the state for fear that it could break the law. “I've had places be like, ‘Well, if we tell people they have to attend, then you have to be more careful about what you talk about.’ You can talk more about diversity, but I like to talk about justice,” ze says.
Whalley has been an out nonbinary person for 30 years. Starting hir journey working for a church while still in the closet, ze worked up the courage in the late Eighties to come out as a lesbian. Eventually Whalley realized ze was nonbinary and has lived in the “gender gray” since. Anti-LGBTQ+ bills are nothing new for hir, being a person who has dealt with the worst of homophobia and transphobia in hir life.
The fear goes beyond DEI bans. A noticeable uptick in hostility toward public Pride events has been scaring some in the LGBTQ+ community from attending these events. With the white supremacist group the Proud Boys showing up at more and more Pride events, many fear that the 2023 Texas Legislature emboldened bigots. “I would say there's never been a time where I didn't realize that something could go wrong at Pride,” Whalley says. “But this year's Pride, [it] feels scary.
Despite the bans and increased hostility toward queer people, Whalley does not see a slow down for Daring Dialogues. Whalley takes clients in different states and is currently offering consulting. “I'm not willing to water down what I do. So people are going to contact me but want a watered-down version of me? I'm going to say no thank you,” ze says. “I'll figure out how to pay my bills.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas native and veteran Shane Duffy gives back on HGTV renovation show 'Build it Forward'Shane Duffy is an Army National Guard veteran, former model/actor and now contractor, and...
Read more »
Pet of the Week: Daring DuncanDuncan is this week’s Pet of the Week. He is a two-and-a-half month, domestic short hair orange tabby kitten with lots of energy and lots of love to give.
Read more »
Elizabeth Hurley Dazzled in a Gorgeous Figure-Hugging Dress With a Very Daring Neckline.ElizabethHurley stole the show in this gorgeous ensemble!
Read more »
Crews still searching for Tacoma man who fell into Snohomish County waterfallWhile the man has not been found, some of his clothing was found in the river.
Read more »