Outlands Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Greetings glorious Outlands!

With Battlemoor said and done, I do want to give some thanks to everyone who helped and made the accessibility camp what it was. My biggest thanks goes to my accessibility deputy, Lady Guinevere of Nahrun. Without her guidance and help, I don't think we could have what we did. It's a base to build off of and I can't wait to see what happens next year! Also thank you to THL Frogge (who was Guinevere’s deputy), my Regional deputy Lady Aurelia, and my Programming deputy, Mistress Akilina, for their work and support.

And of course, my biggest thanks to Her Grace Slaine and Lady Aleysia for listening to my ideas and letting me run with the concepts I had in mind. Their support helped make this happen.

The thing I have learned the most about the Outlands in these last few months is that we stick together. There have been hard times, and there will continue to be some hard times that will shake things up. The SCA continues to grow and evolve - and for me, that's one of the reasons I want to continue playing, and play here in the Outlands. You have all made me proud to serve this kingdom.

I will be stepping down from my office at October Crown in the barony of Caer Galen. Myself and Her Excellency Ayse will be accepting Letters of Intent until August 1st, at [email protected] and [email protected]. The description of the office is as follows:

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer is a Greater Office, and is responsible for upholding the tenets of DEIB set in the official Society DEIB handbook, and promoting a diverse and accepting environment in the Kingdom of the Outlands.
This includes but is not limited to: accessibility, education, mediation, support for the various kingdom officers, and a voice for those who need it.

If this sounds like you, please send a letter of intent with your SCA and modern qualifications to Her Excellency and myself. I look forward to seeing who will help this kingdom continue the work we have done and will do in the future.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Sincerely,
Hardwin Godricson
DEIB Officer

Update: Letters of Intent are due September 1st, to be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]!

Send a message to learn more

As we prepare for Battlemoor and plan for all the amazing feats we will witness and accomplish, please consider devoting a bit of your time to be on call for those who may need some help setting up due to mobility or other issues. Many hands make light work and our wonderful populace has always stepped up to offer this hospitality and assistance. If you are interested in meeting new people and helping out for just a small part of your day, please reach out to Lord Hardwin (Christian AG Brillante) and/or Lady Aurelia (Ari Ewers) about your availability and they will be able to keep you updated as to need.

Do you need help setting up camp due to mobility or other health issues? We will have some help available at Battlemoor for set up. Please reach out to Lord Hardwin and/or Lady Aurelia with a rough idea of the time you will need help so we can let our volunteers know when to expect to be available.

Crown tournament was an amazing success! Congratulations to Master Hawkrill and Sir Adrian the crown prince and princess of the Outlands!! I was able to witness small acts of kindness and inclusivity throughout the day! Keep it up Outlands!

There is an awesome DRIB round table happening on the 27th. Here is the link.

AS LVIII DEIB Roundtable Please save the date: April 27, 2024 for the next Virtual DEIB Roundtable More info soon!

1982-Pat Robertson
1986-Hailey’s Comet
1999-Nostradamus
1999/2000-Jerry Falwell, Edger Cayce
2007-Pat Robertson
2010-Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
2012-Psuedo-Mayans
2013-Rasputin
2024-Eclipse

I want my tenth…

TikTok · Katie Lynn Gearhart 108 likes, 3 comments. Check out Katie Lynn Gearhart’s post.

Ending inequalities and discrimination is the responsibility of all the populace, of everyone. It is OUR responsibility to create a a place where people feel safe. All who value our core values are welcome regardless of age, ability, gender, or any other status

Greetings everyone! While many of us were attending Winter Coronation, the kingdom of An Tir hosted a virtual DEIB Collegium, with 40 classes covering various topics. The classes were recorded, and have been uploaded to YouTube, with updates to the playlist of each recording. I've included the link to said playlist below, and encourage everyone to watch any of the videos that interest you (a popular one is the History of Clan Bluefeather!).
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5BZKac6z6r_tG7IxNyzy_37nLIvCSADQ&si=Q0570nMVbKYn2XOG
In Service,

Hardwin, DEIB

DEIB Collegium 2024 The SCA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Collegium Event livestream and classes playlist. See scadei.wordpress.com for a list of all 40 classes.

Poplace Feature: Lord Vagn!

What is your full SCA Name, titles and pronouns included?
Lord Vagn Egilsson (He/Him)

Where do you play?
I hail from the Barony of Unser Hafen. I travel around the Northern Outlands regularly for practices and events.

Have you ever played in other groups/kingdoms?
I started playing SCA in the Kingdom of Calontir.

What is your favorite thing about the Outlands?
I love the community and culture of the Outlands. Since the first day of practice I've felt like I'm a welcomed member with the ability to make an impact in my community.

What makes you a diverse member of the Outlands?
Though I'm in a straight facing relationship, I am part of the LGBTQ+ community as a bisexual person and q***r ally. Love and attraction has many facets that each individual navigates using their heart and mind.

What has been your best SCA moment/memory so far?
It's honestly hard to nail down a best moment because there are so many. I've sailed the viking fyrdraca by starry night. I've sung stag songs in the pouring rain with my friends as Thor beat the anvil. I've found glory and friendship on the melee and list fields. I could go on, but the best part was we were doing it together as Outlanders.

Tell us something unique about your persona.
I try to act the part of a 10th Century Anglo-Dane who hails from Jorvik, Danelaw. I consider myself a warrior-skald like my namesakes, Egill Skallagrímsson and Vagn Åkesson.

If you could change one thing about the SCA, what would it be and why?
I would like to see SCA become more accessible to anyone that may be missing out on joining the SCA community. When working as a local ambassador I've learned new members feel intimidated by the cost and social pressures of the SCA. I've particularly see this with youth and families who don't have the disposable income to participate actively. We should keep striving to define and explain SCA culture, be inclusive, and pay good deeds forward where able.

What are your focuses within the Society (A&S, Combat, Service, Etc)?
I'm a bit of an eccentric with interests that align with many of the core activities SCA has to offer. I'm a Heavy fighter and I enjoy coaching other fighters. I am an A&S artisan who focuses on the scribal arts. I also have a deep drive for stewardship and service. I love to host and lead the people in my community; It fills me with a great sense of pride and purpose.

What's a class you could teach without a moment's notice?
I could teach a class on SCA 101. I also could run martial, scribal, and stewardship classes as well. There's so much to learn and teach in the SCA!

Anything else you'd like to say?
Thank you Lord Hardwin Godricson for the opportunity to be in an Outlands DEIB Populace Feature! Be kind, stay curious, and I look forward to meeting you at a SCA event soon.

From the desk of Hardwin Godricson, Kingdom DEIB Officer:
Greetings Good Populace!
I apologize for the quietness of late from the DEIB office. As many of us also have school, jobs and families, we have to put certain things lower on the to-do list. I'm sure many of us can relate.
In October we have a lot of things regarding diversity coming up! Indigenous People's Day, National Coming Out Day and more - a lot of chances to learn more about the modern and medieval worlds, and how diverse they are! If you're interested in helping out the team with posts, ideas and more, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]!
We're also looking for more people to be a part of our Populace Feature! If you're interested, you can fill out this handy dandy form! https://forms.gle/1UZutbsjRKSQzhF86
Finally, as a reminder: in January there will be the Virtual SCA DEIB Collegium, hosted by the Kingdom of An Tir. If you're interested in attending, teaching or helping to moderate, you can find all that information here: https://scadei.wordpress.com/
Thank you all for continuing to support DEIB efforts in the Outlands and in the Known World!
- Hardwin

Google Forms: Sign-in Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

Greetings unto the Outlands! A few announcements:

- The Known World SCA DEIB Collegium will be held virtually on January 20th, 2024, hosted by the Kingdom of An Tir. I encourage everyone who is interested in DEIB to attend, as we will be hearing from across the 20 kingdoms! For more information, visit their website: https://scadei.wordpress.com/

- I am still looking for populace members for our populace feature! Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested!

- The Barony of Dragonsspine is in need of a new DEIB officer. If you are interested in this position, please send myself and Her Excellency Ayse a letter of intent.

- If you are interested in serving your group in the DEIB capacity, please send me and Her Excellency Ayse a letter of intent.

I want to thank everyone for their continued support of this office, as we are still getting ourselves together and building up this part of our wonderful kingdom. Remember that you can always reach out to me with any ideas, questions or comments.

OUTLANDS!!!

In Service,
Hardwin Godricson

#SCADEI Collegium Come Learn about the SCA Core Values of Equity & Inclusion

This weeks DEIB letter is E, for equity. Equity is defined as:
“the state, quality or ideal of being just, impartial and fair.” The concept of equity is synonymous with fairness and justice. It is helpful to think of equity as not simply a desired state of affairs or a lofty value. To achieve and sustain equity, it needs to be thought of as a structural and systemic concept.
Equity involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. In the case of our game, equity means to not just try and understand others but to give the ability to access the joy and fun of our game. When thinking about justice, we need to take into mind that not everyone that plays the game has the ability and privilege of access that others do.
Being impartial and fair is the concept that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons. Meaning we need to take in to account all individuals that play our game when autocrating events and looking for alternatives to include and create an equal space for all.

Meet the DEIB Team! Today we introduce you to Lady Lianor da Costa, from the barony of Caerthe!
Lady Lianor da Costa, mka Sarah B. Thomas (she/her). I've been playing for about 15 years. My persona is Portuguese circa 1485, but due to changing body shape I've been exploring ancient clothing. I've always felt included in the SCA, and I'd like to hold space for everyone else to feel included too.

Here's the first of our Populace Feature, showcasing the diversity of the Outlands! If you're interested in being featured, email [email protected]!

What is your full SCA Name, titles and pronouns included?
Doña Elora Von Effyn (She/Her)

Where do you play?
I play in DragonsSpine and The Outlands, in general

Have you ever played in other groups/kingdoms?
I play and travel all over The Outlands, Atenveldt, and Artemisia.

What is your favorite thing about the Outlands?
I love the traditions and wildness of the Outlands. The Outlands has a very unique reputation in other Kingdoms for being unusual and fun.

What makes you a diverse member of the Outlands?
I am part of the LGBTQ+ community as not only an Ally but as a Pansexual and Polyamorous being. I truly believe that Love is Love no matter who or how many you love.

What has been your best SCA moment/memory so far?
I have had several wonderful moments during my time in the SCA: Becoming a Cadet to my best friend, Entering my first A&S competition and Queen's Prize (Thread Wrapped Buttons), Winning my first Rapier Tournament, Winning my first Cut and Thrust tournament, Becoming Co-Defender of the Queen's Heart, and Receiving my White Scarf.

Tell us something unique about your persona.
I don't really have a persona, per say. I enjoy all aspects of the SCA and have several pieces of garb from different time frames. I'm seen most commonly in 14th century European garb (doublets and skirts/pants) but I quite enjoy Roman, Persian, Viking and late Period Italian and German garb.

If you could change one thing about the SCA, what would it be and why?
I would love to see more opportunities and acceptance for people with disabilities and non standard relationships. I have seen a lot of growth in accepting the LGBTQ+ community over the last few years and I have felt much more accepted for being myself.

What are your focuses within the Society (A&S, Combat, Service, Etc)?
My main focus is Fencing/ Cut and Thrust. When I'm not on the Rapier or Cut and Thrust fields, I am either making Thread Wrapped Buttons, Lampworking or serving my Barony or Kingdom in some way.

What's a class you could teach without a moment's notice?
I can go on for hours about anything regarding Historical Italian Fencing (both techniques and philosophy), and Thread Wrapped Buttons.

Many thanks to Dona Elora for letting us all get to know her better!

Did you know that the definition of what constitutes a disability changes over time and varies by culture? Some cultures link disability with sin, while others separate the two.

Here's a great podcast with a discussion of disability in Byzantium. Links for the guest's papers on the subject are linked below the podcast.

Disability in Byzantium, with Christian Laes - Medievalists.net What might count as a disability in a Byzantine context? What social consequences did it have? How was it represented in texts? How did people try to cope with their disabilities?

From the desk of Master Charles de Bourbon, Society DEIB officer:

Folks,

My thoughts on the Pennsic tokens:

I am aware that there are concerns about the Pennsic site tokens as are the board and the President.
No one in corporate or the board has significant input on the planning of Pennsic. This was a well-intentioned but ultimately probably not the best idea for being inclusive. I understand folks have strong feelings on both sides, but please let’s not allow this to define Pennsic 50. This is a huge milestone for the SCA. Let’s learn from this and move on to a glorious Pennsic

There are jewelers on site who will remove the bottle opener for you without marring the beautiful site tokens.

You can find THL Prima in the Debatable Lands camp on N10, entrance on Fletcher, from Sinclair Jewelry starting Monday. She's offered to alter site medallions.

Also see attached picture.

I am taking notes, as are my deputies. We will meet after Pennsic 50 and work with next year’s mayor.

Please help me get this out,

Charles

Domina Aurelia gives us an overview of the word Diversity and how it relates to our Society and game:

We accept and embrace Diversity.

Today we will talk about Diversity, the first letter in DEIB. The dictionary says that diversity is not only a variety but “the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.”

In the SCA, part of our goal is to “recreate the Middle Ages as they should have been, not as they were” this means recognizing and embracing all that makes each of us unique, no matter who we are. Being diverse is what enriches our game, it allows us to share experiences with people who may not have been part of our lives otherwise. To embrace that Diversity is to expand our knowledge and understand that we may not be able to know what customs or cultures another person comes from, but to embrace it none the less.

Diversity and the concept of embracing it is no small thing. It can mean sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone to see another perspective and accepting it even if you don’t understand.

Meet the DEIB Team! Today we introduce THL Remy from Dragonsspine!

"THLady Remy Renée d'Orleans. My pronouns are she/her. I've been playing actively since 2007, and my current persona is 15th-16th century French. My favorite thing about DEIB is getting to teach and share all the cool stuff most history books leave out."

Hey there Outlands! Have I got an exciting idea for you!

We in this kingdom have an incredibly diverse populace, whether its gender, sexuality, ethnicity, neurodivergency and more! So let's show the Known World who we are, and get to know others in our kingdom!

Every other Friday starting in August, we will be having a "Populace Feature" where we interview a member of our populace! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to submit their name to be featured. If you are interested, please email [email protected] with "Populace Feature" in the subject line. The deadline for this first feature is August 3rd, so no rush (as I know many of us are getting ready for Coronation)!

Thank you everyone for your continued support, and keep being awesome!

- Hardwin, DEIB Officer

Today's post on Disability Pride Month comes to us from Lady Lianor, discussing disability in medieval england!

Just as today, disabled folks had a variety of experiences in medieval England. Many disabled folks were cared for in their villages or by their families. In a small village, where everyone knows everyone else, everybody knows that’s John who got kicked in the head by a horse, or blind Anne who makes the best baskets. Disabled people without a source of support had a safety net in the church. Monasteries and parishes ran and staffed refuges for lepers, and would take in folks who could not care for themselves. Disabled people sometimes went on pilgrimages to sites where they could pray for relief from their disabilities.

There were also competency courts, just as today, that could rule on whether a person with a mental disability was competent to manage their own affairs. A person who was found incompetent would become a ward of a feudal lord, who then had an obligation to care for them.

Begging for alms was regulated. You needed a license to beg. As you’d expect due to human nature, there were people who would fake a disability in order to beg.

For more info, click here:

Disability in the Medieval English Community | Historic England How most disabled people remained in the community, working or supported by others, or sometimes begging on the streets.

The Barony of Dragonsspine will be looking for a new DEIB officer. Please read below, and thank THL Remy for her service to her barony and our kingdom!

If you are interested in this position, please email a letter of intent to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected] by August 11th. If you have any questions, please feel to reach out to Her Ladyship, Lord Hardwin or Baroness Ayse. Thank you!

Greetings everyone, and welcome to Disability Pride Month!

As outlined on the American Bar Association, DPM is defined as follows:

Disability Pride Month celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism. It is a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another’s voices and be heard. Disability pride has been described as “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.”

For more reading, you can check out: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/resources/celebrating-heritage-months/disability-pride-month/

Stay tuned to our page as we discuss disability in period times, its modern effects, and more!

Disability Pride Month Disability pride has been described as “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.”

Blessed Eid al-Adha! Today in islamic countries across the world, the celebration of of the story of Ebrahim and Ishmael takes place. According to tradition, there are three days of feasting, sacrifices and remembrance. For an excellent explanation of the holiday, al-Jazeera has an article discussing the traditions all over the middle east. As many of us portray personas from these countries, it's a fun idea to learn more about their celebrations and traditions!

Prayer, henna, charity: Eid al-Adha traditions around the world There are many shared traditions, but Muslims in different countries also have Eid customs distinctly their own.

From the desk of Hardwin Godricsson, Kingdom DEIB Officer:

Greetings unto all,

As many of us are preparing for Battlemoor, I'd like to thank my current DEI Deputies Magistrate Lorinc, Lady Lianor and THL Remy for their help with this month's DEIB posts.

B has been added to the acronym and stands for Belonging, which many feel widens the spectrum of what our office does. And that is what I want to talk about for this last post for Pride Month: Belonging.

Any and all are welcome in our kingdom and the Society as a whole. If you have ever felt like this isn't true, or that you have had a negative experience, please speak up. You can approach myself, or any of the DEIB officers, and we can help. While we don't do any investigating, we can help put you in touch with the right people, and will happily be your advocate if needed. Our job is to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race and more feel welcome and accepted.

There will be a DEIB Round Table on Friday the 30th at Battlemoor, in Classroom D, from 11am to 1pm. Please come and chat, ask questions, and learn more about what we do and what we want to do in the future. Everyone is welcome!

I have also been asked how one becomes the DEIB officer for your group. It's easy! Send a letter of intent to me at dei[at]outlands[org], your group seneschal, baronial coronet if necessary, and the kingdom seneschal detailing why you would like to be the officer. We'll review your letter, and get back to you with an answer! It doesn't matter of your group is a canton or college, shire or barony - DEIB is useful at every group level.

Thank you all once again for your continued support. See you at Battlemoor!

YIS,
Hardwin

Today's post comes from Her Ladyship Remy, discussing a q***r figure in history that, while outside the SCA time period, is considered a pertinent part of LGBTQIA+ History:

Throughout history, gender has seldom been completely black and white. An 18th century example of this is the famous fencer and spy Chevalier d'Eon who lived publicly as both a man and a woman at different stages of their life. In modern terms, Chevalier might have identified as gender fluid, a person who gender identity is not set and which changes over time.

A brief biography of Chevalier d'Eon: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/desire-love-and-identity/chevalier-deon

Chevalier's gender fluidity in art: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-gender-fluidity-of-the-chevalier-don

The Chevalier d'Eon Look at gender diversity through the life of this 18th-century soldier, spy and diplomat, depicted in a selection of prints in the Museum.

Happy Juneteenth everyone! Today, as we celebrate the liberation of all Americans from the bo***ge of slavery during the month of Pride, let’s take a moment to recognize the intersection of q***rness and Blackness.

Many African countries today regard homosexuality as having been brought by colonizers, but in fact, homosexual and transgender folks existed in pre-colonial Africa and were even recognized by their cultures.

Further reading here: http://blackyouthproject.com/q***r-folks-existed-in-pre-colonial-africa-and-yall-can-stay-mad/?fbclid=IwAR1F8_Q37QyfLigWBIhnxA44INRkKwaK3yhQKw__jeBxMCi0lVivoAQvntU

Comic: Q***r folks existed in pre-colonial Africa and y'all can stay mad - The Black Youth Project I hear constant claims that LGBTQ people are “not part of African culture” when it was, in fact, white colonization that began q***r demonization. Modern Black cis heterosexuals are determined to continue this cycle.