Thread by @elnathan_john

Dear people pretending to do diversity,
Visa costs are travel costs. If you do not cover visa costs then you do not cover travel costs. If you do not have a visa assistance policy (in addition to covering costs) then you are not interested in inclusion. It is not a favor.

Also, dear people of the global south, stop accepting to pay for visas with your own money to do paid events. Let them pay for it. They need us like we need them. They need to show they are diverse and global. We need to show our work globally. Let them pay for it. The full thing

Asking you to cover visa costs is not asking for a business class ticket. It is not asking to travel with my pet chihuahua. Without a visa I literally cannot travel. It is not my expense. It is yours. And if I have to travel to get the visa you cover that too. With a smile.

I am about to turn down a residency because they are making me write long emails about this. I refuse to beg anyone to cover my visa costs. If you do not understand this then just saw with your chest that you want only people with good passports. Say it. And we won't come.

You want to put our faces on your damn websites and say how diverse and international your program is. But you do not want to work for it. Imagine someone saying I should use my stipend to pay for my visa. Are you insane? I should choose between food and a visa?

They need us too. Never forget this. They all want the black and brown faces to show how cool and liberal and not racist they are. So this is not a favor. If they select you for a prestigious program or residency it is because you worked for it. You also make them look good.

Don't let anyone force you into worship. They will not publish you if they don't think you are good enough. They won't ask you for a speech unless they want your words. They won't invite you to a reading/interview etc unless they think you are good enough. You earned it!