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    Be a proactive ally

    Posted 2018
    Source
    Land Trust Alliance
    Author
    Abby Henkel
    About This Document

    Based on the way I look, it’s unlikely that anyone I meet would think I’m straight. When I took the job as communications director for a regional land trust headquartered in a liberal college town within mostly conservative southern Indiana, there were colleagues who expressed concern that some rural or conservative folks might treat me poorly because of my sexuality.

    Abby Henkel is the communications director at Sycamore Land Trust.

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    Based on the way I look, it’s unlikely that anyone I meet would think I’m straight. When I took the job as communications director for a regional land trust headquartered in a liberal college town within mostly conservative southern Indiana, there were colleagues who expressed concern that some rural or conservative folks might treat me poorly because of my sexuality.

    The opposite has proven to be true, and I’m grateful but not surprised. People talk about how polarized this country is, and in many ways I feel that keenly. But in day-to-day interactions, everyone I meet just wants to get along and find common ground so we can work toward a solution.

    That being said, my positive experience does not represent everyone’s.

    I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but there’s still so much work to be done. As conservationists, and as residents of a country grappling with racism, sexism and homophobia, there are actions we can take to work toward equality and inclusion:

    • Be mindful to avoid micro-aggressions among colleagues, such as poking fun at someone’s clothes or food, using language that reinforces gender roles/ biases or telling tasteless jokes. If you think it might be offensive, it probably is.

    • Make your communications inclusive of the concerns, cultural norms and abilities of a diverse population, such as that women in stewardship can use a chainsaw just as well as men.

    • Question your assumptions about what will best serve a community; instead, engage community members directly to create solutions (community conservation).

    • Foster gender and sexuality inclusivity through office policies, such as bathroom accessibility, healthcare plans that respect transgender people, an LGBTQ-positive nondiscrimination policy and gender-neutral parental leave policies.

    Let’s build on the positive momentum of this movement that has achieved so much, so that all people feel uplifted, included and inspired.

    For more information about addressing gender bias in conservation organizations, read our feature article in the fall 2018 issue of Saving Land magazine.