Dear Gnome and Gnu Image Manipulation Program community,
I formally request that the GIMP name be changed on the basis that it violates
the GNOME Code of Conduct.
I make this request, not to cause trouble but to stand up against unintentional
- but no less harmful - discrimination.
I want to be able to this software but I don’t feel morally able to because of
the name.
I know this is under the FAQ - and that perhaps makes it even more of a worthy
conversation to revisit... because if you’re talking frequently asked then
these concerns are not just mine.
I am a person with multiple disabilities. I, and others like me, face many
barriers, structural violence, and overt discrimination. All this together
creates great suffering for many.
The response I read in FAQ about changing this software’s name is not
sufficient.
https://www.gimp.org/docs/userfaq.html#i-dont-like-the-name-gimp-will-you-change-it
I don’t think that this is intentional but it comes out of ignorance and
doesn’t reflect what I see as the spirit of the FOSS community.
It essentially says, ‘we came up with a name we knew (or came to know) was
offensive 20+ years ago and we refuse to change or evolve.’ Moreover, it is
typical of the attitude towards people with disabilities as a marginalized
group - it says, ‘Your pain and suffering are not important. Our branding is
more important.’
This is in violation of the Gnome.org Code of Conduct.
https://wiki.gnome.org/Foundation/CodeOfConduct
Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist language or otherwise
exclusionary language. This includes deliberately referring to someone by a
gender that they do not identify with, and/or questioning the legitimacy of an
individual's gender identity. If you're unsure if a word is derogatory, don't
use it. This also includes repeated subtle and/or indirect discrimination.
Think of how quickly this software’s name would change if the name was a
derogatory term for another marginalized group. Terms I will not use even for
example because they are generally considered so offensive. The name of this
software is just as offensive.
So, in the spirit of inclusion and doing no harm - I formally request that the
name be changed. It’s 2021, the world is hurting, we need to work together.
I am not asking this because I don’t want to support this software and the
community that uses it and develops it. I requesting this because I want to
support it.
Sincerely,
Michael Richards, BSc, (he/him)
Victoria BC, Canada
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