Midwest Trans* & Queer Wellness Initiative

The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative is to be a constructive and confidential space where members are to feel more safe, comfortable, and included. Any member or person who is in violation of The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative policies may be subject to discipline or removal from participating in MTWQI related work and/or events. Policies codes that must be adhered to as a member of The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative or participant in related events or spaces are:

1. Confidentiality
   1. All interactions, membership, discourse, and personal information (such as name, age, identity, or related demographic information, purpose of attendance, or shared experiences) that takes place or is learned while attending any function, meeting, or event run by The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative is to be kept strictly confidential. Exceptions to this allowed only with express permission of the relevant member(s).
   2. Photography, video, or any other visual or audio recording is not permitted without the permission of all people involved/depicted.
2. Respect
   1. All members are expected to respect each other’s space, person, and property, receive consent for physical contact, receive consent for the disclosure of personal information, and recognize the autonomous identity of all members
   2. All members are expected to understand and respect differences in views and experiences.
3. Equality
   1. All members of The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative are of equal importance and it is to be understood that acting oppressively or authoritatively toward others is not permitted.
   2. All members have the right to have an equal voice and the right to equal expression in gatherings. No member should dominate a meeting without the consent from other members in the group.
4. Language
   1. All members are expected to consider pronouns and personal language preferences when interacting with other members. When a person is unaware of another’s pronoun or label preferences, using non-identifiers such as the gender neutral pronoun “they” (versus he/she) or “person” (versus man/woman) is suggested.
   2. All members are expected to use the language preferred by a person in reference to their name, identity, pronoun, etc as well as being expected to respectfully educate others in the group about those preferences.
   3. All members are expected to use / be willing to learn to use language and terms that promotes respect and appropriately relates to populations defined. In the case of members being unfamiliar with such language, it will be expected for members to take interest in learning and adopting appropriate language.
   4. All members are expected to promote and support considerate, inclusive language and remain conscious of language’s possible effects on others in reference to systems of power and privilege, accessibility, and cultural competency.
   5. All members are expected to refine use of language when it has been brought to an individual or the group as offensive or oppressive.
5. Communication
   1. All members are expected to communicate reasonably and courteously, communicate directly when issues arise, and practice active listening when hearing concerns brought to one’s person or the group.
6. Accessibility
   1. All members are expected to maintain openness and availability on basis of physical and mental ability, socio-economic class, educational levels, regional origin, and identity variance;
   2. All members are expected to be conscious of privilege in respect to  ability, economic (class), race, culture, age, education, identity, size, or regional origins in systematic practices and programming.
   3. All members are expected to obtain and provide education about accessible space creation.
   4. All Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative  programs will be held in locations/spaces that are compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

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