Moving forward, we call upon those who are in charge of conferences and events related to the children’s literature community to immediately institute an official policy on harassment NOW so that attendees and guests know what expectations are, what will and will not be tolerated, and what consequences will be for those who disobey these rules of interaction.
We plead with writers to cosign this document and to pledge NOT to attend conferences where there is no policy in place or where stated policies have not been followed through on.
If you are worried about the message this will send to those in power, please consider instead the message you may inadvertently be sending to victims who feel they are not seen or heard and that their pain does not matter. This is not the business world we choose to live in. We need to send clear messages about what acceptable professional behavior is.
In accordance with that, we recommend the following:
- Stating that harassment can take many forms, including verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, intimidation, touching, photographing, disruption of talk, and unwelcome attention or advances. Harassment is defined by the victim.
- Anyone asked to stop harassment should be expected to stop immediately.
- A process for reporting harassment officially to a committee which will deal with it immediately.
- A no tolerance policy for serial harassers, which means they will not be invited to attend a conference where they have disobeyed rules. The harasser may write an appeal to the committee for reinstitution. An appeal would only be considered with proof of lengthy rehabilitation and restitution. Notification of an harasser's presence will be required at future events.
- A no quid pro quo policy for sexual “favors.”
- Promise of confidentiality for those who report, should they choose it.
Please sign this pledge by leaving a comment. We encourage all authors, artists, panelists, speakers, vendors, and attendees to sign.
Created by the Anti-Harassment Committee for Rock Canyon Writers
Signed! Robison Wells
ReplyDeleteSigned! Lindsey Leavitt
ReplyDeleteExcited to see more proactive instead reactive/retroactive change within our wonderful writing community.
Signed!
ReplyDeleteSigned. Laurie Wallmark
ReplyDeleteSigned— Bree Despain
ReplyDeleteSigned. Thank you for making this happen.
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned - Tasha Seegmiller
ReplyDeleteSigning on.
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteFrom the whole family, I suppose.
Deletewe appreciate the familial support
DeleteSigned by Kathryn Purdie
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteFull name didn’t show up: Annette Lyon
DeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned, Dene Low
ReplyDeleteSigned: Sheila Staley
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned: Lori Laurent Smith
ReplyDeleteSigned, Kristyn Crow
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned. Thanks, Robison, for spearheading this. Your voice and support matter so much. I'm grateful you're in our community.
ReplyDeleteSigned, Jenn Johansson
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting this pledge together. This feels like a big proactive step in the right direction.
Signed.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you.
Signed. Thank you all.
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned, and thank you.
ReplyDeleteSigned! Down with sexual harassment in all its hydra-headed forms!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSigned by Lindsay Eagar
ReplyDeleteZERO tolerance means zero.
Signed!
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteSigned, and copying. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSigned. Sealed. Delivered.
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteSigned - Jowanna Kestner
ReplyDeleteSigned! - Jessica Guernsey
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhoops! Not sure how I managed to mess that up. Here I am again.
DeleteSigned.
Signed- Rachel Hawkins
ReplyDeleteSigned, Luke Peterson.
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Rawson Hill
Signed: Shannon Cooley
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSIGNED. Been off facebook, and I'm diving off again now...
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteI regret that I have but one signature to give to this cause.
ReplyDeleteSIGNED!
Signed. This has to stop.
ReplyDeleteSigned!!! Janine Ross
ReplyDeleteSigned
ReplyDeleteMy full name didn't show: Caitlin Sangster
DeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned: Kate Watson. This tacit support of harassment is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteSigned. Cheri Chesley
ReplyDeleteSigned. Cathy Witbeck. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSigned! Lauren Widtfeldt.
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSIGNED!
ReplyDeleteYour input is appreciated:
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/15EyR81p3hUX7nFkDs0KSqOWqkieqhLE_rlUpP74sBs0/edit
Signed!
ReplyDeleteSigned.
ReplyDeleteSigned!
ReplyDeleteSigned. Becky Wallace
ReplyDelete