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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mannahnin" data-source="post: 8320916" data-attributes="member: 7026594">Well, yes and no.  The fact that a given group now has legal protections is not the same thing as them being no longer subject to discrimination or mistreatment.  For example, in 1967 the Supreme Court of the United States stuck down state laws against interracial marriage (the famous Loving vs. Virgina case), but it wasn't until 1994(!) that public opinion polls started to show more than half of Americans approving of interracial marriage.The fact that significant numbers of people (including powerful politicians, not just hermits or cranks easily dismissed as "mad men") are still systematically lobbying to treat gay and trans folks groups unequally and to limit their freedoms is indeed proof that equality has not fully been achieved yet.  That fight is not "won".I don't think it's that you're from Canada.  I think it's that you have the typical "old-school" approach to inclusivity.  You try to live that value implicitly without talking about it.  I think that's how a lot of us have historically been.Unfortunately, from talking with women and members of various minority groups over the last decade or two about their experiences in gaming circles, I've learned that this approach has not fully counterbalanced the negative impressions they've historically gotten from gaming art, from the homogenous nature of most gaming tables (mostly straight white dudes), and from the unpleasant nerd gatekeepers who express antisocial attitudes toward people they perceive as "outsiders" to our elf games.I've found that to counterbalance that it really helps to be explicit and forthright in welcoming marginalized folks.  To be outspoken about it.  Not merely say "I don't care of you're black, white, or purple, a boy, a girl, or whatever!", because that communicates a kind of neutrality in the face of negative and discouraging forces, instead of active encouragement and support.In Ernie's recent quasi-apology post, and in the less-offensive Tweets we've seen from TSR recently, we've seen this kind of attitude.  "We treat everyone equally!  We should all game together.  Focus on fantasy; none of these differences should matter!"  When you've invited the wolf and the sheep to the table, you're really only inviting the wolf, if you follow my meaning.</blockquote>

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