Anti-Harassment Policy

TLA is committed to providing a safe and equal space for professional participation to all of our members and event attendees. We believe that everyone has the right to professional interaction without fear, intimidation, or discrimination, and that everyone has the right to fair and equal participation and treatment.

Our strength as an association is our people, and we cherish their diversity. We value all of our members and attendees equally, and will not accept any treatment in any arena of association business which goes contrary to our values.

TLA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free overall experience as members of the organization, including a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality, age or religion. Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality, age and religion; presentation of sexual images for inappropriate purposes in public spaces; deliberate acts of intimidation, stalking, following and harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

We do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. Inappropriate sexual language and imagery (unrelated to a legal topic of a presentation) is not appropriate for any conference venue— including in-person or on-line presentations, committee meetings and social/networking events. We expect participants to comply with this policy at all event venues and event-related social activities, as well as at outside-of-event activities during a conference. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.

Alcohol consumption or use of other intoxicating substances is neither an excuse nor an invitation for harassment.

Consequences

Conference participants violating these policies may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference at the discretion of the TLA Officers.

If a participant engages in harassing behavior, the TLA Officers may take any action they deem appropriate, to include warning the offender, expulsion from the conference with no refund, forfeiture of roles on boards or committees, and (in the case of repeated or egregious incidents) expulsion from membership in TLA.

A confidential summary report of any reported incidents, including the actions taken in response, will be maintained in TLA’s executive offices.

Reporting Hostile or Harassing Conduct; Investigations

Any member or attendee who experiences harassment, observes someone else being harassed, or who has any other concerns in this regard, may report such harassment or concerns to any TLA Officer, the DEI Committee Chair, or Kellen conference staff.  TLA will take seriously all concerns brought to it and will provide all those involved with an opportunity to be heard, as harassment reduces the value of our conference for everyone.

When a report of hostile or harassing conduct is made, the TLA Officers will be informed and will take reasonable measures to investigate the facts. This will typically include discussion with witnesses, if any, and with the person accused of engaging in the prohibited conduct. Inquiries will be carried out as confidentially as possible given the circumstances, and incidents will be dealt with as the TLA Officers deem appropriate based on the information gathered and on established protocols available online here.

Anyone who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment, or knowingly provides false information in the course of an investigation of a complaint, may be subject to discipline. A complaint made in good faith, even if found to be unsubstantiated, will not be considered a false accusation.

Retaliation Prohibited

It is a violation of this policy to retaliate against or harass any person who asserts his or her rights regarding harassment including, but not limited to, threats, reprimands, and harassment.