Community gatherings hosted and run by Laken (Art By LXC) are always based in the belief of liberation for all people and anti-oppression principles. While we (including me) will always still be learning and unlearning, community guidelines help to set a frame work we all aim to show up within, so that we can release some of the tension we hold when trying to find spaces of connection.
The community gatherings I create are often specifically curated so that they make space for people and voices that have historically been marginalized, oppressed, or underrepresented so that we can have community connection, support, and care where we can show up and can be ourselves without extra fear of harm. This opens us up so that we are free to create and express what is coming up for us, in connection with nature and each other, authentically.
These gathers are created by a Trans Non-binary, Pansexual, Non-monogamous, Autistic, ADHD, person living with dynamic disability, chronic pain, and cPTSD. For the lovelies who adore the stars, I am an Aquarius Sun, Taurus Moon, Libra Rising. You can read more about me here.
By choosing to come to community spaces that are hosted and guided by Laken (Art By LXC) you’re agreeing to the following community guidelines:
- Show up with intention and honour your needs. This includes how you’re taking care of yourself in the space. We honour autonomy, agency, and consent.
– Why are you choosing to enter this space?
– What do you need with you to feel comfortable?
– How do you want to relate to others? - This is a slow space. That means we move slowly and we celebrate communicating slowly. This allows for more intention behind what is done and said. In oppressive systems that encourage overexertion, burnout, extroversion, and fast pace, this space aspires to be somewhere that we can release those expectations, slow down, breathe deeply, and create connection in meaningful ways.
- Be mindful of the space you take and how you relate to others. This includes reflection on your privilege and how you may create harm (even if unintentional), your communication style, and how you’re feeling on the day (what are you bringing into the space). Be mindful of impact and think before speaking.
- Everyone gets to take up space and be heard. This means every person will get an opportunity to share in ways that work for them, if they would like to. It’s also an invitation to notice how much you speak (have others had a turn yet?).
– If you’re uncomfortable with silences or allowing space for those who are more introverted to open up, you’re invited to sit in that discomfort and to reflect on why you want to fill that space (and thus take over space meant for others). People who do not allow others to have their turn, talk over others, or try to minimize others will be called-in. - We challenge the status quo. This includes challenging dominant systems and power structures such as capitalism and colonialism and societal norms such as cis heteronormative ways of relating. This means, we do not judge others based on their lifestyle choices (as long as they’re not harming others) and celebrate that there are many diverse ways to be live and be happy. This is an all bodies, all abilities, all relationship styles, all genders (and gender non conforming), all sexualities, all races, etc. empowering space. If you’re not yet educated about dismantling engrained / taught oppressive beliefs within yourself you’re encouraged to wait until you’ve done the work to join.
- This space cultivates gender neutral language to minimize harm and misgendering. Please never assume someone’s gender or refer to someone you don’t know with binary gendered pronouns. Always use they / them, gender neutral terms, or something distinctive about what they’re wearing when referring to someone who’s pronouns you don’t know.
– Avoid use of terms such as “girl” or “bro”. Including “just girl things”, “the female urge to..”, etc.
– If you use gendered terms that you consider gender neutral to you but may not be to others, such as “dude” or “babe”, please preface it with “I’m saying this in a gender neutral way” (for example a frog is a little dude) and never in relation to a person.
– While pronouns will be disclosed in introductions, if you forget, please ask someone again or use they / them as a precaution. An example if you forgot someone’s name and pronouns would be “this person was just saying…” or “the person with the orange jacket was just telling me..”.
If you’re offended by gender neutrality first, then you have transphobia to unlearn and more inclusion work to do to share space with gender expansive people. - This is a trauma aware space. Please try to be trauma informed in how you’re showing up. This can look like: warning before speaking on traumatic subjects with brief context of what could be triggering, warning others before making a loud noise or apologizing when accidentally making a loud noise, no touching others without consent, asking group consent to speak on sensitive topics such as devastating world politics, being mindful before you speak, not forcing your beliefs on others, honouring autonomy and agency, and warning before loud noises.
- Be open to being called in on statements that could be harmful to others and curious to learn more.
If you’d like to do more learning on how to show up better for others, some suggested resources are:
10 Principles of Disability Justice
Do you have suggestions of additions to the guidelines, altered language within these guidelines, or ideas on how the learning resource list to be more inclusive? This space is built for community and informed by community. Your feedback and ideas are always encouraged. Send them to ArtByLXC @ protonmail.com with the subject line “Community Guidelines Feedback”.
ArtByLXC 