Code of Conduct

Preamble

Worldcon exists for the enjoyment and enrichment of the fannish community. This code of conduct exists to ensure that the behavior of any one person, or group, matches the community expectations of Seattle Worldcon 2025 as a whole. The code of conduct applies to all members, staff, and volunteers.

In reading and applying this code, please consider the following:

  • Ask first! Before engaging in behavior that you are unsure about, check in with the person you’re engaging with first. It is always easier to ask first rather than inadvertently harming, offending, or hurting someone.
  • We are a multicultural event with people coming from different regions from all over the world. Cross-cultural misunderstandings can and do occur! Consider whether your joke or interaction could be misconstrued by someone who does not share your cultural context.

Principles

Everyone should feel welcome and comfortable at our Worldcon, staff meetings, and all related events. We ask all our attendees, volunteers, and staff to work together to achieve this goal.

Discrimination against individuals based on—but not limited to—gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, or physical/mental disability will not be tolerated.

Harassment will not be tolerated. No means no. If someone asks you to leave them alone, you are expected to cease your interaction with them immediately. Because people may feel uncomfortable saying no or asking to be left alone, the absence of no is not sufficient to assume consent. Only yes means yes.

Actions which may constitute harassment include but are not limited to:

  • Verbal or physical assault;
  • Intimidation, stalking or following;
  • Comments that belittle or demean others;
  • Inappropriate remarks or behavior, including those of a sexual nature;
  • Inappropriate physical contact;
  • Deliberate misgendering/deadnaming of people or continued misgendering/deadnaming after being corrected;
  • Non-consensual behavior towards another member, volunteer, or attendee;
  • Disruption of events;
  • Sexually graphic, racially biased, or other offensive images in public spaces, including hate group iconography;
  • Costumes/cosplay that is historically or otherwise offensive;
  • Attempts to weaponize this code of conduct; or
  • Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behaviors.

Reporting Process

If you feel that you are being discriminated against or harassed, or if you see someone else behaving inappropriately, please let us know. If you feel comfortable doing so, point out the inappropriate behavior to the person(s) involved; however, if you do not, that is okay and a report can still be made.

To report a violation of this code of conduct, contact us at report@seattlein2025.org.

Seattle Worldcon 2025 staff will interact with all individuals making a report in a respectful manner designed to center the experience of the individual making the report. Our goal is to listen to your experience and help reestablish your well-being. We will never move faster than what you are comfortable with. We will also tell you what our next steps will be and follow-up with you at your request.

Seattle Worldcon 2025 will keep private the identities of persons involved as much as possible, restricting identifying information to those parties with a need to know that information in order to perform their duties.