This is a very uncomfortable time for Drupal. It seems there has been a great deal of concern and discomfort lurking just below the surface for a while, and recent events surrounding me have brought them all to the forefront at once. It's going to take some time to unravel it all. Hopefully it can be a learning process for many.

For the moment, though, there's one particular point I want to address, and particular people I want to address it to: Don't be an asshole, not even in my defense.

I did briefly speak with Dries in private recently about recent events. I cannot discuss details of our conversation, but there is one point he mentioned that I feel warrants an immediate response.

Specifically, Dries mentioned that he had received a great deal of private hate mail over this matter, and that it was impacting his approach to the situation. I've previously seen a (very small) number of people on Twitter suggesting gathering private information on Dries and others, including their families(!), to use as leverage. In a previous comment, Angie Byron (who was not even involved in matters surrounding me until after I went public) said that she'd received threats against both her and her daughter.

I want to speak directly to those presumably few who have sent such messages, and in the calmest and most restrained manner I can:

What the fuck were you even thinking???

No, seriously, how did you even think that was a good idea? Responding to cyberstalking, prejudice, and blackmail with... cyberstalking, threats, and blackmail? No. NO! Even if you're trying to support me, NO! I do not want any such support. You are actively making it harder to resolve this situation.

I reiterate my previous statement: My goal is, and has been, to defend myself against blackmail, prejudice, and harassment, because such behaviors are unacceptable in all situations. Whether you're "for" me, "against" me, unsure how you feel, or just unsure what all is going on, those actions are not OK. Period.

By all means, express your frustrations. If you want to oppose prejudice and discrimination in Drupal (and I hope you do), speak up and share your story with DrupalConfessions.org. Whether you're supportive of me or not, you can express yourself clearly but without attacking or harassing anyone, me or others. But if you are engaging in

Blackmail

Harassment

Threats and intimidation

Doxing

Revealing personal or private information

Or threatening to do any of those things, against me or against Dries or against anyone else, then you need to know most of those are actually criminal acts, and should/will be treated as such. They have no business in Drupal or anywhere else.

I truly appreciate the widespread support I've received in this matter, both public and private. But I do not appreciate anyone, regardless of your stance, spreading hate or intimidation toward anyone. Not in my community, and certainly not on my behalf.