LGBT Linkshell and Free Company Directory - Updated August 2014

[Altiret]

I'm slowly going through all of the links to try to determine if these groups are still active. If you have any specific information about any of them please let me know.

Also, I'm debating the breakdown between "LGBT", "Friendly" and "No Discrimination". All of the LGBT groups say they welcome non-LGBT Allies - so what is the difference between an LGBT group vs. an LGBT Friendly group? Does that breakdown make any sense?

Should this just be a single list of LGBT Friendly groups and leave it at that?

[Sagittarian]

Also, I'm debating the breakdown between "LGBT", "Friendly" and "No Discrimination". All of the LGBT groups say they welcome non-LGBT Allies - so what is the difference between an LGBT group vs. an LGBT Friendly group? Does that breakdown make any sense?

Should this just be a single list of LGBT Friendly groups and leave it at that?

I think some level of distinction is useful as people may be looking for different things - being accepted vs supported vs included. But in the end its about how you mesh with the rest of the FC anyway and categorization only gets you so far.
I'd probably organize by server (since that's how people are searching anyway) and then add a note like "Active LGBTA members/Friendly" vs "Non-discrimination/harassment Policy". The quotes from each one definitely help get a feeling for them though.

Edit: Based on Nanashi's response, I think getting rid of the "tiers" would definitely be a good idea. It shouldn't look like a ranking system.

Why was Hexen bumped down a tier? We were not created expressly to be an LGBT only FC (tier 1), yet we have VERY strict anti-discrimination policies (including in our charter) , openly advertise as being an LGBT safe haven, are run by a LGBT free company master, with two other LGBT officers. Indeed, we are at least 20% LGBT. Please place us back in tier two.
We have had some amazing, long-term recruits from the previous thread; we love meeting and playing with you all!

[Altiret]

I've merged the lists into a single tier grouped by server. I haven't fixed all the sorting yet, so don't stress if things appear out of order. I also haven't finsihed going through all of the original listed groups - I've left the ones I haven't checked at the bottom of the list.

I'm going to try to add information about whether the group is a Linkshell, Free Company or both. I may be removing the blurbs about 'LGBT Inclusiveness' and replacing them with "Blurbs about the Company" - in many cases they are the same blurbs.

If you would like to have an entry edited, please feel free to let me know - however anything you want me to include about the FC or LS entry here must also be publically visible and confirmable on the groups website, Loadstone site, or Forum Posting here.