BSFA Code of Conduct

Why does the BSFA need a code of conduct?

As a membership organization, the committee wishes to ensure that all members and guests are welcomed and treated with respect and dignity.

To whom does the code of conduct apply?

To all members (including committee and officers) and guests, at in-person and online events and spaces, including social media.

Harassment

We have implemented an anti-harassment policy in response to widespread reports of harassment in geek communities and at conventions around the world. There are a multitude of reports and references that are easily searchable on the Internet. The anti-harassment policy applies to all members and guests.

We define harassment as including (but not limited to) the following:

• uninvited physical contact
• uninvited attention
• deliberate intimidation, stalking, following
• offensive verbal comments. These may be related to (but not exclusively related to) gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion; and include rape “jokes”.
• wearing t-shirts or badges that are well known to be offensive, or the wearer has been asked to remove in the past; refusing to remove items that are pointed out to the wearer as offensive by the committee or a representative of the committee.
• taking a photograph or recording someone without their express permission
• sustained disruption of talks or other events
• deliberate dead-naming or misgendering
• tone-policing of marginalised people
• targeting with abusive comments through social media or other electronic means.

We ask you to be sensitive to the fact that what you do not see as harassing behaviour, others may view as such and you could be asked to stop what you are doing. You must do so immediately. However harmless your initial intent, such as believing it was a mutually enjoyable joke, if you persist, then your intention is to harass.

Procedures for following up a breach of the code of conduct:

• Warning one or more parties involved that specified behaviour is inappropriate
• Requiring a formal apology on behalf of the complainant(s)
• Ejecting the offending party from the premises/online space
• Removing access to BSFA spaces or Venues on a temporary or permanent basis
• Barring a non-member from future membership
• Removal of a member from the committee of BSFA.

The Committee may pursue an investigation in cases when the complainant is reluctant to proceed.