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US OpenGLAM Launch/Friendly space policy

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Friendly space policy for US OpenGLAM 2013

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The Open Knowledge Foundation is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Whether albeit uninvited sexual language or imagery, inappropriate comments about a participants gender or belief system; comments such as this are not appropriate for any conference experience. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. Harassment also includes sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwelcome following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately. Conference staff can be identified by special badges.

Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the conference. We value your attendance.

We expect participants to follow these policies at all conference venues and conference-related social events.

A similar policy exists for technical events as well, for the Wikimedia Foundation, Friendly space policy, and other conferences such as PyCon, AdaCamp, Wikimania, and others.

GLAM events and possible exposure to sensitive subject matter

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Keep in mind that GLAM related events can at times deal with sensitive content, ranging from visually sensitive historical subject matter (for example: historical images related to acts of genocide), subject matter that could be perceived as sexual in nature (for example: nude photography) and language (i.e. archival letters, film or audio recordings). The anti-harassment policy does not cover exposure to subject matter when in the proper context of a GLAM visit or educational experience, unless these materials are being used in an inappropriate and abusive manner towards conference participants (i.e. visual assault or vulgar comments made about a sculpture).

Contact information

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Organizer emails
  • Sarah Stierch: sarah.stierch@okfn.org
Organizer phone numbers
  • Sarah Stierch: +1-(601) 207-GLAM
Conference security contacts
  • University of California, Berkeley:
Local law enforcement and medical emergency
  • 911
National Sexual Assault Hotline
  • 1.800.656.HOPE
Local taxi service
  • +1 - (510) 536-3000 (takes credit cards)