JEDI Manifesto
The San Luis Valley Climbers Alliance is committed to embracing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) principles throughout our work as part of an ongoing effort to dismantle systems of oppressions within the rock climbing community. We recognize that climbers belonging to marginalized groups—whether because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or other identities—continue to be harmed by a wide spectrum of subtle and overt behaviors, actions, and systems of oppression at the crag and beyond. We denounce the perpetuation of racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, ethnocentrism, white supremacy, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and ableism, and other speech and actions that harm our community. We strive to prioritize JEDI principles in our work to create a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive climbing community. We pledge to cultivate a safe and welcoming space at the San Luis Valley climbing areas for climbers from all walks of life.
Inclusion Statement & Route Name Changes
SLVCA is proud to join other LCOs (Local Climbing Organizations) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) climbing organizations to take a stand against oppressive route names.
There is power in language. Words, names, and symbols have an impact. We recognize that route names that perpetuate misogyny, racism, and other systems of oppression cause significant harm to our community. We recognize that intent, though relevant at times, is outweighed when language is weaponized and harmful impacts are made on traditionally marginalized groups. As our friends at the New River Alliance of Climbers (NRAC) JEDI board stated, “This is not a sensitivity issue — it is an equity issue. When a majority group uses language that targets oppressed and othered people, it continues a loop of oppression—a loop that we all have a responsibility to help break.”
Historically underrepresented and oppressed people continue to fight for change, for representation, for recognition, for respect, and a place at the table. SLVCA has adopted the following route name change process as part of our pledge to take actions that embrace principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We will prioritize and uplift the voices of the marginalized in this anti-oppression work.
There is power in language. Words, names, and symbols have an impact. We recognize that route names that perpetuate misogyny, racism, and other systems of oppression cause significant harm to our community. We recognize that intent, though relevant at times, is outweighed when language is weaponized and harmful impacts are made on traditionally marginalized groups. As our friends at the New River Alliance of Climbers (NRAC) JEDI board stated, “This is not a sensitivity issue — it is an equity issue. When a majority group uses language that targets oppressed and othered people, it continues a loop of oppression—a loop that we all have a responsibility to help break.”
Historically underrepresented and oppressed people continue to fight for change, for representation, for recognition, for respect, and a place at the table. SLVCA has adopted the following route name change process as part of our pledge to take actions that embrace principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We will prioritize and uplift the voices of the marginalized in this anti-oppression work.
Route Name Change Process
1. Flagging Routes. SLVCA will have a form on the website to receive public route name flags. During the initial flagging stage, SLVCA will gather the following information:
Flagged Route Name; Route Area; First Ascensionist; System of Oppression Perpetuated (racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc); Marginalized Group Affected; Comments; Contact Information (full name, gender pronoun, email, BIPOC identifying, LGBTQIA2S+ identifying, SLVCA membership).
2. Process. The SLVCA board will decide if the route name in question should be further processed.
3. Community Feedback Survey. The board will collect community input on the name by survey and forum comments on slvclimb.org. Community members will provide the following information for each flagged route:
System of Oppression Perpetuated (racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc); Marginalized Group Affected; Comments; Contact Information (full name, gender pronoun, email, BIPOC identifying, LGBTQIA+ identifying, SLVCA membership). Key considerations will include:
5. Action: Board Outreach to FA. If that decided-upon course of action is to advocate for a name change, the board will reach out to the first ascensionist, providing community feedback collected in section 3.
5a. FA Name Change. If the FA agrees to change the name, the committee will support their efforts to do so in a manner that is non-discriminatory.
5b. Community Name Change w/ FA Approval. If the FA expresses consent to change the name, but is uninterested in doing so themselves, the committee will present name suggestions to guidebook authors or consider the name suggestions from the community survey stage.
5c. FA Refusal to Change Name. If the FA refuses to change the name, the board will consider options, including but not limited to 1. doing nothing, 2. Requesting route description edits or 3. advocating for name changes without FA approval.1
6. Action & Statement. In any case under section 5, the SLVCA board will keep records of the change. The Board will compose a statement to present to Mountain Project and the guidebook author/publisher informing them of SLVCA’s position, and follow up to ensure name changes have occurred.
Flagged Route Name; Route Area; First Ascensionist; System of Oppression Perpetuated (racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc); Marginalized Group Affected; Comments; Contact Information (full name, gender pronoun, email, BIPOC identifying, LGBTQIA2S+ identifying, SLVCA membership).
2. Process. The SLVCA board will decide if the route name in question should be further processed.
3. Community Feedback Survey. The board will collect community input on the name by survey and forum comments on slvclimb.org. Community members will provide the following information for each flagged route:
System of Oppression Perpetuated (racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc); Marginalized Group Affected; Comments; Contact Information (full name, gender pronoun, email, BIPOC identifying, LGBTQIA+ identifying, SLVCA membership). Key considerations will include:
- How many people in the affected marginalized population agree it’s oppressive?
- What system of oppression does the flagged route name perpetuate, and how?
5. Action: Board Outreach to FA. If that decided-upon course of action is to advocate for a name change, the board will reach out to the first ascensionist, providing community feedback collected in section 3.
5a. FA Name Change. If the FA agrees to change the name, the committee will support their efforts to do so in a manner that is non-discriminatory.
5b. Community Name Change w/ FA Approval. If the FA expresses consent to change the name, but is uninterested in doing so themselves, the committee will present name suggestions to guidebook authors or consider the name suggestions from the community survey stage.
5c. FA Refusal to Change Name. If the FA refuses to change the name, the board will consider options, including but not limited to 1. doing nothing, 2. Requesting route description edits or 3. advocating for name changes without FA approval.1
6. Action & Statement. In any case under section 5, the SLVCA board will keep records of the change. The Board will compose a statement to present to Mountain Project and the guidebook author/publisher informing them of SLVCA’s position, and follow up to ensure name changes have occurred.
SLVCA Forum
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- This forum is open for Step 3 of the Route Name Change Process - Community Feedback Survey
- Once a route name is flagged and the board decides to push the name through the process, the route name will appear in the forum category, "Oppressive Route Names."
- Submit your feedback/comments by copy/pasting the survey questions in the thread
