> Back in the day it seemed like everyone was “different” somehow.
Sure, I guess that's more to do with the computing industry becoming more corporate.
The point I'm trying to make is that what you refer to as "stupid political posturing" is a good thing actually. It's a sign of progress that people feel more free to speak out about issues affecting them. They can seem insignificant, but it's only by having difficult conversations and demanding better that we make the whole industry a place where all that matters is "can this person code, do they geek out".