San Francisco DSA Code of Conduct

Preamble

The Democratic Socialists of America, San Francisco chapter (DSA SF), is committed to building a harassment-free, inclusive, and politically principled community grounded in solidarity and political principle. This Code of Conduct sets clear expectations for behavior and helps individuals understand harmful actions that undermine our collective strength.

As socialists, we are dedicated to not only building the political and organizational power of our members but also nurturing a culture that prioritizes mental, emotional, and collective well-being. We will do this through transparent, principled engagement, grounded in honesty and mutual respect.

Article 1: Solidarity

1. We will use welcoming and inclusive language.
2. We will avoid making assumptions about identity or experience.
3. We will endeavor to ensure the political development of our comrades by, amongst other things, making our spaces physically accessible.
4. We will orient our political struggle to the interests of the socialist movement.
5. We will remember that no one person is the movement, and take responsibility for the collective experience of our comrades, even when engaging in the political struggle does not affect our own personal interest.
6. We will always acknowledge and validate the experiences of our comrades even, and especially, when they diverge from our own.
7. We will not undermine chapter democracy.
8. We will acknowledge our shared responsibility in creating change and avoid acting in opposition to the democratic will of the chapter.
9. We will avoid the impulse to separate the political from the social. We will strive to normalize political struggle in our everyday lives and we will endeavor to intentionally politicize the social spaces we inhabit.
10. We will work to create a chapter that is active, inclusive, and accessible. We will stand in solidarity with one another and engage in political work to the extent that our capacity allows us. 
11. We will be mindful of our surroundings and of others around us. We will alert community leaders if we notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct, even if they seem inconsequential.

Article 2: Political Debate

1. We will foster a culture of principled debate rooted in respect and collective growth. During deliberation, we will engage ideas, not individuals, focusing critique on proposals and their implications, not the people presenting them
2. We will not accept demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing speech or behavior during disagreements.
3. We will prioritize honesty, respect, and principled political struggle as a tool to build solidarity not just to avoid conflict. We will be honest and transparent about political stances and allegiances.
4. We will endeavor to prioritize building consensus to the extent that it is possible and avoid underhanded schemes and maneuvers that undermine our comrades’ ability to properly debate their ideas.
5. We understand that dissent is not harassment, and believe it is vital to sharpening our ideas, and will use democratic processes (such as those outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order) to revisit decisions when needed.

Article 3: Harm

1. We will obtain explicit consent for all forms of personal contact and communication, including when sharing personal information, photographs, or information about event attendees. For photographs, ask if anyone wants to opt-out before taking any, or ask people if they need their face obscured after taking photos.
2. We will acknowledge and be held accountable for harm.
3. We will not engage in nor tolerate any harassment or discrimination relating, but not limited to, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical appearance, age, disability, race, color, national origin, or religion.
4. We will not tolerate nor make any unwelcome, offensive, or derogatory remarks, jokes or slurs.
5. We will not tolerate nor make any unwelcome sexual remarks or jokes, or any unwelcome sexual attention, including inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces.
6. We will obtain explicit consent before initiating any physical contact, including gestures often perceived as friendly or informal, such as hugging. We recognize that assumptions about comfort with physical contact can lead to harm, even when unintentional. 
7. We will not tolerate nor engage in intimidation, harassment, or stalking of anyone.
8. We will not tolerate nor engage in abusive verbal or physical conduct.
9. DSA SF prioritizes marginalized people’s safety over privileged people’s comfort. This means we will not act on complaints regarding the following:
   • “Reverse”-isms, including “reverse racism,” “reverse sexism,” and “cisphobia.”
   • Criticism for racist, sexist, cissexist, or otherwise oppressive behavior or assumptions.
   • Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as “leave me alone,” “go away,” or “I’m not discussing this with you.”
   • Communicating in a tone someone does not find agreeable.
10. Any of the actions described above constitute discrimination or harassment when such conduct creates a hostile environment, interferes with members’ well-being or capacity to organize within DSA SF, or is recurrent and/or on-going. Discrimination or harassment will be handled through the Grievance Procedure as outlined in Article XVI, Section 2 of the DSA SF Bylaws.

Article 4: Addressing Harm, Conflicts, and Grievances

1. We commit to being open-minded to our comrades’ concerns and criticisms; and will engage in open discussion with our comrades when issues arise.
2. We will not indulge in the public sharing of unsubstantiated rumors, or irresponsible public criticism that prioritizes our own opinions while not advancing political struggle.
3. We will not indulge in personal attacks, pick fights, seek revenge, nor engage our comrades with condescension, intimidation, or dismissiveness.
4. We will not overstate harm when experiencing the unfamiliar communication styles of comrades grounded in different lived experiences and diverse economic and cultural backgrounds.
5. We will be open to our comrades calling us in when we harm, meaning they will directly talk to us about our mistakes with compassion and patience. We will also strive to call in our comrades for unacceptable behavior, focusing on private, constructive conversations rather than publicly calling them out (online or otherwise) to expose their wrongdoing.
6. We will resolve conflicts through de-escalation and mediation, offering to help others act better in the future and facilitating their reconciliation with those aggrieved.
7. Where these methods are insufficient, grievances will be handled through the Grievance Procedure as outlined in Article XVI, Section 2 of the DSA SF Bylaws.
8. You can report Code of Conduct violations or complaints about member / attendee behavior to the chapter grievance officers by emailing grievance@dsasf.org, or by visiting dsasf.org/having-trouble. 

Article 5: Representing DSA SF

1. We will represent the chapter accurately and in alignment with our collective values.
2. We will not claim to speak for the chapter or represent DSA SF without prior approval from the chapter.
3. We will not report on closed meetings or share internal information without the explicit consent of those involved.
4. Candidates’ Public Affiliation with DSA
5. Members running for public office will not use their DSA SF membership to promote an electoral campaign without a formal chapter endorsement.
   • Members running for public office will not publicize DSA or DSA SF membership in campaign materials, social media, or public statements in a way that implies endorsement without a formal chapter endorsement.
   • Prior to a formal endorsement, members running for public office may share the fact of their membership in private settings, in limited public settings like DSA meetings, or when directly asked, so long as it is not used to advance a campaign.

Scope

Members of DSA SF and guests in our spaces must adhere to and uphold this Code of Conduct so that we can build a healthy, safe, and sustainable community. Any activity that creates a hostile environment, even if not described above, is a breach of the Code of Conduct.

This code of conduct applies to all DSA SF communication spaces, including our member discussion forum, Slack, email lists, social media accounts, and any future public or private discussion platforms. Anyone who violates this code of conduct may be subject to moderation, including sanctions or removal from these spaces, at the discretion of the Grievance Officers or Steering Committee.

Attribution and Thanks

This Code of Conduct is based on the DSA San Antonio Code of Conduct.