Grindr has Sponsored a Queer ‘Edit-a-Thon’ of Wikipedia at SXSW
The event included inviting Austin residents to try and help edit and include any relevant LGTBQ information on Wikipedia pages.
Zach Stafford, editor in chief of Grindr said: “People should have a say in their own stories, who’s telling their stories and stories about their community. The edit-a-thon is providing a space for folks to come work inside Wikipedia, correct stuff that isn’t fully correct [and] make some pages a bit more queer.”
The event went on for five hours and saw 50 attendees adding more than 500 edits to Wikipedia pages. The pages included topics like history, art and entertainment.
Tobin Low, co-host of WNYC’s Nancy podcast said: “The impact on a young queer person going to Wikipedia and seeing proper pronouns used or finding substantive information about important figures in queer history is immeasurable. The greatest hope for something like this hack-a-thon is that you help someone feel affirmed in their existence.”
Stafford is currently hopeful that the event encouraged people to take action on their own.
He added: “You can always fact-check Wikipedia. We’re hoping to give people tools that will empower them moving forward.”
Read more here.
