Knox Pop Con Anti-Harassment Policy

Cosplay Is Not Consent

A person's costume, no matter how revealing or elaborate, is never an invitation for unwanted attention, comments, or contact. This applies equally to all attendees — whether or not they are in cosplay. Every person at Knox Pop Con deserves to feel safe, respected, and free to enjoy the event without harassment.

What Is Harassment?

Harassment is any unwanted behavior that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment. Harassment is defined by the person experiencing it, not by the intent of the person accused. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Offensive or derogatory comments related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or physical appearance
• Unwelcome sexual attention, flirting, catcalling, or sexual advances
• Unwanted physical contact of any kind — including touching someone's costume, props, hair, or body
• Non-consensual photography or recording — always ask before taking someone's photo
• Stalking, following, or deliberately blocking someone's path
• Intimidation, bullying, or deliberate targeting of individuals
• Sustained disruption of panels, performances, or other convention activities
• Continued communication or interaction after being asked to stop
• Bathroom policing or challenging someone's right to use facilities matching their gender identity
• Display of sexual or violent imagery in public convention spaces without authorization
• Threats of violence or encouraging others to engage in any of the above

Photography & Recording Policy

Photography and recording are welcome at Knox Pop Con, but consent is required.

• Always ask before photographing or recording someone, even if they are in cosplay
• Respect a "no" immediately and without argument
• Do not photograph or record someone in a way that is demeaning, sexualized, or intended to harass
• Do not take upskirt photos, downblouse shots, or any other invasive photography
• If someone asks you to delete a photo or video of them, comply immediately

Costume & Content Guidelines

Knox Pop Con is a family-friendly event. All costumes must meet these minimum requirements:

• Genitalia, buttocks, and nipples must be covered at all times (pasties and body paint alone are not sufficient coverage)
• Flashing or indecent exposure is considered harassment and will be treated as such
• Prop weapons must comply with venue weapons policies — check with convention staff if unsure
• Vendors selling explicit materials must conceal items from general view and verify age before displaying them

How to Report Harassment

If you experience or witness harassment, you have several ways to report it. We encourage you to report as soon as possible so our team can respond quickly.

You do not need to confront the person harassing you. You do not need to have a "complete" story. You can report anonymously. We will take your report seriously regardless.

What Happens When You Report

1. We listen. A trained staff member will hear your account privately and without judgment.
2. We assess. Our safety team will evaluate the situation and determine appropriate action.
3. We act. Depending on the severity, responses may include a warning, mediation, removal, or law enforcement involvement.
4. We follow up. If you choose to share your contact information, we will follow up with you after the incident is resolved.

No retaliation of any kind will be tolerated against anyone who makes a good-faith report of harassment.

Consequences

Knox Pop Con takes all harassment reports seriously. Consequences for violating this policy may include:

• Verbal warning — for minor first-time incidents
• Badge confiscation and ejection — without refund, for serious or repeated violations
• Permanent ban — from all future Knox Pop Con events
• Law enforcement referral — for incidents involving physical assault, threats of violence, or criminal behavior

These consequences apply to everyone equally — attendees, vendors, volunteers, performers, guests, staff, and security. No one is above this policy.

Staff & Volunteer Accountability

Knox Pop Con staff and volunteers are held to the same standard as all participants — and to a higher standard of conduct as representatives of our organization. If a staff member or volunteer engages in harassment:

• Report it to any other staff member, or contact us directly via phone, text, or email
• You will not be required to report to the person who harassed you
• Staff-on-attendee harassment will be treated with maximum seriousness

Accessibility & Inclusion

We recognize that some attendees may face additional barriers to reporting harassment, including attendees with disabilities, attendees who are minors, non-English speakers, and others. Our reporting channels are designed to be accessible:

• Phone, text, email, and in-person options so you can choose what feels safest
• Anonymous reporting is accepted
• Minors may report with or without a parent or guardian present
• We will make reasonable accommodations to ensure all reports can be heard

Our Commitment

Knox Pop Con is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating Asian pop culture and building an inclusive community in East Tennessee. Safety is not secondary to fun — it is the foundation that makes our events possible. We review and update this policy annually, and we train all staff and volunteers on its contents before every event.

If you have questions, suggestions, or feedback about this policy, please contact us at safety@knoxpopcon.org.

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