Diversity & Inclusion

Education and collaboration are vital to the future of the open source ecosystem, and it is imperative to us that everyone in the community that wants to participate feels welcome to do so regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, age, religion or economic status. Our code of conduct outlines our expectations for all those who participate in our community, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior.

The diversity statistics from Linux Security Summit North America 2021* are listed below.

*These are optional questions on our registration form that also include ‘prefer not to answer’ as an option, or can be skipped entirely, thus these numbers may be higher than reflected here.

Diversity is a high priority for us and we will continue to work to increase these numbers. While increasing attendee gender diversity and the diversity of other underrepresented groups continues to be a challenge, we provide multiple opportunities for increased diversity and inclusion. 

To encourage and increase the participation of a diverse community, we are pleased to offer diversity and need-based scholarships and discounts, as well as travel funding, to our conferences.

Nursing Room
We will be providing a private nursing room at this year’s event to aid in the comfort and accessibility of our nursing attendees. The room will be available all days of the event and will be located onsite. For location information, please check with registration or information desk staff onsite.

Venue Accessibility
If you need any assistance locating an elevator, or have other questions about accessibility onsite, please speak to a member of the Linux Foundation event staff at any of the registration or information desks onsite. If you have questions prior to the event, please email events@linuxfoundation.org.

Wheelchair + Medical Equipment Rental
If you need a wheelchair or scooter, you can rent them from Martin Mobility. Please contact them directly for rates and availability.

Interaction Wristbands
Please be mindful of attendee’s wristbands throughout the conference and use this tool to communicate appropriately:

• Green = Handshakes and high 5’s are welcome with frequent handwashing.
• Yellow = Still being cautious, elbow bumps only.
• Red = No contact at all, please remain 6 feet away.

Don’t see a wristband? Assume red until given permission from the other attendee.

Share your Pronouns
Select your pronouns during registration to share them with other conference attendees. Pronouns will be printed directly on your badge. Please be respectful of attendees’ pronouns.

All-Gender Restrooms
We will designate specific restrooms as all-gender for attendees who feel more comfortable using those facilities.

First Aid/Medical Assistance
If you require first aid or medical assistance, please visit our registration desk or the venue front desk. For emergencies, please dial 911.

How to Handle a Harassment Report
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the event staff immediately. Event staff can be identified by staff badges and/or shirts onsite and can be found at the event registration counter at any time. Our staff has had incident response training, responds to harassments reports and does so in accordance with the process recommended by the Ada Initiative, which can be found here on the Geek Feminism Wiki.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference.

If you are planning to attend an upcoming event and have concerns regarding another individual who may be present, please reach out to us pre-event. Precautions will be taken to ensure a victim’s comfort and safety, including, but not limited to providing an escort, prepping onsite event staff, keeping victim and harasser from attending the same talks/social events and providing onsite contact cell phone numbers for immediate contact.

The Linux Foundation Contacts:
Tricia Barker, Event Manager (tbarker@linuxfoundation.org)
Angela Brown, SVP & General Manager of Events (+1-575-694-2263; angela@linuxfoundation.org)

Austin is proud to have a large, diverse, and active LGBTQ+ community, and is known to be a very welcoming and safe place for LGBTQ+ community members to visit. Click here for information about the local LGBTQ+ community and happenings in Austin or download the Visit Austin field guide to LGBTQ+ Austin here. 

Read The Linux Foundation’s statement against discrimination in Texas here. 

While we know that recent legislation in Texas is of deep concern, the leadership of Austin and Travis County have publicly stated that they vehemently oppose state legislation or other actions that present an issue to minority or LGBTQ+ communities. Local leaders including Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown have publicly stated that “Trans kids and their families are welcome in Travis County…In our community, we have made clear that we stand in solidarity with the trans community. We will work with them to keep our community safe. We will work with them to keep families together, ensure safe access to necessary medical care, and prohibit discrimination in any form. ”

Click here to read a letter from Austin Mayor, Steve Adler, in opposition to the legislation being passed targeting transgender youth, as well as the passing of SB8 (Heartbeat Act), and SB1 (voter legislation). 

The Linux Foundation will ensure that this event is welcoming and safe for all who attend.

If you have ideas on how we can create a more inclusive event, please do not hesitate to let us know. Contact Angela Brown, SVP & General Manager of Events, at angela@linuxfoundation.org.