Creating a safe space | Group Agreement | Booking a HangOut 

 To book a ticket for any HangOut please book through Eventbrite

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Creating a safe space 

Our Group Agreement is informed by your feedback in creating ‘safe spaces’ that are welcoming, inclusive and encourage participation. We are making sure that everyone who books a ticket for a HangOuts, is aware of the commitment for everyone that attends.   

There will be times when LGBTQ+ people might feel unsafe in online social support spaces. They may be worried about experiencing prejudice and discrimination, that they may have encountered in the physical and online world; or feel uncertain about attending for many different reasons. 

Creating a safe space through ground rules is always discussed at the beginning of each group. We will talk about how we treat each other and what happens in the space. We reassure attendees that any prejudice or discriminatory words, comments or behaviours will not be accepted. We will do this in a firm and supportive way; politely challenging what has been said or the behaviour; and not the person.  

It is important to understand that some people have different levels of social skills or experiences of interacting with others; or may not be aware that they are causing offence or thought about the impact of what they have said.  

The aim of the group agreement is to make sure everyone regardless of identity or lived experience have a comfortable and positive experience at the HangOuts. The aim of the HangOuts is to reduce loneliness and isolation (including social, physical, cultural and geographical).

LGBT HERO are invested in making sure you have been listened to, free from any advice giving and interruptions and making sure everyone has a chance to talk or chooses to use the chat function of Zoom or just listen. (Zoom is the online platform we use to connect with one another. It is free and you don't need an account to connect as we will send you the zoom link.)

Creating this ‘safe online space’ also offers us all consistency, so people know what to do and expect and therefore allows for a fuller participation and this reduces uncertainty and anxiety. 

The ground rules (including a ‘safe space’) will always be discussed at the beginning and shared in the Zoom chat room. Attendees can suggest ground rules too.

 

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Group Agreement 

Please see below: 

• Our groups are person-centred. We value all who are present as worthy human beings who bring the wisdom of their own knowledge and lived experience. 
• Our groups affirm and support BIPOC* people (*Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) and their allies in the ongoing work required by a commitment to antiracism and decolonisation. 
• Our groups affirm and support all genders, including transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex people. This could look like adding pronouns to your name (if you have one or many) on Zoom. We also encourage people to try out a new pro-noun during the group, if they wish to do so.
• Our groups affirm and support everyone one in the LGBTQ+* community. (*lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, aromantic, polyamorous and beyond). 
• Our groups affirm and support diverse people and relationships. 
• Our group is a designed to offer safe online as possible. 
• Our group is a space that aims to be free of triggers or discomfort for people. Topics discussed and workshops held will be advertised in advance.

• Please use the first name you registered with when you join on Zoom. This is so we can make sure we know who is joining. This keeps the space safer.
• Please mute if you have a noisy background when you are not talking.
• Come and leave when you like but please direct message a facilitator if you unexpectedly leave, so we know that you are ok.  

 

By participating in LGBT HERO online groups, you agree to the following:

Confidentiality — Any personal sharing should be kept confidential. “What you hear here, let it stay here.” Please do not share anything specific outside the HangOut. 

Share the time — Try to be aware of how much time you are speaking relative to the size of the group, so everyone has a chance to be heard. Speak from your own experience.  

Think well of each other — This means if someone is saying something you don’t agree with or that sounds hurtful, assume good intentions. This also means if someone says something that sounds racist, sexist, etc. think well enough of them to stop them and ask questions or share why what they are saying may be problematic. We all come from different backgrounds and life experiences. We will all make mistakes and have things to learn from each other.   

Talking from the “I” perspective – Talk from your experiences. For example, "You know when you get really low on energy, and you can get really grumpy and then say things you don’t mean.”  Using the “I” perspective you might re-phrase this as “Sometimes I feel low on energy and can get rally grumpy and then say things I don’t mean.” This is so you are connected to your experience and taking a greater responsibility for your action. It does take practice, but it always allows for actively listening and responding to other comments. 

We are mindful of the space – HangOuts are a social and support group. We don’t know each other's lived experiences or backgrounds and should talk carefully and with trigger warnings about topics people may find distressing. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, we want to support you, if you are unsure how to bring this up, then DM your facilitator or contact them beforehand.  

Affirming and supporting diverse peoples and relationships — We strive to uplift and honour all identities and we do not tolerate discrimination based on race, gender, gender history, sexual orientation, age, size, or ability. We are all empowered to interrupt harm when it occurs.  

We listen to each other actively and with real interest. Whether or not we agree, we respect the person who is speaking and respect their efforts to contribute to the conversation.  

We offer one another mutual accountability. Despite our good intentions, sometimes we respond to conflict in ways that can amplify harm or even escalate toward forms of violence. These responses can include defensiveness and distorted thinking. When an individual responds to conflict in harmful ways, we have an obligation to compassionately identify these patterns, affirm our care for the individual, and redirect them toward shared values.  

 

As facilitators, LGBT HERO reserves the right, in rare and unusual circumstances, to temporarily or permanently remove individuals who respond to conflict in ways that can amplify harm or escalate towards forms of violence and who are not responsive to mutual accountability. Anyone who is verbally abusive or sexually inappropriate towards participants or staff will be removed permanently without discussion.   

 

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Booking a HangOut 

To book a ticket for any HangOut please book through Eventbrite