Code of Conduct

• Respectful Treatment: Treat everyone with respect and acknowledge that every participant has the right to enjoy their experience at NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists without fear of harassment or discrimination.

• Professional Behavior: Members and event presenters and attendees are expected to uphold standards of professional ethics and behavior. This may include but is not limited to treating fellow attendees and presenters with integrity and respect, and avoiding conduct that may put others’ professional reputations at risk.

• Consideration and Collaboration: Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative in your interactions. Seek to actively acknowledge and respect the boundaries of fellow participants.

• Avoid Discrimination: Refrain from engaging in demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech. See “Unacceptable Behavior” for more.

• Reporting Incidents: If you experience or witness behavior that is in violation of this Code of Conduct, inform NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists staff immediately, either in person or by email at info@nlgja.org.

• Respect Public Spaces: Many association events are held in public spaces; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

• Don’t Assume: Not sure what someone’s pronouns are? Ask politely and use those pronouns once shared. If you make a mistake, respectfully and quickly apologize, correct your mistake and move on. Try to avoid gendered language when referring to groups; e.g. substitute “everyone” or “folks” for “ladies and gentlemen” or “guys,” etc.

Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to, intimidating, threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, demeaning, or disorderly conduct, as well as possession, use, or distribution of illegal substances. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists does not tolerate the use or abuse of illegal substances at any event venue. Furthermore, we expect all attendees to comply with local laws regarding the consumption of legal substances, ensuring their behavior remains consistent with the standards of our code of conduct. Harassment can manifest in various forms, such as the use of slurs; offensive jokes; persistent misuse or refusal to use correct names and pronouns; stalking; intimidation; use of sexual or discriminatory imagery, comments or jokes; unwelcome sexual attention; or unwanted physical contact. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists reserves the right to determine what constitutes unacceptable behavior, in consultation with an ad-hoc conduct review committee, which will include a diverse representation of community members to ensure fairness and transparency in all decisions.

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists will not tolerate unacceptable behavior from attendees, speakers, media, or venue staff. Individuals engaging in such behavior will be asked to stop immediately. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists may take appropriate actions, including but not limited to, immediate expulsion from the event without warning or refund, revocation of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists membership, or other measures as deemed necessary by the conduct review committee.

This code of conduct applies to all NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists events, including chapter events. Concerns should be reported to the local chapter president, national staff, or president. Notify security staff and/or NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists’s executive director or president in person, by phone, or via email.

If you witness or experience unacceptable behavior, please speak up. Harassment will not be tolerated. Notify NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists’ staff, in person or by email at info@nlgja.org. Appropriate law enforcement should be contacted if necessary. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists will assist participants in contacting venue security or law enforcement, providing escorts or offering support to those facing unacceptable behavior during the event.

Photographers and videographers are present at many NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists events. By attending these events, attendees acknowledge that they are giving their consent for the association to use their photograph and likeness in all forms and media for advertising, trade and any other lawful purposes.

Attendees may photograph or record NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists event experiences for personal, non-commercial use, subject to not infringing on others’ rights. 

Attendees assume responsibility for any injury, illness, or loss incurred during the event and release NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists from related claims. Attendees acknowledge the risks of COVID-19 exposure and agree to comply with NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists and venue-specific COVID-related procedures.

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists reserves the right to dismiss event participants violating the Code of Conduct without refunds.

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists members can use social media platforms like the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Slack, and affiliated Listserv to engage with the community, adhering to the terms outlined by NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists. Terms may be updated without notice.