IRE reaffirms commitment to LGBTQ+ support and safety

This week, IRE is holding its annual data journalism conference in Nashville. Some members have expressed concern about their safety in light of recent actions by lawmakers in Tennessee. Today, the IRE Executive Committee issued the following statement:

IRE is committed to serving and supporting all its members and maintaining a safe, discrimination-free organization where everyone can learn and be supported professionally.

IRE is also dedicated to evolving its practices to create a more diverse and inclusive community. We believe discrimination based on gender identity or expression is damaging. IRE should be a space for all members to thrive, including trans, non-binary and gender diverse people.

If you are feeling unsafe during the conference, please seek out an IRE staff or board member for further assistance. They are there to help.

We will continue listening to all members, responding to their input, and working to improve our trainings, conferences and other events with those perspectives in mind. IRE also has a Code of Conduct to address complaints of discriminatory or harassing behavior. We encourage members to reach out to the IRE board or executive director with further questions, and please review the organization’s recent DEI initiatives for additional details.