Code of Conduct

This policy is specifically for events that The Cathedral NWA hosts.  This could be a munch in a public venue, a class or demo, or a play party.

It is everyone’s responsibility to understand, ask for, and choose whether to give or withhold consent. At our events, we want everyone to feel safe to explore, included in education, and welcome to express themselves regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, age, orientation, relationship status, sexual power dynamics, or any other identity. We expect everyone at The Cathedral NWA events to follow these guidelines while you are at an event.

• No touching people or personal property without permission.
• Treat everyone as an equal by default. Everyone has responsibility to obtain, provide, or withhold consent regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, age, orientation, relationship status, sexual power dynamics, or any other identity.
• Each participant is responsible for making sure, to the best of their ability, that everyone involved has the physical, mental, and emotional capacity to give informed and voluntary consent during negotiation and the activity itself.
• Anyone can withdraw consent at any time during any activity. A 'no' in any form, verbal or nonverbal, should be taken as a withdrawal of consent (i.e. safewords are to be respected as withdrawal of consent).
• All participants are responsible for stopping immediately any activity at the withdrawal of consent.
• Negotiate anything beyond simple activities.
• Should sex, sexual contact, or sexual play be involved:
  • Give clear and explicit consent to the negotiated acts.
  • Participants need to agree on meanings for safe words or safe signs when used (the house safe word is “red”).
  • Unless previously agreed upon, we recommend avoiding re-negotiating in the middle of an activity. When a person is not in a clear state of mind, you may not have full or informed consent even though they agree in the heat of the moment. 

• If your consent is violated, or you experience a consent incident, tell a volunteer, event organizer, or clearly marked delegate. Until we develop our own, we will follow the procedure documented here: Consent Academy procedure. You may inform us in person, by direct messaging, or through email. Please contact us as soon as you are able. It is your right to report what happened to you and to ask for support.
  
  
• Violation of the consent policy may result in expulsion from an event and/or temporary or permanent ban from The Cathedral NWA events or activities. There are procedures in place. These will be followed by all volunteers, staff, and delegates. No one is exempt.
  
  
• Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort will be made to enforce this policy, but we cannot make guarantees about our ability to do so. Each situation is distinct and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All participants and attendees retain full, sole responsibility for their safety and the safety of others with whom they interact.

To Report an Incident or Request an Advocate:

• In person: ask a member of the staff to help you find a security volunteer, coordinator, or advocate.
• ​Otherwise, please email: consent@thecathedralnwa.com