You know, I both hear you on this and not. So, I'm going to piece through this as clearly as I can. https://twitter.com/AstroByMax/status/1313140074167578629

First, do know that there has been representation of LGBTQ folk in many of these organizations, even for decades. A former president of NCGR was LGBTQ and there have been sundry others involved as well. Now, as for BIPOC and Black folk that's a different matter.

That's changing. The new president of AYA is a person of color. And there are a steady stream of other folks who are getting into these orgs like Stormie Grace, @ayyriestrology etc. But here's the real point of change.

But here I go with what might be an unpopular opinion. Many of the upcoming BIPOC and Black astrologers are really early on in their careers. Getting on a board of directors in these organizations is NOT A GOOD IDEA at the beginning of your career or early in life.

There's a quality of service working in those orgs that will directly compete with all the demands that are important with being young, whether starting a family, getting established in your career other than as an astrologer or as astrologer, hanging out w/ your friends.

There is a reason why many of the folks on these boards, including my relatively young old-ass self are, in their 40s. They've had time to establish themselves in some form or fashion to do pro bono work. You don't make money being on a board.

So, the bevy of qualified Black or BIPOC astrologers of which you speak would do themselves an injustice by trying to run those organizations. It isn't just about showing up. There's a lot of work and, unfortunately, stupid amounts of politics involved.

So, what we're looking at is a sociological issue. We've reached a critical mass in history where there's enough class largess with particular ethnic groups to feel they don't have to push themselves into traditional jobs.

The same thing happened for women in astrology in the 80s and 90s and now we have more women involved in the operation of these organizations than we ever saw previously in the early and mid 20th centuries.

I promise you that if an org like ISAR survives, it will look different in 10 years, if only because more and more of its membership is Asian. It took the org nearly 35 years to have both a non-US president and a Black member of its board.

But this will require more astrologers getting involved and volunteering. Or getting hired for positions and that is happening. Yet, to speak at a conference is no mean feat, either. Conferences are businesses.

And if you don't have a speaking record, why should you be allowed to speak? Yet, this is also changing. Take Shakirah Tabourn or Diana Rose Harper. They're being invited to more speaking engagements, because more folks are learning about them.

With ISAR, a good number of the speakers selected for the 2020 and now 2021 conference were voted on by the membership. If there are enough BIPOC folk voting, how are we going to have more representation?

Likewise, as I said, qualified speakers also have to be able to demonstrate that they can get butts in the seats. And that's not always about your follower count. It's about track records & how many people know you outside your own circle.

It took me literally 10 years to become as well known as I am now. Twitter helped a lot. But it also required me going out to travel and sometimes go temporarily into debt to speak at conferences & meetings.

That tide is shifting and accelerating, but it will still take time. I, and others, like @vegand Laura Nalbandian and a host of other folks you might not even know are making changes. But in the interim, the important thing is to do the work, build a base...

...and keep making connections. I could say more but I HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL OBLIGATIONS! lol! (I'm not really kidding.) Ask @ayyriestrology or @adinarising how much I do. They know for certain. It's not just a matter of being let in, but also whether it's in your own best interest

...at particular times.