Anthro Midwest Code of Conduct

Anthro Midwest aims to support and empower the queer community by creating safe, inclusive spaces for furries and pups, fostering a greater connection between all queer subcultures. By participating in our events or online spaces you agree to adhere to the following rules or face removal from these spaces.

Our Pledge

We as members, contributors, and leaders pledge to make participation in our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, color, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.

We pledge to act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.

Our Standards

Examples of behavior that contributes to a positive environment include:

• Demonstrating empathy and kindness toward other people
• Being respectful of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences
• Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback
• Accepting responsibility and apologizing to those affected by our mistakes, and learning from the experience
• Focusing on what is best not just for us as individuals, but for the overall community

Examples of unacceptable behavior include:

• The use of sexualized language or imagery in a form that is inappropriate for the space, and unwelcome sexually intimate attention or advances of any kind
• Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
• Public or private harassment, including discriminatory or prejudicial comments
• Publishing others' private information, such as a physical or email address, without their explicit permission

Community Rules

No spammy behavior

• No marketing outside of dedicated spaces.
• No random links to non-community content. An organic part of a conversation is OK.
• No explicitly repetitive posting (e.g. posting the same ad every day, sticker spam).
• No emojis in Telegram that play games (e.g. bowling, slots, darts).

Keep it legal
Don't post, share, or solicit illegal content.

Keep it in our spaces
Don't share photos of people at our events or things shared in our chats in other spaces without the consent of all people involved.

Don't be a jerk
Don't harass or be unkind to anyone else in our community.

Don't be a creep
This community does not exist for you to pursue others, sexually or romantically. Respect people's boundaries and keep any intimate communication out of public spaces.

No partisan politics
Do not discuss partisan politics in our digital spaces, and be respectful of others if engaging in these conversations at our events.

Do not share generative AI
Generative AI models (ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.) threaten several of our livelihoods and the foundations of our subculture. Do not knowingly share generative AI content in any form.

Do not share explicit content outside of approved spaces
Do not post explicit content in our online spaces or share it with people at our public events. Explicit art is welcome in the Artists Workshop Telegram chat and Artists Gallery topic, as well as the monthly art meets, but must be posted with a spoiler blur and a detailed description.

Enforcement Policy

Participating in Anthro Midwest's events or online spaces is a privilege. We have the right to refuse those spaces to anyone. Violations of this Code of Conduct will result in a warning. Additional violations may result in temporary or permanent removal from our physical and/or online spaces.

Reporting Guidelines

If you find someone in violation of our Code of Conduct, please email [email protected] or contact an administrator. Where possible, include a direct link to the violation and/or a screenshot.

Our Review Process

Warnings and temporary measures can be taken by any administrator. Any action resulting in removal from our spaces is reviewed by at least three people unrelated to the incident, determined by the Executive Director.

Appeals

Any appeal of a decision made by AMW can be sent to [email protected].

A Memo on Sexuality and Consent

Queer existence often comes with frank and open conversations around sexuality, relationships, and our bodies. Our spaces tend to be more open about these topics than most, and the consent of everyone involved — whether directly, by proximity, or by use of a shared space — must be considered when determining appropriateness.

Our Telegram channel is 18+ only. In the art topic, you are welcome to post art you have created, as long as any explicit content is posted with a spoiler blur and a content warning. Outside of this space, no sexually explicit images or direct links to sexually explicit content are allowed in the Telegram channel.

Events may have their own standards, but as a general rule keep behavior PG and clothing and conversations PG-13 at their most extreme.

A Memo on Politics

Queer existence is not a political issue, yet it has been strongly politicized. Partisan political discussion is not allowed within our Telegram chat, and we maintain the authority to shut down heated political discussion at our events.

"Partisan political discussion" does not include discussion of queer politics, but does include discussion of those who threaten those politics. We do not intend to silence appropriate discussion or hinder personal expression — however, we will step in if the perception of safety within a given space could be threatened for any of our community.