Consent Mission Statement

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This policy is not here to define consent, nor unnecessarily limit your Tryst experience, nor stand as a legal document. It seeks rather to create awareness and systems that respect and protect all of us—to foster safer places to do dangerous things.

 

It is our full and earnest intention to move towards a culture of consent; we ask that as we work to improve the safe space that we strive for, our members commit to supporting that same culture.

 

As is the case in any private event we reserve the right to limit access as necessary. Violation of the consent policy may result in expulsion or banning from the event. No one is exempt from the following rules. If you have any questions on the following rules, please ask a staff member.

Consent Policy

 

1. Never touch people or personal property without explicit permission. Good Samaritan and self defense/defense of another situations do fall outside this policy. We will break up non-consensual fights with someone safe-wording and our medics won’t wait for your unconscious self to give permission before performing medical care.

 

2. Harassment of any kind (emotional, verbal, boundary encroaching, stalking, bullying, coercion, unwanted sexual advances, intimidation, catcalling, sexually explicit compliments, non-consensual physical abuse, and defamation.) is not permitted without *explicit* consent. If you harass a fellow camper  in person or another member of the Tryst forums online, the situation can be handled as a Consent Violation.

 

3. Approach everyone as an equal. Shaming behavior of any kind that hasn’t been negotiated is unacceptable. Don’t shame anyone for their sexuality, gender, race, religion, ability or disability, mental or physical health, body, kink, or anything really, it's rude. Also, for example, don’t address someone as “Mistress” or “slave” or by any other role-play word unless you’ve negotiated it or it’s on their name badge.

 

4. Negotiate the scope of behaviors you consent to engaging in with an individual or group that would otherwise violate the Consent Policy and the time frames those behaviors would be acceptable. These may be renegotiated at any time both of you are in a fit state of mind to do so. (E.g. Consent given to humiliate them at any time or consent given to spank only during this scene.)

 

5. Some people can maintain a state of mind where they can clearly renegotiate during a scene, others cannot. If it has been communicated before play starts that both parties know they can safely renegotiate during a scene, renegotiation during a scene is likely fine. Some people know they get into an impaired state of mind mid-scene and others do not know; for these two categories of people, we advise against renegotiating at any point during a scene. When a person is in subspace or otherwise not in a clear state of mind, informed consent can be compromised. Such renegotiation takes place at risk of a consent violation. Trespassing a partner’s boundaries in such a way will be considered a consent violation if said partner reports to the organization and will be handled accordingly.

 

6. Each participant is responsible for ensuring that everyone involved has the mental and emotional ability to give informed and voluntary consent during their negotiation for the scene. If invited to a group scene, defer to the person/people running the scene.

 

7. Participants can withdraw consent, make a nonverbal safe-sign, or use the universal safe-word “red” at any time. Once consent is withdrawn, the activity must stop immediately. Play Space Monitors will be enforcing immediate cessation of play at “Red” or another safe-word that has been previously shared with the event’s Monitors. Partners are responsible for sharing which safe-words or safe signs are being used.

 

8. We are all responsible for stopping if a partner withdraws consent. We are all responsible for being clear and unequivocal when withdrawing consent. We are all responsible for obtaining consent before anything begins. These are both legal and ethical responsibilities.

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9. If your consent is violated, you may:

• a) Verbally tell a Board member as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. Board members can be found through anyone on staff or anyone with a radio.

• b) Contact us by filling out this form or at consent@twistedtryst.com with pertinent information. We will confirm we received your email. We may have follow up questions for you in order to determine your and our community’s safety and to determine our best course of action.

• c) There is no time limit on how long you can wait to reach out to Twisted Tryst leadership.

• d) We also stand ready and able to involve outside medical and/or police as well at your request.

 

10. Swift action can be taken after an investigation at the behest of the reporter. Violation of the consent policy may result an array of consequences including expulsion from the event. No one is exempt from the rules.

 

We will take every claim seriously and respond in a timely manner. We will make a decision on our course of action based on the information we receive, up to and including banning from the event. We commit to interfacing with all involved parties regarding the appropriate response.

 

11. Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort will be made to enforce this policy, but this organization makes no representations or guarantees about its ability to do so, and all participants/attendees retain full, sole responsibility for their safety and the safety of others with whom they interact.

 

This policy is adapted from the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom's (NCSF) "Guide for Groups" guidelines for consent policies. The original document is located here.