Realm Makers’s continual goal is to provide a safe, fun, educational environment where writers can pursue the betterment of their creative pursuits without concern for their safety. Our organization prohibits sexual harassment by faculty, staff, vendors, conference guests, and attendees. The conference leadership cites Philippians 2:15 [New American Standard Bible (NASB)] as a basis for tour expectations for conduct.

“… so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”

Sexual Harassment is defined as any harassment based on a person’s sex, such as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature, including offensive remarks about a person’s gender. Both males and females can be victims of sexual harassment.

Prohibited behavior includes any behavior that creates an inappropriate professional environment. Some examples include:

1. Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including sexual advances, propositions, requests, or comments.
2. Offering an attendee any kind of benefit (such as consideration for publication) in exchange for sexual favors, or threatening any kind of detriment for an attendee’s failure to engage in sexual activity.
3. Visual conduct of a sexual nature, such as leering, making sexual gestures, or displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or cartoons.
4. Sending sexually related text messages, emails, photos, videos, or social media messages.
5. Comments (positive or negative) about an individual’s body.
6. Suggestive contact, such as inappropriate touching, or impeding or blocking movement.
7. Asking questions about an individual’s sex life.
8. Inviting a member of the opposite gender to meet you in, or accompany you to, a private place, such as your room at the conference or an off-site hotel/motel, or an unoccupied room.

*Please note that this list is not exhaustive and questionable behavior will be evaluated on a case- by-case basis.

Reporting Inappropriate Conduct

If you have experienced inappropriate conduct at the conference, please contact the director, Becky Minor, or the Operations Manager, Scott Minor, as soon as possible. Please be prepared to also provide the report in writing, via an email to info@realmmakers.com.

Complaints of harassment will be investigated as soon as possible, and corrective action will be taken if warranted. Insofar as possible, complaints will be maintained as confidential to prevent retaliation against the reporting party.

Repercussions of Policy Violation

Individuals violating this policy will be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal from the conference and potential banning from future attendance.