2003 code of conduct

From BiOrgResources

Code of conduct at BiCon

Bisexuality

People are welcome to attend BiCon regardless of how they define their sexuality.

Harassment

BiCon is an exciting, and at times intoxicating, event. Sometimes this can mean finding oneself in situations where people behave with fewer inhibitions.

• Responsible behaviour: please stay healthy. Try to avoid getting too dehydrated, too drunk or too high. Party responsibly.
• Personal space: hugs and touches can be great, but not everyone wants them. Don't invade anyone's personal space without being invited to. A useful phrasing is "Would you like me to hug you?"
• No means no: if someone asks you to leave them alone, please do so immediately. Harassment will not be tolerated at BiCon and should be reported to the conference desk or the nearest organiser as soon as possible. "No", "Stop", and "Don't do that" will be taken at face value by the organisers, regardless of any safe-words attached to BDSM behaviour.
• Public behaviour: please keep any public behaviour legal.
• Insulting/bigoted behaviour: please do not insult the choices people have made regarding their beliefs or their sexuality, or how they choose to express them. Racist and bigoted behaviour will not be tolerated at BiCon and should be reported to the conference desk or the nearest organiser as soon as possible.

Gender issues

• Women-only/men-only spaces: although BiCon is open to all attendees whatever their gender, a few sessions may have restrictions on the people that may attend. Please don't try to join sessions marked in the programme or determined in advance as being for another gender only.
• Transgender: transgender people are accepted as the gender they choose to present.
• Smoking: there is no smoking inside any of the buildings at UEL.
• Badge policy: people attending BiCon should wear their badge to all events; if you don't, you may have your right to attend challenged.
• Photography and filming: please don't photograph, film, or record people without their consent, and say if and where any recording or photograph will be used. There will be a group photo opportunity on the last day of BiCon. No photography, recording or filming will be permitted in programme sessions unless it is specifically stated in the programme.
• Privacy: please respect people's privacy, and be aware that not everyone at BiCon may be 'out' about their sexuality. Please ask permission before naming anyone or publishing their photo in a public write-up of BiCon. For the avoidance of doubt, 'public' includes write-ups and photographs on personal web sites or on weblogs such as LiveJournal.
• Press policy: members of the press should identify themselves to the conference desk and at any sessions they attend.
• Animals: we're sorry but we can't allow animals onsite, except for registered assistance animals.

Session etiquette

• Children's participation: children are only welcomed at sessions marked as such in programme.
• Adult content: many sessions will deal frankly with topics that some people find offensive. If you discover you are uneasy with the content of a session, please leave quietly. If you feel the content breaches this Code of Conduct, please contact the conference desk.
• Confidentiality: please treat what is said within a programme session as confidential. Feel free to discuss the content of sessions outside, but don't 'name names'.
• Punctuality: please be punctual: if you are late to a session you might not be allowed to join in. Some sessions become 'closed' soon after they start, for example if the participants require privacy. If a session has a 'CLOSED' sign on the door please do not disturb the participants by knocking or asking for entry.
• Politeness: when someone is speaking within a programme session, please do not interrupt or talk over them. The person running the session may determine who speaks next, and will strive to ensure everyone is heard.
• Mobile phones: please switch off your mobile phone before joining a programme session.

Help

• Getting help: to get help, either go to the registration desk in the Atrium (Go), or ask a member of the BiCon organising team. There will always be at least one member of the team on-duty at any time, and they will be wearing a purple sash labelled ‘Organiser’. You can also ring the BiCon phone on 0781 490 6134.
• First timers: For many people this will be their first experience of a BiCon. Please be as friendly, helpful and respectful as you can. If you are feeling out of your depth you can find someone to talk to at the conference desk.
• Counselling: Some attendees are trained counsellors and have volunteered to help out. If you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed, the conference desk can put you in touch with one of them.
• First aid: a few qualified first-aiders have also volunteered their services. If an accident requires first-aid, please contact the conference desk as soon as possible.

Desk policy on dealing with complaints

• Conference desk: we will try to deal with any issue you bring to the conference desk fairly and respectfully. If we can't deal with a problem immediately, a conference organiser will come to help you out.
• Breaches of this code of conduct: breaches of this code of conduct will in most cases be met with a warning from our conference desk manager. We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the conference and if asked to leave you will not receive any refund.