Anti-harassment Policy

Anti-Harassment Policy and Safe Space Doctrine

This event is dedicated to a harassment-free conference experience for all attendees regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or political affiliation.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, political affiliation, etc. deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Also, please note- the taping or photography of presenters may only be done with the presenter’s permission. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, staff may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately. Senior staff can be identified by their badges and two-way radios. Volunteers and conference staff will be located in all areas of the hotel. When in doubt, the volunteers located at our information desk (located in the break room on the top floor of the Lake Building) will always be able to contact a member of senior staff for you. The hotel desk will also be able to help contact a senior staff member.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference.

We value your attendance. We expect participants to follow these rules at all conference venues and conference-related social events.

Safe Space Doctrine

The West Wing Weekend will be an official “Safe Space”, free from bullying and intolerance. A Safe Space is “a place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person's self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.—Advocates for Youth”.

In addition to being a Safe Place for our LGBTA community, our Safe Space will also double up as a Anti-Bullying initiative, being a place that is free of hate speech, judgment, and intolerance.

Our Safe Space policy is derived, with permission from Shuto Con (http://shutocon.com/safespace.html)

Photography Policy

The event organizers and other participants may take photographs during the event. By registering for this event you give consent for the organizers and sponsors to publish these photos in printed materials or on the internet without additional notice. Individuals will not be identified/named in any photo unless prior written consent has been obtained from those individuals. We have absolute ownership of any photographs taken on behalf of The West Wing Weekend, and photos will be posted at our sole discretion. There is no expectation of privacy at this event.If someone is the featured subject matter of your photograph, please ask permission prior to taking their photograph. If they do not wish to have their photo taken, then do not take it. Harassment in any form will not be tolerated.

Presenters and artists maintain the right to restrict photography and videography in their sessions. They have been instructed to inform the audience of said restrictions before the session begins. Photographs of copyrighted PowerPoint or other slides are for personal use only and are not to be reproduced or distributed.

Unless otherwise noted, photo taking is allowed during programming and special events, but only from your seat. It is not permitted to approach the front of the stage/room and block the view of others. Please also be courteous to your neighbors when taking pictures. When stopping to take photographs in the hallways, or other traffic flow areas, please be considerate of your fellow attendees by being brief and not blocking traffic.In purchasing this badge and/or in consideration for being admitted to West Wing Weekend the attendee consents to being recorded (by audio, visual and/or other means) for the usage described above.

Attendee also hereby: (1) releases The West Wing Weekend from any liability for loss or damage to persons or property, infringement of any right or any other claim or course of action of any kind; and (2) agrees to comply with all rules and regulations of the event. We reserve the right to deny entry or remove from the event facilities any person who in our sole and absolute discretion is behaving or threatening to behave in a manner which we reasonably consider to be disruptive of the event.