This document was put together thanks to guidance from other festivals, organisations and individuals, including Transmission Gallery, Lighthouse Books, Take One Action and Scottish BPOC* Writers Network. We thank them for their generosity.
Download a pdf version of this policy here.
ABOUT SQIFF
SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) was formed with the aim of adding to the exciting and growing amount of queer film stuff happening around Scotland. Since 2015, we have held an annual Festival in Glasgow alongside providing year round events across various locations. SQIFF aims to build community through queer films. Our goal is to get people watching, talking about, and making more queer films. We want to screen movies that people might not otherwise get a chance to see and create inspiring and informative events across Scotland. Moreover, we want to support marginalised groups within the LGBTQIA+ community by providing a networking system for queer filmmakers, as well as filmmaking workshops for audiences wanting to start on the medium. We want to challenge inequalities and barriers to accessing the arts.
This Safer Spaces Policy includes information on:
- Policy Statement
- Purpose
- Principles
- Our Safer Spaces strategies
- SQIFF’s commitment to ensuring safe environments for Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People, and people of the Global Majority
POLICY STATEMENT
This Safer Spaces Policy outlines SQIFF’s commitment to centering compassion, care, kindness and accountability in the organisation’s interactions with all its audiences, staff, participants, and volunteers. Creating and nurturing an environment in which the wellbeing of those present sits at the heart of this policy.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to act as a guideline on protecting each other, drawing on policies of others (including Transmission Gallery, Lighthouse Books, Take One Action and Scottish BPOC* Writers Network). SQIFF commits to updating this policy as best practice in this area evolves, in communication with our community and peers.
PRINCIPLES
In conjunction with SQIFF’s Anti-Racism, Equality and Safeguarding policies, SQIFF commits to promoting Safer Spaces by challenging the below behaviours. Alongside these actions, SQIFF commits to proactively addressing and challenging oppression and hierarchy across the organisation’s activity.
Our Safer Spaces strategies seek to address, but are not limited by, the following behaviours:
- Abusive comments and insults.
- Prejudice (e.g. related to gender identity and expression, sexuality, age, race, ethnicity, religion/belief, disability, physical appearance, or socio-economic background).
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
- Unwelcome touching or sexual attention.
- Invasions of private space and personal boundaries.
- Violence or aggression.
- Harassing photography or recording.
- Sustained disruption of events or activity.
- Cyberharassment, online bullying or trolling.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviours.
SQIFF will take seriously, investigate, and action any necessary measures to deal with complaints or breaches of its Safer Spaces Policy and will not victimise people who make such complaints.
COMMITMENT TO TRANS, NON-BINARY AND/OR GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY
We are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all attendees, staff, guests and volunteers, in person and online. In particular, SQIFF works to provide the safest environment for Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People and people of the Global Majority.
Please refer to SQIFF’s Trans, Non-Binary and/or Gender Diverse People Statement and Anti-Racism Policy to see our full statement and measures.
We welcome any comments and suggestions that can help us to develop our Safer Spaces Policy: [email protected].