melinath/gist:7933196

## gistfile1.txt
We believe that the highest priority for a dance community must be honoring the needs of its members for safety, respect, and empowerment, both physical and mental. Doing so requires taking into account the influence of race, class, gender, (dis)ability, age, and sexual orientation, as well as social capital, based on position in the community and/or technical skill.

This is a space for having conversations, sharing resources and ideas, and supporting/challenging each other as we do this necessary work in our communities.

Here are a few basic rules for this space:

* Sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist, ableist, and other hateful language will not be tolerated.
* This is not a space for debating the validity of others’ experiences, especially in cases of harassment or assault.
* It’s not okay to tell someone else how they should feel.

It’s impossible to get everything right all the time. If you’re told you slipped up, rest assured it is not intended as a personal attack. Take some time; reflect on what happened; ask the group to explain the issue. These are opportunities to learn and grow as a community. The only way we’ll get anywhere is if we all participate in the discourse bluntly, honestly, and in good faith.

An honest mistake is fine; an unwillingness to learn from mistakes may result in a ban from the group.

Here are some more thoughts for interacting with this space:

* There’s a lot to rant and rage about; curse out the system, the patriarchy, whatever, but not each other.
* Please read and respond thoughtfully; take your time and take some deep breaths. It’s okay and expected to both offer challenges and be challenged.
* “I” statements are strongly encouraged. Example: I felt (feeling) when (thing happened).
* Use the label “Trigger Warning” when posting material which may be triggering. Example: *Trigger Warning - Description of a sexual assault.*
* This is a public group -- things you post here may show up in other people’s news feeds.


And finally, here are some guidelines on how to respond to someone who has shared an experience of being a survivor of harassment/violation/violence, and/or is requesting advice on how they can respond/feel safe:

Please avoid using language of the form "you should", "you need to", "you have to", "you should have", etc. This type of language usually oversimplifies what can be very complex circumstances and social dynamics and can be received by the survivor as blameful and/or unwantedly compulsory.

Instead, try to use language of the form "you can", "your options are", "what are the things you are already considering?", "how would you like to be supported?", etc. This type of language allows the survivor to consider and engage while retaining their agency and freedom to make decisions that are most healthy and useful for them in their situation.
	We believe that the highest priority for a dance community must be honoring the needs of its members for safety, respect, and empowerment, both physical and mental. Doing so requires taking into account the influence of race, class, gender, (dis)ability, age, and sexual orientation, as well as social capital, based on position in the community and/or technical skill.

	This is a space for having conversations, sharing resources and ideas, and supporting/challenging each other as we do this necessary work in our communities.

	Here are a few basic rules for this space:

	* Sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist, ableist, and other hateful language will not be tolerated.
	* This is not a space for debating the validity of others’ experiences, especially in cases of harassment or assault.
	* It’s not okay to tell someone else how they should feel.

	It’s impossible to get everything right all the time. If you’re told you slipped up, rest assured it is not intended as a personal attack. Take some time; reflect on what happened; ask the group to explain the issue. These are opportunities to learn and grow as a community. The only way we’ll get anywhere is if we all participate in the discourse bluntly, honestly, and in good faith.

	An honest mistake is fine; an unwillingness to learn from mistakes may result in a ban from the group.

	Here are some more thoughts for interacting with this space:

	* There’s a lot to rant and rage about; curse out the system, the patriarchy, whatever, but not each other.
	* Please read and respond thoughtfully; take your time and take some deep breaths. It’s okay and expected to both offer challenges and be challenged.
	* “I” statements are strongly encouraged. Example: I felt (feeling) when (thing happened).
	* Use the label “Trigger Warning” when posting material which may be triggering. Example: Trigger Warning - Description of a sexual assault.
	* This is a public group -- things you post here may show up in other people’s news feeds.


	And finally, here are some guidelines on how to respond to someone who has shared an experience of being a survivor of harassment/violation/violence, and/or is requesting advice on how they can respond/feel safe:

	Please avoid using language of the form "you should", "you need to", "you have to", "you should have", etc. This type of language usually oversimplifies what can be very complex circumstances and social dynamics and can be received by the survivor as blameful and/or unwantedly compulsory.

	Instead, try to use language of the form "you can", "your options are", "what are the things you are already considering?", "how would you like to be supported?", etc. This type of language allows the survivor to consider and engage while retaining their agency and freedom to make decisions that are most healthy and useful for them in their situation.