Mastodawn

Robert McNees Jan 2, 2023

Lynn Conway, electricial engineer and computer scientist, co-architect of the VLSI design revolution, and transgender activist, was born #OTD in 1938.

She invented Dynamic Instruction Scheduling at IBM, but IBM fired her when they learned she was transitioning.

Photo: Lynn Conway

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חנן כהן • Hanan Cohen Jan 2, 2023

@mcnees @dweinberger

Since we (or at least I) don't want to turn the fediverse into a rage machine, this also needs to be noted.

IBM apologizes for firing a transgender pioneer, 52 years late

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-11-23/ibm-apology-lynn-conway

IBM apologizes for firing transgender pioneer Lynn Conway

Lynn Conway's brilliant contributions to computer science didn't stop IBM from firing her during her gender transition. Now it has apologized.

Los Angeles Times

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RickNobodyBeinz

@hananc @mcnees @dweinberger
I'm a retired IBMer 1974-2002 & I can prove that transgender workers had 2 be quieter than anyone else, due 2 the 'stigma' that was attached to them by management. I worked with a guy that, after IBM, transitioned 2 a woman.
She told me long ago that she was uncomfortable at work everyday she worked there!
Before the transition, he was a software developer & auditor of IBM educational software packages.
I think she's working in the same field, even today. #IBMsucks