Creating a FreeType GitLab merge request

Hi,

I'd like to submit a feature to FreeType.
https://freetype.org/developer.html recommends doing so via GitLab merge
requests. But when I tried pushing to a branch on the command line, git
said "ERROR: You are not allowed to push code to this project." Then I
tried clicking edit->web IDE, and that said I can't edit files in that
project and I need to create a new fork. But creating a fork from that link
fails, and the fork button is greyed out on the main page.

So do I need to join or be added to some access list, or are there other
tricks for permissions or tools to use to submit GitLab merge requests?

Thanks,
David