QYS Formal Notice to Members of the Community - Harassment of QYS Staff
The QYS Management Team is responding to reports of concerning behaviour. QYS has received complaints from QYS staff members alleging targeted harassment based on prohibited grounds of discrimination.
QYS must take appropriate steps to address allegations of workplace harassment and to maintain a safe, discrimination- and harassment-free work environment.
Queer Yukon Society has made this decision following consideration of concerns regarding compliance with its community code of conduct, anti-harassment policy, and its obligations as an employer under the Collective Agreement. We note for the membership that in situations where the Collective Agreement and QYS policies conflict, QYS must follow the terms of the Collective Agreement. As such QYS has determined we are required to act immediately as required under the Collective Agreement.
We have notified the three members of the community that effective immediately, these individuals are prohibited from:
attending any QYS events, whether they are virtual or in person;
coming into QYS offices or other spaces where events are occurring;
contacting any QYS board member, volunteer or staff member in an official capacity, and through unofficial channels, unless or until consent for direct communication with an individual is expressly given.
We anticipate that in response to these actions, the affected individuals may continue to:
use online social media platforms to publicly disparage and attack the reputation of QYS and its governance;
create anonymous community groups or new social media accounts without identifiers to attempt to communicate with QYS or spread misinformation about QYS and its board;
personally attack the credibility of the governance of QYS or its staff;
attempt to rally others to engage with QYS on their behalf;
make accusations of being targeted for their race, ancestry, intersectionality, or other marginalized demographic;
use the above demographics in an attempt to justify the unacceptable conduct that necessitated this action;
attempt to engage staff or board members in conversations that they will secretly record;
produce a transcript or select audio clips of an hour-long conversation that they secretly recorded between themselves and a QYS staff member that was recorded and potentially edited without the consent of all parties present or QYS;
use a radio platform to criticize and disparage anybody with whom they disagree with their perspective, opinions or actions, without regard for the safety of others;
take any other actions they feel are justified to harm the QYS community, create division and justify their conduct.
What began as lateral and/or intra-personal conflict has escalated into conduct with potential legal, and depending on the circumstances, criminal implications. QYS would not tolerate this type of conduct from a non-queer individuals, and identifying as part of the queer community does not make conduct of this nature any more acceptable.
QYS is choosing not to name or identify the individuals at this time. However if the clearly communicated unwanted behaviours do not cease, and/or the individuals continue to engage in harmful actions directed towards the organization, its volunteers and/or staff, QYS reserves the right to do so, and if necessary seek legal recourse.
It is time to bring unity and safety back to the Queer Yukon Community. Tomorrow we march to reclaim what was once a united gender and sexual diverse community! It is time to move forward again as a community, unite our voices, and stand up against all those who seek to divide us.
Sincerely,
Queer Yukon Society Board