The volunteers are accusing Venture Out’s parent organization, Start Proud, of failing to be adequately inclusive and diverse in its hiring practices. “Our team believes that Start Proud, an LGBTQ+ not-for-profit, treats diversity and inclusion as optional for hiring and promoting BIPOC, women, and gender diverse volunteers,” said a statement from the volunteers. The 12 volunteer members resigned on October 16. (BetaKit)

Talking point: The decision to resign altogether came immediately after Start Proud announced the appointment of its own member Chris Carniello as co-director for Venture Out’s 2021 conference. The volunteers said appointing as co-chair a white man who was not an existing Venture Out volunteer was symptomatic of a pattern of “fundamental disregard” for BIPOC, women, and gender-diverse volunteers within Start Proud, which focuses on the professional development of LGBTQ+ students, helping them transition from school to a career in tech. In a statement, Start Proud board chair Janet Spreitzer refuted the allegations, saying the organization “can say with confidence that diversity is never something we consider ‘optional.’”