Statement in Support of Human Rights Ahead of the 2023 Waterbird Society Meeting
June 12th, 2023
Written by the Waterbird DEI Committee
The Waterbird Society celebrates the diversity of its members and works hard to cultivate a
pluralistic and welcoming community through equitable and inclusive values and practices. It is Society policy to “ensure that the Waterbird Society is inclusive of all waterbird biologists, policy-makers, and community members regardless of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, economic status, age, national origin, religion, (dis)ability status, language, political perspective, education, etc. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee [DEI; mission statement]).”
The 2023 meeting of the Waterbird Society will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Florida
is home to a robust community of birders, wildlife biologists, and avian conservationists, and the Society is eager to learn from and offer support to these members and their affiliates. The Waterbird Society also understands that Florida’s recent actions to curtail the rights of transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, people of color impact the ability of members to feel safe and welcome at our 2023 meeting. Therefore the Waterbird Society is undertaking actions to best ensure that our meeting is as safe a space as possible for such individuals, along with members belonging to all other marginalized groups.
First, the Waterbird Society ensures that any acts of hate, violence, or intolerance at the 2023
meeting will be addressed with appropriate action, both internally through our Code of Conduct and externally through relevant legal channels. Second, alongside scientific programming and waterbird-centered activities, the DEI Committee is planning several actions that support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, including 1) working with the City of Fort Lauderdale LGBTQ Community Liaison and the conference venue to ensure that all meeting spaces and conference activities are safe and inclusive; 2) planning an LGBTQ+ social event geared toward celebrating and supporting trans rights; 3) developing a poster (for presentation at the poster session) to raise awareness of barriers faced by transgender biologists and other at-risk groups in conservation and waterbird research. With any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns please reach out to the DEI committee co-chairs (Aliya Caldwell, Marisa Takada Martinez, and Juliet Lamb) before, during, or after the 2023 meeting.