LGBTQIndiA+ Discord Server Rules

**Note**: Please find the up to date version of the rules at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yssn\_jErMZd0BHuQVm-a9zRKD9RMb0lA3iBBQxPEhmc/ - this page is meant to serve as a back up in case the link is not accessible for any reason

**Discord Invite**: https://discord.gg/5zKQnWxhRf

Welcome to **LGBTQIndiA+**, a community Discord server for all Indian queer folks, with a focus on being a supportive space first and foremost! This is NOT a dating server.

The following are a few general rules that help keep this space welcoming and supportive to all LGBTQIA+ Indians, no matter where they are in their journeys, and we try to enforce them earnestly and more in their spirit than in the words below,

But the most important rule of all is to uphold empathy and compassion towards fellow queer people who much like yourself likely have a lot to deal with in real life

Note: These rules apply to interactions both in the Discord, associated gaming, DMs, and at in-person events.

# Rule#1: Introduction

All members need to introduce themselves. Copy the template below rules or your intro will be discarded. We are a growing community, and there is strength in numbers. Some of us are already discreet in the real world; this server allows for you to be free.

We are restricting this space to the **Indian LGBTQIA+ community only**. If you're not LGBTQIA+ or are only curious about the community, this place isn't the one for you.

Also please be patient once you post your intro, as we allow time for members and mods to call out any potential trolls and alike, and we let in a limited number of people each day.

You will typically be let in in a day or two after posting your intro. Please keep an eye out for a mention from the server that you'll receive once verified.

Existing members are encouraged to call out any potential trolls or suspicious intros by reaching out to the mod volunteers via the DM Mod Volunteers system with supporting evidence

# Rule#2: Be Respectful.

Bullying, harassment, trolling, “teasing”, any form of queer-phobia (including gatekeeping, questioning other people’s labels, slurs, etc), denigrating a group or a fellow member, and hate speech will not be tolerated.

Bigading or targeting or forming exclusionary groups against any individual or set of people here is not allowed as well.

Please also bear in mind our diverse community includes hetrosexual-oriented queer people including straight trans\* folks, bi and pan folks in “het-passing” relationships and het-angled aro-aces, among others.

Please remember this is a support space first and foremost, and empathy & compassion for fellow queers is at the core of it all. This isn’t meant to be a debate space, please de-escalate and dis-engage where possible.

We encourage any member who feels they are being mistreated to immediately message the mod team.

Please use common sense and be sensible. Lousy behavior includes regularly stirring up trouble, saying things  “to get a rise” out of others or to simply inflame them, or a pattern of micro-aggressive behavior. This includes passive-aggressive behavior and flouting the rules.

Being disrespectful to the volunteer mods, especially when they are trying to do their job will be considered as an infraction

# Rule#3: Respect privacy.

If you wish to DM (direct message) any user, please request @user in any of the general channels, after checking their DM roles.

If you don't ever want to be contacted by people who are not your friends, you can change your settings in the Privacy and Safety tab of the Discord settings.

## Rules for sharing private content are:

1. The users here may not share: -

* Any information that has been entrusted to them in a private individual/group conversation by another user, without the express consent of that user.
* Any information that contains any personal details and/or identifiers, such as the face, real name, contact information, place of work/residence of any person that is not publicly available on another open platform. For instance, sharing a news article containing such information is allowed; Sharing a private message where the information is not properly masked is NOT allowed

1. While sharing any such content, ensure that these sensitive information have been properly masked.

DO NOT SHARE the content, if it seems to contain information that the original sharer would not like to be shared with others

## Rules for sharing content from server to any outside platform

1. Information shared on the server which is available only to the users of the server shall not be shared anywhere else without properly masking all the identifiers such as, but not limited to, the profile pictures, the usernames and any other information that can identify the server or its participants to be the origin of the content.
2. Many of the users of this server wish to remain discreet in real life. The information that is shared here is under the impression that this is a safe community to open up to. All other users are advised to exercise caution while sharing the information that is shared with them, and avoid sharing content from the server when possible.

# Rule#4: No spamming.

Don't spam channels. Refrain from using role/location based tags unless you absolutely find it is necessary.

Don't tag the same person repeatedly within a small time frame or if they're not replying, or if they say they don’t want to be tagged.

Spamming bot commands or causing bots to behave in disruptive ways is also not allowed.

Please help keep things readable and conversations followable.

# Rule#5: Grievance or concerns or abuse

Members are very strongly encouraged to **call out** any behavior going against the spirit of our rules or community **rather than suffer in silence** and thereby allowing any abuse to grow over time and quite possibly hurt other vulnerable people here as well.

Please avoid raising issues in regular channels, instead, please send a DM to the DM Mod Volunteers system and the mod team will do their best to resolve any issues in a timely fashion.

Debates or petty squabbles between members only serve to detract from keeping this a safe and welcoming space for all, kindly get in touch with the mod team, rather than argue with people or raise any issues on regular channels.

# Rule#6: Channel relevance

Post messages relevant to the channel. Topics should stay within the purpose of the channel.

If a conversation starts to oversaturate a channel which belongs in another channel, please bring it to the relevant channel, and help others in doing so.

Let’s help keep the server clean and usable for all

# Rule#7: Selfies and Photo Verification

We have a photo verification requirement for access to certain channels like Selfies and NSFW (as outlined below).

Once you have the 🟢 role, you can DM the DM Mod Volunteers system to get photo verified.

You have to identify yourself in the photo-verification-booth by providing a picture of yourself holding a handwritten sign stating your full discord username (including the number Eg. user#2345).

* Overlay text is not allowed
* We would like to see a picture where we can see your face (without shades)
* You’re requested to keep the photograph SFW
* Do not worry if it comes out poorly, this is only for a quick verification and will be deleted immediately once that is done

The reason for photo-verifying users is to make sure we have folks who interact with us in those channels and not just lurk or ogle. This is also to provide a sense of safety and security for our existing members who post pictures of themselves in these channels.

# Rule#8: NSFW

Don’t post NSFW media on SFW/regular channels and do not use NSFW nick/usernames, or profile pictures.

NSFW includes but is not limited to sexually explicit content, illegal substances, etc. We also consider innuendos to be NSFW and treat them as such.

As a general rule, if you wouldn’t want your boss to see it, it’s NSFW. We have underage users and by law, we cannot show or talk about sexually inappropriate content.

The same applies to VCs, if you wish to discuss NSFW content please move to the NSFW VC channel.

## Access to NSFW channels

1. These channels are 18+ only, as well, so please exercise discretion in asking for the role.
2. Posting child porn, yours or otherwise, or being a child with access to these channels will result in a ban. This also means no pictures of anyone who looks like a child in an inappropriate context. If you have a doubt, don't post it.
3. You will need to have been on the server for at least one month, earn the ⭐ role before you're given access. You will additionally need the Photo Verified role for access to some NSFW channels and the specific lewd (folks, gals & bois) roles. If you want to get access to these channels, please DM the Talk to mods system. Access will be granted based on the mod team's discretion.

# Rule#9: Marketing

Advertisements and solicitation of any sort are not allowed.

It includes trying to recruit members to other Discord servers or groups.

However, if you have an event coming up and would like to invite our members, we’ll be happy to help you promote. Just message the DM Mod Volunteers system, and we’ll work with you on doing so.

# Rule#10: Sensitive Topics

Use trigger/content warning tags for sensitive/triggering topics in text channels.

This includes any topic that might cause the viewers to have a negative emotional response such as something that may remind them of a trauma faced by them or make them anxious etc.

Use your judgment on whether a topic may be sensitive to the folks of the server or not.

If you're confused about whether or not your post can be triggering, exercise caution or you can reach out to one of the mods.

The list includes but is not limited to:

1. Suicide
2. Drug abuse
3. Rape/Assault
4. Self harm
5. Domestic abuse
6. Physical abuse
7. Bodyweight/body image
8. People dying
9. Queerphobia
10. Slurs

How to use trigger/content warning tags for triggering topics?-

* Use Mark as a spoiler for images

It is discouraged to discuss sensitive/triggering topics in public VC channels.

If the conversation in a public VC is moving towards a triggering/sensitive topic, please move to private/limited VCs like the chat rooms or to a VC specific for discussing such a topic. Please keep an eye out for others joining the chat and inform them of the topic before continuing.

You are encouraged to post on the vc-topic-hub that the conversation you are having is sensitive or private as outlined on the channel.

Please note that if the topic is NSFW, you have to move to NSFW VC or NSFW text channels.

# Rule#11: No Doxxing behavior

Do not attempt to gather any personally-identifying information of a member without their consent on the server or sever linked spaces, even on VC.

Do not share profiles, names or any other personally-identifying information of another member within or outside the server, without their explicit consent.

# Rule#12: Participation

We want our members to feel free and safe while interacting here and so discourage lurking with a complete lack of posting or participation in any of the various activities on the server.

Upon prolonged inactivity, your verification may be temporarily revoked. You may also do this on request when you think you will be unable to participate here for a prolonged period or you simply wish to take an extended break.

You can ask for it to be granted again once you find yourself able to participate again by sending a DM to the DM Mod Volunteers system or making a post on the inactive channel.

We understand life can keep you busy and unable to participate from time to time and there’s no real judgement for falling inactive, and you may also take help from your server buddy or the mod team to find spaces to participate in and people to engage with, but at the same time if you’re only here to lurk, this place is probably not the one for you.

# Note on Warnings

We have different bots on the server which the mod volunteers may use to give you an official warning in rare and unavoidable cases, where a member makes a serious and significant violation of the spirit of the rules above.

You may be warned via the TypicalBot for major and serious infractions and Carl-Bot (Carly) for less severe but still significant rule violations.

We typically treat 6 recent Carl bot violations as being equivalent to 1 TypicalBot violation, and 3 recent TypicalBot violations as grounds for a ban, after careful consideration.

The main reason for warnings is to help members avoid making future and repeat violations, especially of the same kind and to keep this a safe and welcoming space for all members.

The volunteer mod team’s decision in this matter is final and binding and cannot be appealed. You should not be posting grievances about them on general channels, instead you may contact the volunteer mod team via the Talk to Mod team bot to find out more about why the warning was given and what you can do to avoid future warnings, and work together with them to ensure the same.

# Disclaimer

While we try to keep this a safe hub for Indian queer people, we cannot guarantee safety by the very nature of Discord and the anonymous nature of online spaces. You alone are solely responsible for your personal information and safety.

We encourage you to exercise caution around sharing any personally identifiable information with others, no matter how friendly they seem.

Please use your judgement and consult actual professionals before considering any advice or suggestions you may receive on the server or elsewhere on the internet.

This space is made available to you “as is” and we make no other warranties, express or implied, and hereby disclaim all implied warranties, including any warranty of merchantability and warranty of fitness for a particular purpose

**Note**: This is a backup copy of the rules, please refer the official one linked on the server if available. We may update these rules from time to time and we usually announce the same on the server when making any major changes here