Brian Rusch

A little over a week ago, I issued a statement in response to some hateful comments made by past Rotary International Director Pretoni of Brazil. This was an issue that was first brought to me by my friend Anderson in Brazil. Over the last week, I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing change makers many of them from Rotaract. We were able to meet with staff at Rotary as well as some of my colleagues on the Rotary DEI task force and I am encouraged by these first... steps to hold the past director accountable. Social activist Maggie Kuhn said, "Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes." This group spoke up and I am thrilled to share that today, RI President Holger Knaack and the Rotary International board continued their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As President Holger says, this is not a political stance and there is no place within Rotary for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, classism, or ageism. I am encouraged by this first step. The statement has outlined Rotary's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, now I look forward to seeing how all of us can work to put that commitment into action.

"One of the greatest things someone can do is take the time to just listen." - Sourav Thinking back to one year ago, I had the amazing opportunity to spend the day with Pahal- Nurturing Lives - an Indian organization fighting for equality for India's more than 500,000 transgender citizens. We spent hours discussing everything from coming out to the reactions of family members to the dangers of sex work to marriage to sex clubs. Sarita and Pradeep, who started this organization, are true allies to the LGBTQ community - working to use their privilege to provide opportunities to others. #comingoutintomyownlegacy #lgbtqiaplus #transrightsarehumanrights

Losar Bey Tashi Delek to all my friends that celebrate! In this year of the Metal Ox may the world find peace and may you and your loved ones have a joyous and prosperous new year. This gorgeous photo is by my good friend, Olivier Adam - photographed in Kham, Tibet, 2019. This and other fine art prints available on www.daughtersofbuddha.etsy.com and all proceeds go to support the Tibetan Nuns Project.

I had so much fun joining the "I'm A Rotarian" podcast! Thanks to Gwen Jones for giving me a platform to discuss starting the Rotary Club for Global Action - I am so proud of this club and everyone involved and it is great to be able to share about it more widely. https://www.buzzsprout.com/646882/7682239

I need to address something, not as a member of the Rotary International DEI task force, nor as the president of the Rotary Club for Global Action, but as a Rotarian and an individual who is shocked by the recent comments by Past Rotary International Director José Alfredo Pretoni. I have been involved in Rotary International since I was a teenager and my experience with Rotarians around the world has been overwhelming inclusive. I have known Rotary International senior leader...ship to be supportive of everyone and so it is disheartening to see someone respected in the organization making such homophobic, racist and ageist statements. We all have a responsibility to create an environment in our clubs, our districts and our beloved organization where everyone feels they belong. By his own admission, PRID Pretoni has made these types of statements before and I want him to know that in my own opinion, racism, homophobia, ageism and discrimination of any kind do not have a place in our organization. When I think about my journey in Rotary, I think back to a concept that was first taught to me by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. That concept is ubuntu, a Nguni Bantu word that loosely translates to I am because we are my humanity is tied up, is inextricably bound up in yours, and we can only be human together." In Rotary we come together as one family, a human family, and it is our diversity that strengthens us, that propels us forward to be change makers for good. In listening to the uninformed opinions of PRID Pretoni, I was of course shocked by the blatant homophobia and casual racism. But I was most upset about his comments regarding young people in our organization. The truth is, intergenerational interaction within Rotary contributes to our being a thriving, successful organization and there is much to be gained from a combination of new ideas and energy brought by younger people combined with the wisdom provided by more seasoned Rotarians. Despite all the positive momentum we have seen in Rotary around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, hateful statements such as these are a reminder of just how far we still have to go. When we see racism, homophobia, ageism, discrimination and other offensive behaviors, we MUST speak up no matter how influential the offender might be. Discrimination cannot be tolerated. It’s an insult to our organization. It’s not what we stand for it’s not who we are.