Wikimedian in Residence

LBGTQ+

Wikipedia and LGBTQ+ equality, diversity and inclusion.

Wikimedia has long-term commitments to supporting LGBTQ+ equality, diversity and inclusion. Wikimedia LGBT+ was formed in 2012 to support the representation and inclusion of LBTQ+ individuals, with missions to increase the availability of openly accessible LGBTQ+ content and to promote Wikimedia as a resource for supporting LGBTQ+ communities. 

LGBTQ+ At the University of Edinburgh 

The University is committed to LGBTQ+ equality, diversity and inclusion and, as an employer, has been a Stonewall Diversity Champion since 2012. The University's Staff Pride Network, LGBTQ+ Student Campaign and Pridesoc, among other groups, all help to build a welcoming community for LGBTQ+ students and staff. However, there can always be more done to support LGBTQ+ equality, diversity and inclusion, and one way to do so is by getting involved with Wikimedia projects. This can help those at the University to show stronger allyship to the LGBTQ+ community. 

LBGTQ+ on Wikipedia: Queering Wikipedia 

"Queering" Wikipedia refers to how LGBTQ+ information can be included throughout Wikipedia, even in pages not written specifically about LGBTQ+ topics. The Queering Wikipedia conference supports individuals and communities in improving the accessibility of LGBTQ+ information online - particularly within medical and sexual health information -  and helps to ensure that Wikipedia's pages are fully inclusive for people regardless of their gender identity and/or their sexuality. 

LBGTQ+ on Wikipedia: Wiki Loves Pride 

Wikimedia has held various events to increase LGBTQ+ visibility. Many of these are fall under the Wiki Loves Pride campaign, which occurs during June and October yearly.  Events such as edit-a-thons are held during Wiki Loves Pride, collaborating with other Wikimedia projects such as Wikiproject: Women in Red to increase LGBTQ+ engagement across all Wikiprojects. You can see the successes, including the many new articles created, of the 2021 Wiki Loves Pride campaign on The Wiki Loves Pride campaign website.

Other LGBTQ+ Wikipedia Projects

Other groups have also been involved in encouraging LGBTQ+ diversity on Wikipedia. Art+Feminism, for instance, aims to provide a safe community of editors to work on Wikimedia projects. Meanwhile, edit-a-thons - where groups of people collaborate to improve certain areas of Wikipedia - are frequently held by institutions including universities and libraries to encourage collaborative editing and contributions to Wikipedia.

The University could further its allyship by getting involved in these projects to improve the visibility and recognition of LGBTQ+ and to help make information, such as medical information, more inclusive for LGBTQ+ individuals. 

Further links:

Find out more about Wikipedia and LGBTQ+ diversity here

Queering Wikipedia

Wikiproject:LGBT Studies 

Wikiproject:Gender Studies

Wikidata Wikiproject:LGBT/Gender

 

© Ewan McAndrew and Clea Strathmann, University of Edinburgh, 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise indicated.