PURPOSE:
At the 100-level education program we believe in an inclusive BDSM/Leather community that welcomes all persons who are interested in furthering their kink education and embarking on the road to self-discovery. To achieve an inclusive community, it is imperative that we take an active stance against discrimination.

DEFINITIONS:
Discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things.
Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability. Severe or pervasive enough to create a learning environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

EDUCATION AND CHANGE:
Every opportunity is a chance to educate, grow, and create a better outcome for the future. Understanding, acknowledging, and working to eliminate oppression is a learning process for us all. Different people will likely be at different stages in the learning process and it is vital that we all create opportunities for learning and assist each other in the process.
We believe that change is possible and that our Kink/BDSM/leather community will grow stronger as oppression and discrimination are eliminated.
We understand that individuals enter our community with different cultural backgrounds, social economic status, life experiences, and perspectives, and each one is valid and vital to acknowledge in creating a safe environment.

Building a socially just community requires leadership and representation from diverse communities.
Discrimination and harassment, at the 100-level, is any behavior or pattern of behavior that creates an intimidating or offensive environment or otherwise restricts opportunities for learning. If issues of disrespectful/harassing/discriminatory involving students arise, the Headmaster or a
member of the Admin Team will handle that situation. (see “Grievance Procedure” at the end of the document).

MISSION:
Our mission is to ensure that all students feel physically and psychologically safe when attending Vegas Toolbox classes and functions. To achieve this goal, in addition to our commitment at the organizational level work, we request the following from our students, presenters and staff:

• Be respectful at all times to each other and to their instructors/presenters in all types of communication
• Responsibly communicate any discomfort directly to the person who has caused that discomfort or the Admin as part of the process outlined below. Particularly important for students to do so.
• Take accountability for the impact of our actions, regardless of intent. Discrimination can be unconscious, implicit, and unintentional; identifying discrimination or discriminatory acts does not automatically mean those involved in the act intended negative impact.
• Honor each other by recognizing there are at least two parties involved and each person's perspective is initially valid. Each party reserves the right to have their perspective heard before further action is taken.

SPECIFIC POLICY LANGUAGE AND STATEMENTS:
To provide clarification on Toolbox stance against harassment and discrimination concerning marginalized groups, please see some of our policies further detailed below. These policies are not exhaustive of all discrimination and thus this is a living document.
This document reserves the right to change as we learn more effective ways to be better allies and support our marginalized communities.
The below policies outline how Toolbox views the specific types of harassment and discrimination, what actions we recommend to resolve the potential violations of policy and further resources for the safety and well being of all students while attending our classes and events.

ABLEISM:
Ableism is discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.
It is our goal to ensure our events are accessible. People with disabilities are a diverse group and experience disability, impairment, and societal barriers in many different ways.
We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability.
People with disabilities are a diverse group, and experience disability, impairment and societal barriers in many different ways. Disabilities are often “invisible” and episodic, with people sometimes experiencing periods of wellness and periods of disability. All people with disabilities have the same rights to equal opportunities, whether their disabilities are visible or not.
It is Vegas Toolbox’s duty (or goal) to ensure accessible, inclusive, discrimination and harassment-free environments that respect human rights.

AGEISM:
Ageism is prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person's age.
It is our goal to ensure that diversity of age is considered relative to content and activities. People of varying ages and generations add to the richness of our community.
We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age.

RACISM:
We define anti-discrimination as the practice of actively opposing discrimination and instead promoting diversity, inclusion, safety, and belonging. We are committed to maintaining an environment where all students, teachers, admin, friends, and family know they are valued.
We define racism as the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.
We believe that listening to our BIPOC brothers/sisters/siblings and all others is instrumental to our growth and achieving harmony as a group.
We need to approach this work with compassion and take responsibility for our own work so as to prevent the undue burden of emotional labor for our BIPOC kinksters.
Racist/confederate items are not allowed in our spaces. These items can be oppressive and emotionally detrimental to others within the class. If you have a concern about a questionable patch, insignia, button, pin, etc. please contact our admin team at vegastoolbox@gmail.com with any questions or concerns or follow the grievance process below.
We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race.
Oxford Dictionaries defines racism as the "prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed against someone of a different race, based on the belief that one's own race is superior". Race can be defined as not only background but also family, culture, history, beliefs, a sense of place and belonging with others who share those same or similar things.
Vegas Toolbox defines antiracism and anti-discrimination as the active work, practice or policy of actively opposing and non-tolerance of racism and discrimination; promoting diversity, inclusion, safety and belonging. We are committed to maintaining an environment where all students, teachers, admin, friends and family, regardless of gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, language, national origin, religion, disability, military status, or age, know they are valued.
We acknowledge that racism and discrimination can be unconscious, implicit, or unintentional and identifying racism as an issue does not automatically mean those involved in the act are racist or intended the negative impact. We understand that each opportunity is a chance to educate, grow and create a better outcome for the future. We recognize that understanding, acknowledging and working to eliminate oppression is a learning process for us all. Different people can be at different stages in the learning process, and we all need to create opportunities for learning and assist each other in the learning process. We also recognize the need for compassion and doing our own work as to not increase the emotional labor for our BIPOC kinksters.
We believe change is possible, and that our Kink/BDSM community will grow stronger as oppression is eliminated. We believe that listening to our BIPOC brothers/sisters and all others is instrumental to our growth and harmony as a group that strives for authenticity. We understand individuals enter our community with different cultural backgrounds, social economic status, life experiences and perspectives, and each one is valid and vital to acknowledge in creating a safe environment. Our goal is to create and maintain an environment where everyone feels safe to live and discuss their gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, language, national origin, religion, disability, or age and the importance each has on our organization and our lives outside of work.
We ask that our students please examine any racism or confederate items before they come to class. These items can be oppressive and emotionally detrimental to others within the class and when experiencing fear and uneasiness, conversations are not always held for understanding. Our admin team reserves the right to inquire about an item of question if it is seen to pose any harm or threat to other students. If you have a concern about a questionable patch, insignia, button, pin, etc. please contact our Headmaster Team at vegastoolbox@leatherquest.org with any questions or concerns.
As we learn more, embrace more, accept more and engage more authentically, we can do more, and do better. At Vegas Toolbox, we continue to listen, learn and grow. We are learning and evolving together and provide these tools for everyone to join us in our journey to a more diverse, inclusive, equal, just and anti-racist society.

SEXISM, SEXUAL ORIENTATION & SEXUAL HARASSMENT:
We seek to respect the integrity and worth of every individual and his/her individual viewpoints. Disrespect including harassment and discrimination interferes with relationships and results in a loss of wellbeing and creates a negative image for both the individuals. This policy is meant to encourage mutual respect and discourage activity that would damage respectful relationships, if they occur.
Sexism is defined as the prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis of sex. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex or sexual orientation.
Sexual orientation discrimination means treating someone differently solely because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances such as requests for favors and verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex.

Sexism - behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex
Sexual Orientation - a person’s sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, heterosexual,
homosexual, pansexual, etc.

GENDERISM:
Genderism is the belief that gender is rigid, usually binary, comprising male and female, and that aspect’s of a person’s gender are inherently linked to their sex at birth.
We are committed to supporting and maintaining a welcoming environment for all gender identities that affirms and respects how people identify, express, and experience their gender.
We are deeply respectful and supportive of the experiences of individuals whose identities may not fit the gender binary, and/or who may not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. Identities including trans, intersex, agender, and genderqueer reflect personal identities, expressions, and experiences.
We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of gender.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
Recommended steps to resolve a discrimination or harassment grievance:
1. First and foremost, principles of respectful communication shall govern the interactions of all parties when raising a concern or formal complaint.

2. Whenever possible, we encourage individuals to resolve the conflict themselves.

3. If such a resolution is not effective, you may relay your concern to the Vegas Toolbox Admin Staff and Security Team.

1. If the Vegas Toolbox Admin Staff and Security Team is involved in the conflict and/or cannot be neutral, you may relay your concern to another member of the Admin Team.

4. The security team or trusted individual(s) will speak to all persons involved in the incident and will determine whether to document the incident. All parties involved may be asked to take a cooling off period (time to be determined on case-by-case but recommendation 3 months)

5. If the Vegas Toolbox Admin Staff and Security Team or trusted individual decides to document the incident, they will record the names of the persons involved and summarize the reported problem, including date, place, what happened, and the outcome (i.e. if there was resolution or further action necessary)

5. If the issue remains unresolved, it will be relayed to the Security Team of [100 Level]. The aggrieved person(s) will present their complaint to the Security Team. The person(s) against whom the grievance is made will also present their case to the Security Team.

HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

* In all organizations, occasions arise when someone feels offended or disrespected. This policy has been developed to help prevent such occasions and suggest a means for resolution.

We seek to respect the integrity and worth of every individual and his/her individual. viewpoints.
Disrespect including harassment and discrimination interferes with relationships and results in a loss of wellbeing and creates a negative image for both the individuals. This policy is meant to encourage mutual respect and discourage activity that would damage respectful relationships, if they occur.

Vegas Toolbox expects:
• All students to feel physically, intellectually and psychologically safe when in 100 Level classes and functions
• All students to be respectful at all times to each other and their instructors/presenters in all types of communication.
• All students to responsibly communicate any discomfort directly to the disrespectful or harassing person, or, when this is not possible, to the Headmaster.
• Issues of disrespect/harassment/discrimination involving students to be dealt with by the appropriate person, Headmaster or member of the Admin Team.