POLICIES

All policies are subject to change without warning.

This page will be date-stamped to reflect the most current version of our policies.

Updated: April 12, 2023

INCLUSION STATEMENT

TGI Femslash is committed to meaningful inclusion, diversity and access for all members of our community. We aim to create safer spaces to strengthen the connections and well-being of ALL fannish, queer people, including:

  • people of color

  • trans, gender diverse, and intersex people

  • people with disabilities

  • people on the asexual and/or aromantic spectra

We respect that experiences of lesbian, bisexual, and queer sexuality can intersect with diverse gender experiences and all forms of marginalization that people experience. We acknowledge that striving for an inclusive environment for people who have different needs and experiences requires meaningful engagement with our community and the willingness to embed these principles into all aspects of our con planning.

SAFETY POLICY

TGIF/F is dedicated to providing a safe con experience for attendees of all ages, races, genders, identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, physical appearances, body sizes, religions, backgrounds, veteran statuses, marital statuses, and fandoms. We approve of passionate conversation, debate, and the airing of different points of view, but we expect our members to treat each other with respect. We will not tolerate abuse or harassment.

Harassment can be verbal or physical, including but not limited to: hurtful comments that reinforce social structures of dominance (sexism, homophobia, racism, etc.), threats, deliberate intimidation, stalking, unwanted photography or recording, inappropriate or non-consensual physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of conference staff immediately.

Any attendee asked to stop a harassing behavior is expected to comply immediately. Violating the safety of others will result in an appropriate response from the con staff, such as issuance of a warning, mandating distance from an attendee, or expulsion from the con either in part or in full without a refund.

After a report of harassment, the con staff reserves the right to instate a temporary, immediate ruling to diffuse the situation and then investigate further before making a permanent decision (which may be different). As appropriate, members of con staff can and will help attendees contact hotel/venue security, contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment so they will feel safe for the duration of the con.

COVID-19 POLICY

Please see our full COVID policy on this page.

ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

The staff wants to make TGIF/F a safe, accessible place for anyone and everyone who wants to attend. We recognize that a wide variety of needs, illnesses, and disabilities, both visible and invisible, exist. We are dedicated to continually improving our efforts to ensure accessibility and we encourage feedback and suggestions in order to improve your experience.

A list of the accommodations for the 2024 con currently in place are listed on our Accessibility page.

We are not always able to anticipate the varied needs of our members, so we ask that any attendees with additional accessibility concerns for themselves or others please contact us at before the con. Additional services such as ASL interpreters can and will be provided if needed. While we cannot guarantee that we will be fiscally or logistically able to meet any and every request, we will absolutely do what we can to make the con as accessible as possible to every attendee. Your con experience is incredibly important to us.

If for any reason a member can’t contact the staff beforehand or finds there are unexpected difficulties at the con, the staff will try and address issues as they arise at the con itself as quickly as possible.

If you wish to remain anonymous when discussing any of your accessibility concerns, please feel free to create an anonymous email account to write to the staff. You do not need to identify yourself, just say that you are an attending member and explain your needs. If a member does share their identity, it will be kept confidential outside those staff members who are working on any accommodations.

Please see our hotel accessibility page for detailed information about our venue.

PRIVACY POLICY

INFORMATION

Members who register to attend TGIF/F submit information such as legal name, online nickname, email address, social media website, accessibility concerns, and main fandoms. The registration process will clearly indicate which information is confidential and what information is public, with your consent.

Your legal name will always remain confidential, unless you specifically instruct us or provide consent otherwise. Attendees may choose to have their email address printed in the program so other attendees can reach them after the con, but this is optional. If you opt out, your email address remains confidential. We will send periodic emails to notify you of important con-related information, but you can opt-out at any time by simply telling us.

Similarly, members can choose to allow TGIF/F to share some information publicly, such as online nickname, social media website, and main fandoms, all of which you provide for this purpose. This public list helps other people know who’s attending the con and builds excitement. However, this is entirely at your discretion; any member may be listed anonymously. TGIF/F will not sell or share confidential information to third parties, other attendees, or the general public. Your privacy is important to us.

RECORDING

The con staff reserves the right to record audio or video of specific TGIF/F events for release to attending and supporting members. In this case, it will be clearly communicated in advance that this recording will take place so members can choose to participate or not, as they like. However, at no time may an attendee record audio or video of an event without the expressed consent of the con staff. This is out of respect to the safety and consent of attendees. An attendee caught recording without permission is subject to an appropriate consequence, such as deletion of the recording. You are, however, allowed to take notes during panels and post them in all or in part online, or publish quotes on social media, as you like. Please use your discretion to consider if someone is saying something they may not want on the internet. Ask permission if you aren’t sure.

PHOTOGRAPHY

If you are taking pictures, remember that not everyone wants to be photographed. Do not take pictures of anyone who hasn’t given you permission, and do not put con photos online, even without names attached, unless you have your subjects’ explicit permission for that.

The con staff has a staff photographer who will be taking pictures periodically throughout the weekend for release to attending members. Select pictures (without faces) will be shown to supporting members. By attending the con, you consent to having your picture taken by the con, for the con. However, TGIF/F will not post these candid pictures (that may contain your face) online. In the event we do take pictures for online publishing, such as a con group picture for Twitter, we will announce this purpose clearly so you can choose to participate or not.

If you have any questions about privacy at the con or the safety of your information, contact us any time.

REFUND POLICY

All TGIF/F memberships are non-refundable. However, any paid membership may be transferred to another person without penalty before its respective deadline. The new member will need to complete the registration form themselves to confirm the transfer.

Alternatively, if you are unable to attend the con, we can roll your membership over to the next TGIF/F for the same pass (1-, 2-, or 3-day). In the event of a price difference next year for the same pass, your price would be locked in; you would neither pay nor receive any difference in cost. You would still have the option to step up to a larger pass (e.g. from a 2-day to a 3-day) and pay the difference, just like any other attendee. Funds can be rolled over only once. Funds paid and not used after 2 cons are forfeited.

If a waitlist exists when you forfeit a paid pass, but then notify us you are able to attend TGIF/F after all, your registration will be added to the bottom of the waitlist.

New for 2024: If you test positive for COVID during the con (or within a week before the con) and can therefore no longer attend, you are eligible for a partial refund, to be determined by staff. Proof of a positive test is required. This eligibility for a partial refund also applies to anyone rooming with someone who tests positive during the con, as you can then no longer come into con spaces either.

AUCTION PAYMENT POLICY

TGIF/F holds a live auction to financially support our con; doing so allows us to keep badge costs as low as possible. All bids are final, though rare exceptions can be made at the staff’s discretion in the case of extenuating circumstances, such as if a future item promised is no longer available.

Upon purchasing an item in our auction, the bidder signs a paper contract, which serves as their receipt, promising to pay the agreed upon total.

We allow payments over time, interest-free, based on the following schedule:

  • If you spend $1 – $500, you have 6 months to submit your payment(s)

  • If you spend $501-$1,000, you have 12 months to submit your payment(s)

  • If you spend over $1,000, you have 18 months to submit your payment(s)

Those who are given 18 months are expected to maintain an average payment structure, submitting approximately 33% of the total balance after 6 months, 50% after 9 months, and 67% after 12 months (by the following year’s con).

All auction bidders, regardless of total balance, are expected to submit payments monthly at a minimum amount of $25/month.

There is no financial penalty for making late payments. However, con staff reserves the right to take action to collect late funds including but not limited to email notifications, restricting future bidding power, denying admission to future TGIF/F auctions and/or cons, and seeking legal action.

Failure to submit auction payments in full by the deadline will create a bidding restriction at the next auction. These attendees will only be allowed to accumulate new auction debt at a rate of 50% of the total payments made thus far on the previous con’s balance. For example, if someone with a $700 balance had only paid $200 when the next con came–marking their 12-month deadline for payment in full–they would only be allowed to bid on $100 of new items (50% of $200). They would still owe $500 for the first year and [up to] $100 for the second year.

If auction balances go unpaid for a second con cycle, staff reserves the right to refuse bids from that person in the next auction, bar entry to TGIF/F, or other appropriate measures.

AGE POLICY

You must be at least 18 on the first day of the con in order to attend TGIF/F. This keeps the con in compliance with our insurance and liability laws. Members of the con staff reserve the right to ask attendees for identification, such as a state ID or driver’s license. No attendee under age 21 may purchase or consume alcohol in con spaces.

LIABILITY POLICY

TGIF/F is owned and operated by FF Events LLC.

All events inside the con space (meeting rooms) are covered by event insurance with limited liability to the owner in the case of incident or injury. TGIF/F is not liable for any events that take place outside the con space proper, such as in sleeping rooms or the rest of the hotel. All attendees are expected to adhere to the laws of the state of California at all times, which include a legal drinking age of 21. Though California is a medical marijuana state, no smoking of any kind is permitted in the hotel or in the con space, and TGIF/F is not liable for any attendees who violate this law. Any attendee breaking a law or violating hotel policies may be restricted from the con space at the staff’s discretion.

TOBACCO/MARIJUANA/ALCOHOL POLICY

Absolutely no smoking (including e-cigarettes/vaporizers) is allowed inside of the hotel. By California law, there is to be no smoking within 20 feet of any building entrance. Please use designated smoking areas and dispose of cigarette butts in proper receptacles. 

Marijuana (both medically and recreationally) is allowed in California for use in PRIVATE areas. If you must smoke/vape marijuana, please also use designated outside areas away from building entrances and dispose of used butts/ashes in proper receptacles. Edible marijuana use is allowed, but please use with caution as titration of doses can be difficult as onset of effects may take 60-90 minutes. For any assistance/questions, please see Apple.

Consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and recreational marijuana is illegal for any person under 21 of age in California. TGIF/F does not allow any of these substances for use by attendees under 21, and the participation of such activities may be subject to immediate ejection from the con without a refund.

TGIF/F reserves the right to ban attendees in violation of these policies from any and all future events.

SCHOLARSHIP POLICY

Note: Scholarships will not be available for the 2024 con.

Assistance is available to both first-time and returning con attendees. You can request assistance for one or more categories in the amount you need. There is no limit to how much funding you may request, but we have a limited pool of funds. We will allocate as much funding as possible to as many people as possible, either in whole or in part, but we cannot guarantee that a request will be accommodated.

Scholarships for registration are first-come, first-served. Scholarships for flight, hotel, or other travel costs require application and staff approval.

Accepting a scholarship is a contract. All recipients are expected to attend the con and use the funding received as intended.

In the event that a scholarship recipient is unable to attend, any scholarship funds delivered for hotel, flight, or travel must be repaid in full to TGIF/F by February 15th. TGIF/F reserves the right to take legal action to reclaim funds not repaid on time. Registration costs do not need to be repaid.