'Non-binary' male computer scientists overtake women's tech conference

On September 26, hundreds of women and non-binary technologists gathered in Orlando, Florida to take part in AnitaB.org's annual Grace Hopper Celebration conference, however this year an alarming number of males exploited the three-day event's gender identification rules to join in, drawing the ire of female attendees.

Many reported feeling unsafe, and annoyed that males were taking up time at the booths and recruiting stations meant to help women and non-binary students and professionals make connections and find employment in an industry that has long been harder for them to break into.

"Shocking to see how many men showed up to a women in tech career conference claiming 'non-binary' on their GHC registration status, shoving, bullying and bribing the women there," Generation She founder and CEO Avni Barman lamented.

"I still get comments all the time 'I thought we solved the women in tech issue a long time ago'," she added. "Sad to see how low people are willing to go in a tough job market."

In a statement on LinkedIn during the event, AnitaB.org Advisory President Bo Young Lee addressed some of the concerns.

"This is my first GHC but my first as part of staff, and it's always been joyous. It has always been safe and loving and embracing, and this year, I must admit, I didn't feel this way, and I know that many of you felt the same."

"Many of you are feeling unsafe, physically and psychologically, and you're feeling unheard," she continued. "We try to create a safe space, and this week we saw the outside world creep in. This makes me angry, and it makes me sad."

Lee went on to promise attendees that the organization would work to ensure the event was better protected against infiltrators come 2024.

Her sentiments were shared by Chief Impact Officer Cullen White.

"Yesterday it became clear that there are a far greater number of cisgender men than we anticipated," he said. "Simply put, some of you lied about your gender when you registered. We need male allies. We need men who want to celebrate women, who want to work with and for women. And so we welcome men in this space, but to learn and support and improve. So let me be perfectly clear: Stop. Right now, stop."

While their words were appreciated, many said it wasn't enough.

"It's disheartening to express that my trust in your organization to aid us attendees has been nearly exhausted," software engineer Ran An replied in a comment, slamming the event for its "unfair and disorganized entry system, where attendees were allowed entry in an unequal and arbitrary manner."

AI technologist Nichole Sterling called for a "concerted effort to keep this space for women and non-binary people," suggesting, "if men sign up as 'allies,' then put them to work as volunteers: set up booths, lead women to events, and they absolutely have to pay double or three times the amount of a regular ticket."

She pointed out that on Reddit, many men openly admitted that they had lied about being non-binary to attend the conference.

"Yes, I'm being judgemental," Sterling added. "Men who lie to get into a conference geared toward women and non-binary folks are scumbags. Plain and simple."