Approved April 14, 2022
Note This page is for the BR anti-harassment policy and is part of a series of policies on consent, harassment, and community protection. To report a violation, please contact consent@br.org or see the Reporting section below. You may also be interested in our other related policies:
If any individual has reported a consent violation and is unsure of the outcome or does not feel the report has been fully addressed, please contact that Black Rose Board at boardonly@br.org
- Overview
Black Rose is dedicated to providing an environment free from discrimination or harassment. BR prohibits harassment or discrimination by or against any of its volunteers, members, or attendees based on an individual’s gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, creed, ancestry, color, national origin, marital status, or parental status.
- Definitions of harassment
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Verbal comments reinforcing social structures of domination related to an individual’s gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, creed, ancestry, color, national origin, marital status, or parental status
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
- Including intentional, deliberate, and/or repeated “accidental” contact after consent for contact has been revoked.
- This includes online interactions.
- Harassing photography or recording
- Including at non-BR events
- BR events prohibit these activities
- This includes posting of photos or recordings to the Internet without consent
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events
- Rude or inappropriate behavior
- Inappropriate physical contact, see also BR Consent Policy
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
- Scope of policy
Harassment is not limited to interactions at BR events. It may also include emails, online messaging platform contact, and/or in person interactions outside of BR events. Harassment does not have to be intentional, in fact, intent usually does not matter.
- Enforcement
BR event attendees violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the BR event organizers. Severe and/or repeated violations may result in the individual being barred from attending future events and/or having their BR membership revoked at the discretion of the BR Board. Individuals asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately across all forms of communication and contact. Specific details of enforcement actions can be found in Policy 606, Offenses.
Specifically at BR events
If an event attendee engages in harassing behavior, BR organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep BR and their events a welcoming environment for all attendees. This includes warning the offender, expulsion from the event with no refund, and/or revocation of BR membership. BR organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any attendees. We expect event attendees to follow these rules at all event venues.
- Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Harassment and other policy violations reduce the value of BR membership for everyone. We want you to be happy in our organization. People like you make BR a better place.
- Specifically at BR events:
Larger BR events usually have a consent team on site; these teams also handle harassment issues. However, if you feel more comfortable reporting harassment to another volunteer or if an event does not have a consent team available, any BR volunteer staffing an event is able to take your harassment complaint. They will request your email address and shortly after will send an email acknowledging receipt of your complaint, with a copy to the Board.
You can also report harassment to consent@br.org, which goes to the currently sitting BR Board, or any BR volunteer who you feel comfortable sharing your report. Note, all consent and harassment concerns are handled by the BR Board.