Pronouns
​A “gender pronoun" is the pronoun that a person chooses to use for themselves. Gender Pronouns are the pronouns that we use to refer to people in sentences and conversation. 

 

It is important to use the correct pronouns when referring to someone because it honors their gender identity and is a sign of mutual respect between the involved parties. It is also important to use the correct pronouns for the safety of the person involved. Using incorrect pronouns can potentially put the person in an unsafe situation by "outing" them. Outing someone is when you do something to expose someone's identity without their consent.  

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What are some examples of Gender Pronouns?  Gender pronouns can look like and are not limited to

 he/him/his (masculine pronouns)

 she/her/hers (feminine pronouns)

 they/them/theirs (neutral pronouns)

 ze/zir/zirs (neutral pronouns)

 ze/hir/hirs (neutral pronouns) 

Also, some people may prefer you do not use pronouns instead using their name.

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Please ask people their pronouns if you meet them for the first time. Use their correct pronouns, even if the words are unfamiliar to you. If you make a mistake and refer to someone with the wrong pronoun, quickly correct it and move on. (Tip: please feel free to update your screen name to include your preferred pronouns)

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Assumptions
Don’t make assumptions about someone’s identity. Think about how people from minority groups may be impacted differently by the issues you discuss. Be aware that your experiences are not necessarily the same as everybody else's. Be aware of any position and privileges you may bring regarding, for example, your race, your class, your gender identity, your ability, or your age. Ask questions respectfully, and understand that no one is required to share information about their identities or experience(s).

Oppressive Behavior
Racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, ageism or discrimination on basis of ethnicity, immigration status, or religious, cultural, and/or spiritual beliefs, or any other kind of oppressive behavior is unacceptable, and will be challenged. Please do not use slurs. Please allow people to interact without having to talk if they don’t want to.

Sexual Harassment
There is a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.

Space to Speak
Please be aware that it may be difficult for those belonging to marginalized groups or minority groups to participate in discussions. Be mindful of the space you take. If you have spoken on several occasions, make sure you are giving space for others to participate; try to give less confident and quieter people a chance to speak.
 
API – Assume Positive Intent
Everyone comes in with different sets of experiences and knowledge, so assume that people have good intentions. Please have positive intent yourself, and be accountable for the impact of your actions and words as well.

Community-First
We expect everyone to consider the needs and comfort levels of others and not just prioritize our own experiences or points of view. Community is about treating each other respectfully, caring for one another, inviting each other in, and holding each other up.

Social Media
Everything in our guidelines here also extends to social media platforms.
 

Reference/Acknowledgement 

Thank you to ROAM Fest for establishing clear guidelines and being a role model in the WTFNB community.  We appreciate your language and are honored to reuse and adapt your guidelines to foster a safe and equitable community space.