Safer Spaces Policy

The Chicago Zine Fest is a safer space, which means that it is intended to be a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behaviors, and language. Participants and attendees are asked to consider how their language and behavior impacts others in attendance.

The following guidelines will help CZF be a safer space:

• Respect peoples’ physical and emotional boundaries.
• Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing boundaries.
• Respect peoples’ opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing points of view.
• Be responsible for your actions, and aware that they may have an effect on others regardless of original intent.

The following actions and forms of discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated:

• Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other forms of discrimination
• Theft of money or property
• Physical, verbal, or mental abuse
• Sexual harrassment, inappropriate/unwelcome comments and behaviors
• Disruptive or disrespectful behavior
• Causing a participant or attendee to feel distressed or unsafe

Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee before the fest, the CZF staff will be available to hear these concerns and find a solution that is in the best interests of the community and the event being a safer space. Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee during the fest, the CZF staff will be available to mediate on-site and attempt to find a solution. The CZF staff reserves the right to ask any attendees who are violating the safer space policy to change or address their unsafe behavior or language, or leave the event if needed.

There are a range of solutions to safer spaces policy concerns, and banning is the very last option on that list; it is not something that is done often. CZF will not always make public statements regarding safer spaces decisions, but any policy-related action taken by CZF organizers has been precipitated by months, if not years, of serious, measured discussion about the issue within the group and from multiple voices. No safer spaces decision is made hastily or lightly.