Under no circumstances will harassment of any kind be tolerated at Hypericon.
In short: don’t be a jerk.
Introduction
We’re all here to have fun, and to connect with like-minded people in a welcoming, positive, enthusiastic environment. Hypericon is dedicated to maintaining that welcoming, positive environment for all participants, guests, panelists, and attendees by providing a harassment-free convention experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of guests, panelists, or attendees in any form. Event participants violating the rules put forth in this policy may be sanctioned or expelled from the con without a refund at the discretion of the event staff.
What is Harassment?Â
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion.
- Sexual images in public spaces
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
- Harassing or non-consensual photography or recording
- Sustained disruption of panels, demos, or other events
- Inappropriate and/or non-consensual physical contact
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
Participants may not engage in harassment in any designated Hypericon areas or at any Hypericon event. This includes panel rooms, demo rooms, dealer and art rooms, consuite, and room parties.
Hypericon is a family-friendly event, and while there are adults-only after-hours events, we ask all participants to be mindful of their surroundings and refrain from engaging in profanity and/or R-rated discussion when and where children are present.
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Con staff reserve the right to take any action deemed necessary to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all guests, panelists, and attendees.
Violators will be given one verbal warning. If they continue to behave inappropriately, their badge will be revoked and they will be expelled from the event. In extreme cases, venue loss prevention personnel and/or the police will be called. Repeat offenders may be banned from future Hypericon events.
Con staff can and will take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.
Reporting
If anyone at the event is making you feel unsafe or unwelcome, we ask that you report it to a member of con staff as soon as possible. Staff can be identified by clear badge designations. Staff and volunteers can be found throughout the con, and there’s always a staff member at the registration table and in the art room. There’s no statute of limitations on reporting; however, the sooner you tell us, the sooner we can take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
When taking a personal report, our staff will ensure you are safe and cannot be overheard. They may involve other event staff to ensure your report is managed properly. Once you’re safe, we’ll ask you to tell us about what happened. We know this can be upsetting, but we’ll handle it as respectfully as possible, and we welcome you to bring someone trusted along to support you. You won’t be asked to confront anyone and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
You may also report harassment via email at hypericon@gmail.com.
If you would like to speak to someone about harassment without filing a report, we will gladly provide a friendly, sympathetic, non-judgmental ear with the caveat that we are not trained therapists and can only provide untrained emotional support.
We at Hypericon prioritize your safety and enjoyment, and will be happy to provide escorts and, if appropriate, help you contact venue loss prevention personnel or local law enforcement.
Contact Information
Con email: hypericon@gmail.com
Con phone: 629.215.9665
Hotel phone: 615.889.9300
Local police: 615.862.8600