CODE OF CONDUCT AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

Costumer's Guild West, Inc (CGW) strives to provide an environment where participants can feel safe in expressing their individuality and creativity, free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and/or sexual assault. Discrimination or harassment based on race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or on any other legally prohibited basis is unlawful and will not be tolerated. Any action or behavior that causes significant interference with event operations, excessive discomfort to other attendees, or adversely affects CGW’s relationship with event participants, its venues, or the public is strictly prohibited and may result in removal from the event and/or permanent suspension of membership. 

WHAT IS HARASSMENT?

Harassment is any behavior that causes discomfort or alarms or threatens another person or group.  Harassment can take the form of verbal statements, written statements, physical gestures or acts, and other forms of communication. Such statements or acts need not be directed at a particular person or group but may be implied or insinuated. The person experiencing discomfort or alarm can be someone other than those at whom the harassment is directed, such as a bystander or witness, or someone who otherwise discovers an incident of harassment.

Here are some examples of harassment:

• Offensive comments about:

• Race
• Color
• Religion, including religious dress and grooming practices
• Sexuality or gender, regardless of whether the harasser and the person being harassed are of the same or different gender
• Gender identity, gender expression
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Medical condition
• Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/ or related medical conditions
• Military or veteran status
• National origin or identification
• Ancestry
• Disability (mental and/or physical including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics)
• Genetic information
• Physical appearance or body size

• This also includes:

• Leering, staring, or suggestive gestures
• Stalking or following someone around a public area without their consent
• Repeated requests for dates or requests for sexual favors
• Showing sexual images or carrying out sexual activities in public spaces
• Epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, offensive jokes, or offensive visual materials related to a protected characteristic
• Any written, visual, or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion to an individual or group because of a protected characteristic
• Photographing or recording someone when you have been asked not to
• Uninvited physical contact, including touching, grabbing, patting, pinching, hugging, kissing
• Threatening to physically attack someone
• Sexual assault
• Graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, or obscene letters, notes, or invitations
• Harassing communications via letters, phone calls, e-mails, text messaging, or social media
• Sustained disruption of classes, talks, or other event
• Not wearing your mask properly in places where you are required to do so; refusing to wear a mask while in spaces where you are required to do so.

WHAT DO I DO IF I AM BEING HARASSED?

In some cases, you may find the harassment stops if you clearly say ‘no’ or ‘please leave me alone’, or simply walk away. We would appreciate it if an event organizer or CGW Board member was informed right away to help us identify any repeat offenders.

At some events, including Costume College, CGW will provide means for you to submit complaints, which can be anonymous if you prefer. You can find information about the submitting complaints at the event registration and in your printed or digitally accessible event information.

If you continue to be harassed, don’t hesitate to ask for the head organizer of the event, (e.g., the Dean of Costume College) or the CGW President. We will mediate the situation, help you contact venue security or law enforcement, or otherwise assist you to feel safe during the event. At some events, including Costume College, photos of Board and Costume College Committee members will be posted at the registration desk and our Anti-Harassment Guidelines will be available in the designated event app.

CGW will not retaliate against an individual for coming forward with a complaint of harassment. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SEE SOMEONE ELSE BEING HARASSED?

Ask the person being harassed if they are okay. Offer to help them find an appropriate event personnel or a member of the CGW Board to report the problem to, or stay with them while someone else finds help. At some events, including Costume College, photos of Board and Costume College Committee members will be posted at the registration desk so you will know who can help in case such a need arises.

WHAT CAN I DO IF SOMEONE ACCESES ME OF HARASSMENT?