Thanks for the support, Lisa. Of course, I'm just one opinion on this subject, but it comes from experience on both sides. My primary concern is actually for the dancers - I'll quote a bit I wrote to an off-list reply:

My point is: being unclear about what dancers should expect on such a contentious issue, before they arrive at the dance, will ensure that somebody is surprised/ disappointed/ angry when the decision is made "on the fly" - I've seen dancers storm off the floor in such situations. It's unfair to stick the caller in such a charged situation from the start. But more importantly, it's unfair to the dancers who may be traveling a distance for anticipated fun. And, ultimately, the organizers end up having to deal with resultant issues anyway - in my opinion it's better to just address it up front.

-Don


On Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 12:30 AM Lisa Marie Lunt <lisalunt@gmail.com> wrote:
I think it's important to listen to what Don Veino just wrote. Don is both a caller and organizer. It's not fair to put the responsibility for choosing role names on the callers. It's the organizers' responsibility to make decisions about our dances.

Lisa Lunt
She/her
Jamaica Plain (Boston) Gender Free Contra Dance 

On Sun, Oct 29, 2023, 4:17 PM Don Veino via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As a caller and organizer, this is a hot button topic for me. 
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