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Tessa B. | Senior| Team: 1339 | Female | MtF | Lesbian | 2017 – Present
Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I joined because I wanted to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community in FIRST and give back to the community that has given so much to me. What are your goals for the future? My biggest over-arching goal is to get a degree in computer science and/or aerospace engineering and get a job at SpaceX, Tesla, or some other technology company. Recommend a book, movie, album, podcast, etc. to us. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown is one of my favorite books of all time. Alex N. | Alumni| Team: 2791 | Male | Pansexual| 2017 – Present
How did you get involved in FIRST? I was nine when my mom brought me to the NYC Regional for the first time; her friend was volunteering that year. Robots sped around a circular track, tossing balls the size of me – the game was FIRST Overdrive. Donning goggles for the first time, I entered the pits and marveled at the robots, but what caught my eye were the people building them – kids, not too much older than myself. From that moment on, I knew this was what I wanted. Stepping out of the pits, a blur of denim and a Segway sped past me. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but I’d just met Dean Kamen. Fast forwards eight years later, to 2016, and I’ve high-fived Mr. Kamen’s mother without realizing it at the South Florida Regional. (Long story short, there was a mosh pit turned conga line involved.) What is your favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST? It’s a small world. It really is. The most important moment, to me, was when I joined the Discord server and realized that there were people that I’d met in person at competitions years ago; the community was bigger than I could’ve ever hoped. Even today, as an alumnus, I meet folks who’d been involved in FIRST and the fact that we can pick up and talk about our experiences like old friends floors me every time. What is one cool thing you’ve learned lately? Blue’s a rare color in nature. There’s really not any truly blue fruits (come on, blueberries are purple at best) and blue flowers are not as common as, let’s say, red flowers. Why? I mean, aside from the fact that blue’s not a great color for camouflage because it’s so rare, that is. Chemically, blue is a hard pigment to produce and few creatures do it. The ones that do appear blue seem iridescent (think of the blue on many birds) and it’s because they don’t do it chemically, they do it physically. Their feathers/scales/tissues are structured (many of these structures look like little combs) at the microscopic level to diffract light in such a way that all the other colors experience destructive interference and thus, cancel out. Final fun fact: I learned about this while my hair was dyed blue.  Zeph L. | Alumni | Gay | 2017 – Present
Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I was already an adult volunteer when I found out about LGBTQ+ of FIRST, but I thought it was a really cool resource with a lot of potential to help FIRST students struggling with their sexuality or gender identity. I know it would have been helpful for me as a student. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? I’m really looking forward to being a referee at the FIRST Tech Challenge South Super Regional- I’ve really enjoyed seeing the different FTC designs this season and I look forward to seeing many more. What is one cool thing you’ve learned lately? I’ve been doing a lot of research on frogs, and I now know a lot about frog teeth. Most frog species have teeth on their upper jaws, but one species has sharp teeth on both the upper and lower jaws.  Katie J. | Junior | Team: 3595 (FTC) | PNW | Gay | 2017 – Present
What do you do on your team? I’m the team captain of FTC 3595. I’m involved with every aspect of the team, from building and programming to outreach and documentation. Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I’d admired the organization from afar ever since it began. I’m truly passionate about LGBTQ+ of FIRST’s mission, and when I saw that staff applications were open I was beyond excited by the possibility of getting involved and giving back to the organization. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? Because I’m in FTC, the competition season started a few months ago for me. My favorite thing so far has been meeting all of the new teams and volunteers at events — I moved from Alaska to Virginia over the summer, so this season I’m seeing a completely different group of people, and it’s been very fun to get to know everyone! I have been involved with FIRST for ten years now. My first brush with it was at a summer camp held by an FIRST LEGO League team – my mother had to make me go, and I’m glad she did. After ‘aging out’ of FLL, I joined a FIRST Tech Challenge team and continued with the FTC program until I graduated, as well as staying involved as an active volunteer with FLL. FIRST has changed my life, given me experiences I would have never had the opportunity for otherwise, and given me an amazing community that I’m proud to be a part of.
My last couple years in high school I began to struggle with my gender identity. I can’t say that that was the beginning of my questioning, but that’s when I really began to have to accept things about myself and figure out words to put to my experiences. As I slowly started to come to terms with being transgender, I also slowly began to feel more alienated in a lot of spaces . I wrestled with the idea of ostracised if I came out, and of losing communities that meant a lot to me- namely the FIRST community. I didn’t really feel as if I felt a part of anything outside of FIRST. By the time I was ready to come out, I had graduated high school and was promoted to a key volunteer role in the same state I grew up in, and also served at the Super Regional and World Championship levels. And I was terrified to tell anyone the truth. I was part of enough circles and relatively tight communities that I knew I would be facing a lot of scrutiny, and the idea of being harshly judged in places that meant so much to me was a heavy prospect. When I finally came out to my parents, I told them that they could tell anyone else they wanted, as long as they weren’t people in FIRST circles. It was a very difficult time in my life. Looking back now, I wish I had come out sooner, because the support and acceptance I have found in my FIRST community has been more than I ever expected. Reactions and adjustments from mentors and fellow volunteers have varied, but overall the positive reception has been wonderful. FIRST headquarters have worked with me to make sure my volunteer registration account was correct, and has been very thoughtful with housing accommodations for me as a transgender individual as I took a larger role in the FIRST volunteer world. One reason that I feel as if what LGBTQ+ of FIRST is doing is so important is because I know that coming out would have been easier if I had seen other transgender people- or even gay, lesbian or bisexual people- being visibly accepted in FIRST spaces and known that I had one less thing to fear. I now know many, and I am thankful for that. FIRST as an organization encourages diversity and acceptance, and I am glad that in the last few years a push has been made to make sure that the LGBT community is included in that. Being an LGBT adolescent is difficult, and it is my sincere hope that the FIRST community is a haven for more of these young people than it is an additional stressor. For anyone who is wrestling with similar circumstances as I did, I hope you are able to make that step soon. Whether you are a student, a volunteer or a mentor, there are people behind you and people next to you who want you to be able to live your most genuine life. This was written by a contributor to LGBTQ+ of FIRST who would prefer not to be named.  On February 24, you can also find staff members at both the Virginia and Georgia FTC State Championships!
Find us at over 40 events this FIRST Competition season! Learn more about who will be there and more from our attendance spreadsheet! Feel free to contact us with any questions at [email protected]! Here’s our re-designed general brochure! Feel free to print! You can download it here: Brochure-1211 – g     If you’re interested in using our brochures, we’d love for you to let us know how it went – and for you to get more involved! Email us at [email protected]!
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About LGBTQ+ of FIRST
LGBTQ+ of FIRST is a student run organization that advocates awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ+ students, mentors, and volunteers of FIRST Robotics. LGBTQ+ of FIRST reaches out to over 1000 members across the FIRST regions and fronts multiple outreach endeavors. Archives
June 2024
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