[Air-L] Call for Support on DiGRA Diversity Collective Statement

[Tom Apperley]

Dear Dr Mahli-Ann Butt,

Speaking for myself as a member of the DiGRA community:

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you to share the
experience you described in your resignation letter with the DiGRA
community (and more). It is your right to share this information when and
how you decide, and I believe you.

None of what happened is your fault. The responsibility lies entirely with
the person who hurt you, and I hope you know that you are not to blame in
any way.

Thank you for trusting the DiGRA community enough to share this awful
experience. I recognize how tough it might have been for you to share this
publicly, and I want to acknowledge the courage it took for you to describe
this to the community. If there’s anything more you’d like to share or
discuss on this - or related - topics, I am here for you without judgment.

Tom



On Mon, Aug 12, 2024 at 3:51 AM Mahli-Ann Butt via Air-L <
air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:

> Dear remaining DiGRA executive board members,
>
>
> After Dr Reuben Kirkham’s threats towards me on Gamesnetwork
> <
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwOgSuI7UKWB0rJkqONkFnqr9lS0l38J/view?usp=share_link
> >,
> I am sharing a copy of my resignation letter
> <
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YidYh80QVgB_aMWW3pc5GpYNczK2Wj-L/view?usp=share_link
> >
> on the Air-L/AoIR listserver as I’m afraid of bad actors like Dr Kirkham –
> who leads an Australian-based right-wing group promoting transphobia
> <https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2024/02/13/free-speech-union> and
> seeking to legally dismantle Australian laws on hate speech – having access
> to this information.
>
>
> The DiGRA Diversity Collective Statement
> <
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mzBqCRJJiuEGpBmFJsoW54xEKwuffAWxCq4VeEWKgUg/edit?usp=sharing
> >,
> I submitted and the DiGRA board acknowledged on 10 August, said that my
> resignation letter was available on request. The content of my resignation
> letter and the linked diversity officers’ resignation letter
> <
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jrY007kty1KhVBJMxnjCDyvKTr7GuHugg3fo4TZxbQI/edit?usp=sharing
> >
> must be treated as integral to the statement shared on Gamesnetwork on 10
> August, and any response made by DiGRA should address these three letters
> also.
>
>
> A note to members of DiGRA/AoIR reading this: I made my letter available on
> request so I could also give people a content/trigger warning and heads-up
> that it’s a difficult read. It contains accounts of abuse, sexual assault,
> r*pe, grooming, and gaslighting. If you haven’t read my resignation letter,
> please don't feel obligated to read the entire document.
>
>
> I'm sharing my resignation letter publicly because I fear DiGRA leadership
> may exploit my silence to shift blame, discredit me, and avoid
> accountability. I demand accountability to ensure the safety of our
> community members.
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Mahli-Ann
>
> On Thu, 1 Aug 2024 at 21:31, Mahli-Ann Butt <mahli.ann.butt at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Dear colleagues,
> >
> > We are writing to you as the recently resigned Digital Games Research
> > Association (DiGRA) Executive Board Members, DiGRA Diversity Officers,
> and
> > DiGRA Ombuds Team, as we believe there is need for a collective voice to
> > advocate for diversity, inclusion, transparency, and marginalised
> scholars’
> > safety within the DiGRA organisation.
> >
> > To this end, we have written a statement outlining our concerns and
> > calling for specific actions from the remaining members of the
> > international DiGRA board. We believe that by presenting a united front,
> we
> > can prompt meaningful systemic change.
> >
> > We are inviting you to join us in signing this statement and ask you to
> > share it with your networks. We welcome individuals as well as
> collectively
> > named signatures. Our goal is to demonstrate the widespread support for
> > these important issues and to encourage DiGRA leadership to take concrete
> > steps to address them.
> >
> > If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please follow the
> > highlighted instructions in the DiGRA Diversity Collective Statement:
> >
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mzBqCRJJiuEGpBmFJsoW54xEKwuffAWxCq4VeEWKgUg/edit?usp=sharing
> >
> > Thank you for your time and consideration.
> >
> > In Solidarity,
> >
> > Cody Mejeur,
> >
> > Assistant Professor of Media Study, University at Buffalo,
> >
> > [Resigned: Inaugural DiGRA Ombuds Member (2020-2024); DiGRA Diversity
> > Officer (2019-2023)].
> >
> > Darshana Jayemanne,
> >
> > Reader in Digital Cultures, Abertay University,
> >
> > [Resigned: DiGRA Open Seat].
> >
> > Mahli-Ann Butt,
> >
> > Lecturer in Cultural Studies, School of Culture and Communication,
> > University of Melbourne,
> >
> > [Resigned: DiGRA Chapter Officer (2023-2024); DiGRA Open Seat
> (2019-2023);
> > Inaugural DiGRA Diversity Officer (2018-2019); DiGRA Student Officer
> > (2016-2017); Former President of DiGRA Australia (2023-2024)].
> >
> > Poonam Chowdhury,
> >
> > PhD candidate, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad,
> > India,
> >
> > [Resigned: DiGRA Diversity Officer (2023-2024), Founding-member DiGRA
> > India (2020-2024)]
> >
> > Premeet Sidhu,
> >
> > Research Assistant, The University of Sydney,
> >
> > [Resigned: DiGRA Student Officer 2023-2024].
> >
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