My Sexual Harassment Policy

As many of you saw, Readercon posted a statement about their handling of sexual harassment. The convention committee has voted to overturn the board’s decision and issue a lifetime ban to Mister Walling, in accordance with the convention’s policies. They also offered an unreserved apology for the con’s handling of the situation.

As a part of the larger conversation, I’d like to offer the following pledge. Feedback is welcome, and anyone is invited to co-sign.

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My Policy on Sexual Harassment

My goal in convention/fandom spaces, online, and in general, is to interact with others in such a way that all parties feel safe and respected. Therefore…

1. I will be accountable for my actions. If I mess up, I will not make excuses or blame others for my behaviors or the consequences of those behaviors. (Nor will I make or accept excuses about other people’s inappropriate behaviors, even if they’re friends or Big Important People in the community.)¹
2. I will try not to make assumptions about physical interactions, or statements/behaviors that could be construed as sexual. For example, if I don’t know whether or not you’re comfortable being hugged, I’ll ask you.²
3. I will listen to and respect your boundaries. Period.
4. If I see a situation where it looks like you are being harassed, I will ask if you’re okay and/or attempt to offer you a way out of the situation. Depending on the situation, I will confront the harasser and/or offer to back you up in confronting/reporting the harasser yourself if you choose to do so.
5. If someone I know is harassing others, I will pull them aside and confront them on their behavior.
6. If they refuse to change their behavior, I will “ban” them from my life (both in the real-world and in my online spaces).
7. I will continue to speak out, and to try to encourage discussion and action to reduce sexual harassment.

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Other Reading:

• My friend group has a case of the creepy dude. How do we clear that up? -Captain Awkward
• Why it’s important to cut that creeper guy from your social group. -The Angry Black Woman
• An Incomplete Guide to Not Creeping -John Scalzi

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1. I would love it if I NEVER saw another ‘Oh, but what if he’s a socially clueless Aspie’ remark… ↩
2. I don’t know why asking is such a difficult concept for people. ↩

Mirrored from Jim C. Hines.