Musk's DEI ignorance contradicts Tesla's publicized commitments & the WHO is developing guidelines to support trans and gender diverse people

In today’s DEI in 5:

• Elon Musk says diversity, equity and inclusion are ‘propaganda words’

• WHO announces the development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender diverse people

• Would You Go to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's 'Electeds of Color' Holiday Party?

• The case for the intergenerational C-suite: Why companies need more age diversity in their leadership ranks

• The year fashion backtracked on diversity

Read time: 3 minutes

Elon Musk says diversity, equity and inclusion are ‘propaganda words’ 

Summary: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has labeled the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as "propaganda words," despite Tesla's publicized commitment to these principles.

The Details:

• Musk's Critique: Musk criticized DEI terms on the social media platform X, which conflicts with Tesla's own promoted DEI initiatives.

• Tesla's DEI Efforts: Tesla's reports highlight its majority-minority U.S. workforce and DEI efforts, including targeted hiring events and internal celebrations of employee diversity.

• Legal Challenges: Tesla faces lawsuits alleging racial discrimination, indicating ongoing tensions between the company's stated DEI goals and reported workplace realities.

• Company's DEI Policies: Tesla's impact report emphasizes the responsibility of inclusion, detailing onboarding processes that introduce new hires to DEI principles and employee resource groups.

Why is this relevant: Musk's comments juxtapose Tesla's documented DEI initiatives, spotlighting a potential disconnect between executive rhetoric and corporate policies. This tension illustrates the complexities of DEI discourse within major corporations and raises questions about the sincerity and effectiveness of such initiatives in the tech industry. It’s also, and unfortunate reminder of how many are misinformed about DEI work, what the work entails, and what the words diversity, equity, and inclusion even mean.

WHO announces the development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender diverse people

Summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing a comprehensive guideline to enhance the health of trans and gender diverse people, spearheaded by its departments dedicated to gender, rights, equity, and health.

The Details:

• Multidisciplinary Approach: WHO's GRE-DEI, HHS, and SRH departments collaborate to create this health guideline for trans and gender diverse individuals.

• Five Focus Areas: The guideline will address gender-affirming care, health worker education, care for violence survivors, supportive health policies, and legal gender identity recognition.

• Guideline Development Group (GDG): Experts from all WHO regions, without organizational affiliations or financial compensation, comprise the GDG.

• Upcoming GDG Meeting: Scheduled for February 2024 in Geneva, the GDG will evaluate evidence, balance benefits and harms, and consider implementation and research needs.

• Public Involvement: WHO invites public commentary on GDG members' biographies to ensure transparency and mitigate conflicts of interest.

Why is this relevant: This initiative signifies a significant step in acknowledging and addressing the unique health needs of trans and gender diverse communities globally. The WHO's focus on evidence-based, inclusive health care interventions promises to enhance access to quality medical services, reflecting a commitment to health equity and the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender identity.

Would You Go to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's 'Electeds of Color' Holiday Party?

Summary: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu faces criticism after a holiday party invitation for "electeds of color" was mistakenly sent to all city councilors. This incident, involving Boston's first Asian-American mayor, raised accusations of fostering division in a city with a complex racial history.

The Details:

• Invitation Error: The email, intended for less-represented officials, was accidentally sent to all members, including white councilors.

• Backlash: Some viewed this as “divisive,” particularly in Boston's historically fraught racial context.

• Mayor Wu's Apology: Wu acknowledged the email mistake and the importance of inclusive leadership.

• Historical Context: The criticism reflects Boston's longstanding racial dynamics, highlighting the challenges minority leaders face.

• Safe Spaces vs. Inclusion: The controversy underscores the dilemma in creating safe spaces for less represented individuals.

Why this is relevant: The episode with Mayor Wu illustrates the nuanced challenges non-white leaders face in balancing inclusivity with the need for safe spaces for less represented individuals, especially in contexts with complex racial histories.

• The case for the intergenerational C-suite: Why companies need more age diversity in their leadership ranks [Fortune]

• The year fashion backtracked on diversity [Vogue]

• Congressional Black Caucus Issues Letter to Corporate America on DEI and Racial Equity Commitments [Congressional Black Caucus]

• Republican-controlled states ramp up efforts to ban DEI at public universities [Denver Gazette]

• 2023 roundup: 5 of our most important cancer research stories of the year [Cancer Research UK]