I don't think that any of these examples show that Bay Area tech is a meritocracy or inclusive. The truth is the tech community has a culture and almost all the things you mentioned are almost stereotypical parts of it. These all fit within the tech culture:
* Going to burning man
* Going to SXSW
* Working with the LGBT community
* Tattoos / Dyed hair
* Pole dancing
* Wearing Stan Smiths
* Being obsessed with high end coffee
You shouldn't be patting yourself on the back that tech accepts these things. I've seen terrible examples of the community not accepting:
* Those who believe in gun rights
* Those who are strongly religious
* Those who are homeless
* Those who are lower class
* Those who are H-1Bs (Indian outsourcing bias)
* Those who are Republican
* Those who are black
* Those who are old / have grey hair
Being inclusive and meritocratic doesn't mean accepting things that are within your culture. It means accepting those that are outside. I remember a colleague talking about a Dropbox all hands meeting where every one was patting themselves on the backs because the recruiting team had hired many from the LGBT community. He looked at me and said "Why the f* is everyone so happy? We literally have 1 black person in a company of almost 1,000"
Seriously, if you think that having colleagues having dyed hair or going to Burning man is proof that you are meritocratic or inclusive you are in a huge bubble.
* Going to burning man
* Going to SXSW
* Working with the LGBT community
* Tattoos / Dyed hair
* Pole dancing
* Wearing Stan Smiths
* Being obsessed with high end coffee
You shouldn't be patting yourself on the back that tech accepts these things. I've seen terrible examples of the community not accepting:
* Those who believe in gun rights
* Those who are strongly religious
* Those who are homeless
* Those who are lower class
* Those who are H-1Bs (Indian outsourcing bias)
* Those who are Republican
* Those who are black
* Those who are old / have grey hair
Being inclusive and meritocratic doesn't mean accepting things that are within your culture. It means accepting those that are outside. I remember a colleague talking about a Dropbox all hands meeting where every one was patting themselves on the backs because the recruiting team had hired many from the LGBT community. He looked at me and said "Why the f* is everyone so happy? We literally have 1 black person in a company of almost 1,000"
Seriously, if you think that having colleagues having dyed hair or going to Burning man is proof that you are meritocratic or inclusive you are in a huge bubble.