Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct for Members at Sarbat Social Events
To ensure that all members are made welcome and to treat each other with respect.
To ensure that no member feels intimidated by other members.
To respect the opinions, views and lifestyles of all members.
To respect the wishes of members at all stages of coming to terms with their sexuality or gender identity, especially those who are new to the group and scene.
To not push individuals beyond their limits, whilst being aware of one’s own limits.
Violent or threatening behaviour or any perceived threat will not be tolerated.
To respect the values of the group.
To respect the confidentiality of members outside of the group.
To remember that this is a safe and comfortable environment for all people, regardless of people’s sexuality or relationship status.
To bear in mind that not everyone at the group will be as confident about their sexuality or gender identity as others, and to act accordingly and be sensitive to the comfort levels of other members.
Drugs will not be tolerated within the group environment.
Members should ensure that the safety of the group be maintained.
If unpleasant encounters occur with fellow members, either in the context of the social meeting or outside of it, then raise it with the facilitators who will respect your confidentiality and try to deal with the matter appropriately.
Sarbat Social events are to allow people to meet like-minded individuals in a safe and pleasant environment for socialising and to provide support for one another.
Although you do not have to be Sikh or LGBT+ to participate, the main focus of the Sarbat Social events will be on Sikh and LGBT+ issues, and you will be expected to respect that focus at all times.
Attending Online Sarbat events
Below are additional guidelines for individuals interested in attending online Sarbat meetings (e.g. Zoom video conferencing) during and after the Coronavirus pandemic.
We will share our upcoming meetings via our social media channels (Facebook / Twitter/Instagram) and/or via our newsletter (click here to subscribe). To join these online meetings, you would need to download Zoom on your phone or open Zoom via your browser. You do not need to have a zoom account to be able to join the meeting, and it is completely free!
We have decided to have our meetings password protected as they are volunteer-led. This is crucial so we are not overwhelmed by online trolls and bots (It has happened…), and only open the space up for our LGBT+ Sikhs and allies. So if you would like to join our meetings, please register in advance using the registration link found on the posters. Email if at sarbatsikhs@gmail.com if you encounter any trouble during registration and one of our volunteers will help you. We will share the unique Zoom link and password with all those who have registered via Eventbrite two hours before the event is due to begin.
Our priority is to keep our online meeting spaces safe, warm and kind to the best of our ability, so we request that everyone intending to join our meetings please abide by the following ground rules when joining a meeting.
Please be sensitive to the needs of other participants. Not everyone will be equally comfortable with their sexuality, gender identity or faith.
Please treat all information shared at the meeting confidentially.
Please keep interactions soliciting relationships or partners outside the meeting space; sexually explicit language is not allowed.
Please feel free to not share your video, although we recommend that you switch it on.
Please add your pronouns to your zoom name. If you would like to use a pseudonym instead of your real name to ensure privacy, please feel free to do so (and please let us know in advance by emailing us at sarbatsikhs@gmail.com).
Please note that there is no obligation to participate, although it would be great to hear from everybody. Also, please share only what you are comfortable sharing.
Please note that some of the content shared might be triggering or upsetting, so please prioritise your self-care. If you need to address anything during or after the meeting, please feel free to send a private message to the host or co-host or send us an email at sarbatsikhs@gmail.com and we’ll do our best to work through it with you.
Please do not share the meeting link when it is emailed to you. If anyone else is interested in joining the event, please ask them to register.
Please have patience as you join the waiting room at the start of a meeting. We will admit you into the meeting room as soon as possible.
Please note that private chat between participants, screen-sharing, file-sharing, and recording options will be disabled.
Please do not record the meeting in any form as it is vital to respect the confidentiality of the meeting and all participants.
The hosts will remove individuals who violate the rules above or use offensive language.
While we raise and discuss issues pertinent to Sikh lgbtq+ folk, we welcome all without regard to race, colour, faith, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age. Any discrimination or hateful language will not be tolerated and will result in the removal of the person from the meeting.
Please also note that while we will take every care to make the meeting safe and friendly, we are simply a group of volunteers facilitating a space for like-minded Sikh and LGBT+ individuals to come together and support each other. We are thus not responsible for any mishaps that may occur during or after a social. We expect all attendees to engage in responsible dialogue and demonstrate compassion towards each other.
We sincerely look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Sarbat meetings (online and face to face) and hope you enjoy your experience!