Friendly space policy, I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords... Options

[carbuncle]

This is a policy of the Wikimedia Foundation and applies to Foundation-organized activities.

Friendly space policy for Wikimedia Foundation technical events

The Wikimedia Foundation is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or preferred Creative Commons license (and not limited to those aspects). We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue or talks. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the conference organizers.

Harassment includes but is not limited to offensive verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, political affiliation, 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.

Organizers: Sumana Harihareswara, sumanah(at)wikimedia.org and others (whose contact information will be publicized to event participants on a per-event basis)
Phone number: +1 415 839 6885 x 6762
Local phone numbers for hotel/venue security, local law enforcement, local sexual assault hot line, local emergency and non-emergency medical, and local taxi company to be publicized to event participants as appropriate on a per-event basis

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

[thekohser]

Does anyone know of any other organizations that have published similar policies that govern in-person meetings of its members and affiliated parties?

[EricBarbour]

Does anyone know of any other organizations that have published similar policies that govern in-person meetings of its members and affiliated parties?

NO. Absolutely not. In fact, the recommended constitution and bylaws of the Rotary Clubs are often used by other nonprofit groups, as a kind of "standard" for such things. There is no mention of "harassment" or "stalking" at all. Because there are laws that deal with such things--laws that more-or-less clearly define what those words mean.

This new "rule" of theirs is a joke. It takes antidiscrimination laws and twists them slightly, specifically for one reason: to keep critics out of their meetings. The vagueness is intentional, I'm sure, so they don't have to actually write down what constitutes "harassment". In all likelihood, if this ever came up in a court of law, I expect it would be struck down for excessive vagueness. It is an obvious attempt to purge critics from their publicly-held open meetings.

The WMF can't do anything right. Aren't they supposed to have a "legal counsel" on staff? What the hell is he doing while they're writing crap like this (and forcing it down the throats of their much-vaunted "community")?

Anyone care to place a bet that Ashley Van Haeften was behind this? He is a classic organizational weasel. He kisses ass to get his job, is incompetent in his job, and spends all his time on the job manipulating others to do the dirty work, and stabbing rivals in the back. I've seen lots of twits like him, and even been fired by a couple of them long ago. From personal experience, the organization usually ends up purging the twit--but not until after he's caused tremendous damage.

This post has been edited by EricBarbour:

[SB_Johnny]

This new "rule" of theirs is a joke. It takes antidiscrimination laws and twists them slightly, specifically for one reason: to keep critics out of their meetings. The vagueness is intentional, I'm sure, so they don't have to actually write down what constitutes "harassment". In all likelihood, if this ever came up in a court of law, I expect it would be struck down for excessive vagueness. It is an obvious attempt to purge critics from their publicly-held open meetings.

I'd love to see the police blotter:

John Doe 1 (or maybe Jane, hard to say) filed a complaint against John Doe 2 for linking his old username to his new username. Officers on the scene required assistance from the EMTs due to severe cramps caused by uncontrollable laughing.

[Cedric]

I'd love to see the police blotter:

John Doe 1 (or maybe Jane, hard to say) filed a complaint against John Doe 2 for linking his old username to his new username. Officers on the scene required assistance from the EMTs due to severe cramps caused by uncontrollable laughing.

+1