Queer in AI Workshop @ NAACL 2024
About
The framing and use of common AI systems that interact with queer systems are often problematic, and inherently cisnormative and heteronormative. To mitigate these harms, it is paramount to ensure that queer researchers are included in the study, development and evaluation of these systems; and have their voices being heard in the AI research spaces. However, the Queer in AI demographic survey reveals that most queer scientists in our community do not feel completely welcome in conferences and their work environments, with the main reason being the lack of queer communities and role models.
In the Queer in AI Workshop at NAACL 2024, we want to bring together researchers and activists working at the intersection of linguistics, queerness, and natural language processing to present their work and discuss these issues. Additionally, we will provide a casual, safe and inclusive space for queer folks to network and socialize. We will have in-person and virtual components, so regardless of your physical location, we hope that you will be able to join us as we create a community space where attendees can learn and grow by connecting, bonding over shared experiences, and learning from each individual’s unique insights into NLP/CL, queerness, and beyond!
At Queer in AI, we acknowledge that the voices of marginalized queer communities - especially transgender, non-binary, and queer BIPOC folks - have often been neglected in these spaces. For this reason, we are committed to featuring talks and panel discussions that are inclusive of non-Western, transgender and non-binary identities; as well as of Black, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander queer folks in the broader NLP and Computational Linguistics community.
Call for Contributions
We are excited to announce our call for contributions for the Queer in AI Workshop at the 2024 NAACL Conference. We are accepting research papers, extended abstracts, position papers, opinion pieces, surveys, and artistic expressions on queer issues in NLP and Linguistics. We also welcome contributions about general topics in NLP and Linguistics authored by queer folks. Accepted contributions will be invited to present at the Queer in AI workshop during the 2024 NAACL Conference.
This workshop is non-archival, and we welcome work that has been previously published in other venues, as well as work-in-progress.
We invite the submissions in the following tracks:
Queer linguistics: This track invites contributions related to the intersection of gender, sexuality and language. Some examples are: critical heteronormativity research, linguistic and social expectation beyond binary gender and trans linguistic activism.
Queerness and NLP: This track invites submissions on the intersection between NLP and queerness. Some examples are: harms regarding non-binary representation in language models, ethical considerations on using gender as a variable or making policies related to AI and gender-diversity.
Queer activism and D&I: This track invites submissions related to issues and solutions to increase queer inclusivity in NLP conferences, events, workplaces and academia. We also invite stories and strategies for queer activism in tech and academia more broadly; as well as artifacts and tools to increase queer advocacy. Some examples are: Queer in AI’s guide on conference inclusivity, best practices for inclusive name change policies and analyzing diversity in ecology conferences.
Miscellaneous research: This track invites contributions by queer folks from the NLP and linguistics communities. The topics in this track do not need to be queer related, but they should fit within NLP or linguistics.
Submissions
Submission is electronic, using the OpenReview platform. All papers must follow the ACL Author Guidelines. All submissions should be anonymized. Please refrain from including personally identifying information in your submission.
All authors with accepted work will have FULL control over how their name appears in public listings of accepted submissions.
Formatting
You can either submit your work in research paper format or non-traditional format and media. Submissions need NOT be in English. This is to maximize the inclusivity of our call for submissions and amplify non-traditional expressions of what it means to be Queer in NLP/CL. There are no page limits.
Research paper format: For this purpose, paper submissions must use the official ACL style templates, which are available here (Latex and Word). Please follow the general ACL paper formatting guidelines available here.
Non-research format: For this format, you can submit your work in the form of art, poetry, music, microblogs, tiktoks, or videos. You need to upload a PDF containing a summary or abstract of your work and a link to your work.
Important Dates
All deadlines are Anywhere on Earth.
Submissions open: January 15th
Submission deadline: April 10th
Decisions due: April 20th
Reviews given: May 15th
Camera-ready submissions due from accepted authors: June 1st
If you need help with your submission in the form of mentoring or advice, you can get in touch with us at queer-in-nlp@googlegroups.com.
Contact Us
Email: queer-in-nlp@googlegroups.com
Code of Conduct
Please read the Queer in AI code of conduct, which will be strictly followed at all times. Recording (screen recording or screenshots) is prohibited. All participants are expected to maintain the confidentiality of other participants.
NAACL 2024 adheres to the ACL Code of Conduct and Queer in AI adheres to Queer in AI Anti-harassment policy. Any participant who experiences harassment or hostile behavior may contact the ACL exec team, or contact the Queer in AI Safety Team. Please be assured that if you approach us, your concerns will be kept in strict confidence, and we will consult with you on any actions taken.
Workshop and Social Programs
The workshop and social programs and dates are currently being finalized; please check in soon! The workshop will be co-located with NAACL 2024 (June 16th - June 21st) and will be a hybrid event in Mexico City, Mexico. Following this, Queer in AI events will include both in-person and virtual components.
Call for organizers
Joining the organization team is a great way to meet queer folks and mentors in our field and understanding inclusivity issues. We need folks to help us organize our events and socials (EACL, NAACL, ACL and EMNLP 2024). You don’t need any prior experience / background to join our background, everyone is welcome! Fill up our form here to join.
Call for reviewers
We are looking for reviewers to review the upcoming submissions to Queer in AI workshop. Each person will get around 1-2 papers to review.
Review starts: April 15
Review ends: May 15
Topics will mostly will be in NLP, linguistics, AI Ethics and Queer theory. If you are interested, sign up here.