Our Safer Spaces Policy

Chicago Zine Fest is a "safer space," which means that it is intended to be a welcoming, engaging and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behaviors, and language. Participants and attendees are asked to consider how their language and behavior impacts others in attendance.
The following guidelines will help CZF be a safer space:

• Respect peoples’ physical and emotional boundaries.
• Be responsible for your actions, and aware that they may have an effect on others regardless of original intent.
• Respect peoples’ opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing points of view.
• Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing boundaries.

The following actions and forms of discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated:

• Causing a participant or attendee to feel distressed or unsafe
• Disruptive or disrespectful behavior
• Sexual harassment, inappropriate/unwelcome comments and behaviors
• Physical, verbal, or mental abuse
• Theft of money or property
• Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and all other forms of discrimination

Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee before the fest, the CZF organizers will be available to hear these concerns and find a solution that is in the best interests of the community and the event being a safer space. Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee during the fest, the CZF organizers will be available to mediate on-site and attempt to find a solution. The CZF organizers reserves the right to ask any attendees who are violating the safer space policy to change their behavior and/or to leave the event.

​There are a range of solutions to safer spaces policy concerns. CZF will not always make public statements regarding safer spaces decisions, but but no decision is made lightly.