Code of Conduct
This is a living document that describes how we’re building the Bellingham Tenants Union with respect and integrity. All members of the union must honor the Code of Conduct.
Sec. 1. Environment. Bellingham Tenants Union is a supportive, welcoming environment for all, regardless of level of political involvement, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, personal appearance, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or other similar characteristic. The following code of conduct applies within our community:
Please be kind and courteous to each other. No personal attacks; direct strong emotions at ideas, not individuals. There’s no need to be mean or rude.
Political debate is greatly encouraged and part of how we develop. Be respectful, use healthy forms of discourse, and be open to new ideas.
Respect that people have differences of opinion and that every decision carries a trade-off and numerous costs. There is seldom a right answer, especially in political activism. As a political movement, we need cohesion of vision. While healthy debate is essential to progress, disruption and co-option of Bellingham Tenants Union is counterproductive and harmful. The problem is so much bigger than us.
Please keep unstructured critique to a minimum. If you have solid ideas you want to experiment with, be prepared to do the work yourself.
Sec. 2. No Harassment. We will exclude you from interaction if you insult, demean, or harass anyone. That is not welcome behavior. Our definition of harassment includes:
Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person.
Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
Sharing or displaying sexually explicit or violent material.
Sharing or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“outing” or “doxing”).
Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, or disability.
Inappropriate physical contact. You should have someone’s consent before touching them.
Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes, sexualized comments or jokes; inappropriate touching, groping, and unwelcome sexual advances.
Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following (online or in person).
Sustained disruption of community events, including talks and presentations.
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Private harassment is also unacceptable. No matter who you are, if you feel you have been or are being harassed or made uncomfortable by a community member, please contact a member of the Organizing Committee immediately. Whether you’re a regular contributor or newcomer, we care about making this group a safe place for you and we’ve got your back.
Likewise any spamming, trolling, flaming, baiting, or other attention-stealing behavior is not welcome.