Community Agreements
Whacking Los Angeles is committed to creating a safe environment for all participants.
We ask everyone who participates in WLA SPACES to help uphold the following agreements:
1. Respect, Inclusivity, and Equity
Respect for All: Treat everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, age, disability, religion, or socioeconomic status.
Affirmation of Identity: Recognize and affirm the gender identity and pronouns of others. Use names and pronouns as requested, and support others in doing the same.
Cultural Sensitivity: Acknowledge and respect diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences. Be mindful of language and actions that may be exclusionary or harmful.
Empowered Voices: Make space for and uplift the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals. Listen with openness, especially when someone shares an experience of harm or exclusion.
Equitable Participation: Support an environment where everyone has equitable access to participate, learn, create, and contribute. Respect the accommodations and access needs of others.
Continuous Learning: Engage in ongoing education and reflection to understand and address our own biases and to practice anti-racist and anti-discriminatory behaviors.
2. Anti-Discrimination and Harassment
No Discrimination or Harassment: Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, or abuse based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or any other personal characteristic will not be tolerated. This includes verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual harassment.
Respect Boundaries: Respect physical, emotional, and interpersonal boundaries. Consent matters in movement, touch, communication, and participation.
Speak Up and Report: If you experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or behavior that compromises the safety of our community, please report it through WLA’s established community care page. Reports will be taken seriously and handled with care.
3. Commitment to Safety
Whacking Los Angeles requires all community members, program participants, and attendees to commit to safety when participating in or attending any WLA events, programs, and activities.
No Threats or Violence: WLA will not tolerate any direct or implied threats, violence, or behavior that compromises the safety of our community.
Follow Safety Expectations: All participants and attendees are expected to respond to safety concerns and follow reasonable requests from WLA organizers, staff, or designated event personnel.
Accountability: If someone cannot commit to the safety of our community, WLA may ask them to stop the behavior or leave the event or activity.
Further Action: Depending on the severity of the situation, participants may be asked to take time away from WLA events, programs, or activities, or may be subject to other measures of accountability to help ensure community safety.
4. Safe and Supportive Environment
Safe Spaces: Help create spaces that are safe, welcoming, and accessible during rehearsals, performances, classes, events, and other WLA activities.
Care for One Another: Practice compassion, patience, and understanding. Recognize that everyone arrives with different experiences, identities, abilities, and circumstances.
Address Concerns: If something feels unsafe, harmful, or exclusionary, speak up or seek support. You do not need to navigate a concern alone.
Shared Responsibility: Community care is a collective responsibility. Each of us contributes to the culture and environment of WLA through how we communicate, participate, and treat one another.