Emma Atkinson
Hello my lovelies, and warm holiday greetings to you and yours! Here’s hoping we all have the happiest and most consent-filled holiday season ever.
We’ve been considering the Bumbershoot model of C.O.N.S.E.N.T, conveniently using each letter of the word. Today’s letter is S. See something weird? Speak up. Reach out to venue staff for support.
At an event, you’ll probably encounter people, situations, and activities that are new for you. Yay you! You’ll probably have some questions, and event volunteers are glad to answer them. They’re there to help — that’s their job! Remember that they’re on duty and looking out for everyone’s well-being, including yours, so please be respectful of their time.
Weirdness often abounds when the community gathers, and one person’s label of “weird” is someone else’s lived experience. We try not to “yuck” someone else’s “yum” as much as possible.
We all need to look out for each other, though, so please speak up to someone official if you’re feeling uncomfortable. Let them put your mind at ease, knowing that event volunteers will take your concerns seriously. We all thank you for helping us make the community as safe and nurturing as possible.
Homework: Enjoy the holiday season, and get out there and practice your consent skills! Share your successes with us at: info@thecspc.org.
“Be excellent to each other.” —Bill and Ted
“Be sexcellent to each other.” —Emma