Last Updated: December 22, 2025
1. Why we’re here
Teaching While Queer exists to support LGBTQ+ educators and allies through connection, resources, professional learning, and mutual care. This community is meant to feel brave, supportive, and grounded—not perfect, but accountable.
We practice: belonging, consent, anti-oppression, curiosity, confidentiality, and repair.
2. Who these norms apply to
These norms apply to all membership spaces, including (but not limited to):
- forums, comment sections, direct messages, group chats
- live webinars, virtual meetups, networking spaces
- resource libraries and member-only content areas
- any member-to-member interactions facilitated through the platform
If you participate, you agree to follow these norms.
3. What we expect (acceptable behavior)
Be in community.
- Use respectful language. Assume good intent and take responsibility for impact.
- Listen to understand. Ask questions before making assumptions.
- Practice “call-in” culture when possible (address harm with care, not performance).
Honor identity + pronouns.
- Use the name/pronouns people share. If you mess up: correct, apologize briefly, do better.
- No debating someone’s identity, lived experience, or right to exist here.
Consent and boundaries are non-negotiable.
- Ask before giving advice, offering critique, or shifting into heavy topics.
- Respect a “no,” a “not right now,” or silence.
- No pressure to disclose personal information, trauma, or workplace details.
Protect confidentiality.
- What’s shared here stays here.
- Get explicit permission before quoting, reposting, screenshotting, recording, or sharing content outside the community.
Contribute with care.
- Add content warnings (CW) when discussing sensitive topics (e.g., abuse, self-harm, violence, harassment, discrimination).
- When possible, include accessibility supports: clear headings, alt text for images, readable formatting.
- We recognize that everyone here is speaking in rough draft. We engage in discourse respectfully.
4. What’s not allowed (unacceptable behavior)
We will act quickly on anything that threatens safety or belonging, including:
Harassment, hate, or discrimination
- Hate speech, slurs, or degrading language about any protected identity
- Misgendering or deadnaming (especially intentionally)
- Stereotyping, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, ableism, sexism, fatphobia, transphobia, biphobia, homophobia, etc.
Targeting or intimidation
- Bullying, threats, stalking, dogpiling, doxxing, or inciting others to harass
- “Just asking questions” used to dehumanize or bait members
Outing + privacy violations
- Sharing someone’s identity, workplace, location, or personal details without consent (doxing)
- Posting screenshots/recordings from community spaces without permission
- Sharing private messages publicly without consent (except when reporting harm to moderators)
Sexual misconduct or unwanted advances
- Sexual harassment, unwanted flirting, coercion, or inappropriate comments
- Any sexual content involving minors (immediate removal and reporting)
Disruption + bad faith participation
- Trolling, brigading, spamming, derailing conversations, or repeated hostility
- Repeatedly refusing repair or ignoring moderator direction
Harmful misinformation presented as fact
- Sharing false or misleading information that could endanger people (especially around health, safety, or legal rights)
- You can share personal experiences, but do not represent unverified claims as certainty.
Solicitation and self-promotion without consent
- Sales pitches, affiliate links, fundraising asks, or recruiting in member spaces unless explicitly permitted
- Sharing opportunities is welcome when relevant and not spammy—when in doubt, ask a moderator.
5. Content guidelines (so the space stays usable)
- Stay on topic in discussion threads; start a new thread when needed.
- Use descriptive titles for posts (helps search + accessibility).
- Credit creators and cite sources when sharing downloadable materials or curriculum.
- No copyrighted uploads (scripts, books, paid resources) unless you have rights/permission.
- No diagnosing students or colleagues; protect confidentiality and use de-identified examples.
6. If conflict happens: how we handle it
Conflict can be part of community. Harm is not. When something lands poorly:
- Pause, breathe, and name impact.
- Aim for repair over punishment when possible.
- If you’re called in: listen, acknowledge, apologize without defensiveness, and change behavior.
Moderators may step in to slow things down, redirect, or set boundaries.
7. Reporting concerns (how to get help)
If you experience or witness a violation:
- Report it as soon as you can.
- Include screenshots/links and a brief description of what happened.
Contact: bryan@teachingwhilequeer.org
(If your platform includes a “Report” button or form, add it here.)
If you feel unsafe, trust that feeling. You don’t need to “prove” harm to ask for support.
8. Moderation + enforcement (what actions we may take)
Teaching While Queer reserves the right to take action to protect the community, including:
Possible actions (based on severity and pattern):
- Reminder of norms / gentle redirection
- Formal warning
- Content removal or editing request
- Temporary mute or time-limited suspension
- Removal from specific spaces/events
- Termination of membership access without refund (for severe violations)
- Reporting to platform providers or legal authorities when required (e.g., credible threats, CSAM)
Zero-tolerance examples (often immediate removal):
- hate speech or targeted harassment
- doxxing/outing
- threats of violence
- sexual misconduct or anything involving minors
- repeated violations after warnings
9. Appeals and accountability
If action is taken, you may request a review by emailing bryan@teachingwhilequeer.org with:
- what happened (your perspective)
- what you understand about the impact
- what you will do differently moving forward
Not all decisions are appealable (especially safety-related removals).
10. A note on professional boundaries + legal/medical advice
This is a peer community—not a substitute for legal counsel, HR, medical care, or crisis support. Members may share experiences and resources, but no one here is responsible for your professional decisions. If you are in danger or crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis line in your area.
11. Updates to these norms
As our community grows, these norms may be updated. We’ll post changes with an effective date and summarize what changed.