Robert McNeesJan 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

Show threadחנן כהן • Hanan CohenJan 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
Show threadPaul Hart
@mcnees @hananc @dweinberger she gave several talks to IBM audiences recently - it seemed to be a very genuine apology and desire to give her a platform to discuss her experiences.
Jan 2, 2023 at 10:05pmWeb
Show threadAlix Maiden-Baillie (she/her)Jan 3, 2023
@paulhart @mcnees @hananc @dweinberger A friend of mine from college was very well supported by IBM when she transitioned about 10 years ago. I was delighted to run into her in my pharma company's cafeteria a couple years ago when she was onsite consulting on a major IT project with IBM.
Show threadRobert McNeesJan 3, 2023
@alixmb9 @paulhart @hananc @dweinberger That’s great to hear