Code of Conduct

Expected Behavior

The San Benito County Democratic Central Committee (SBCDCC) is committed to providing a welcoming, respectful, safe, supportive, and harassment-free environment for members, Democratic candidates, and others associated with SBCDCC. Leaders, members, and others acting on behalf of SBCDCC are expected to conduct themselves with civility and respect and to protect the personal rights and dignity of everyone involved. All individuals should feel welcome and safe within SBCDCC, regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, body size, domestic-violence-victim status, or any other legally protected classification. These standards apply at SBCDCC meetings and events and in SBCDCC-related calls, text messages, emails, and social-media communications.

Unacceptable Harassment

SBCDCC will not tolerate disrespectful, threatening, abusive, or unprofessional conduct based on a protected category or directed toward an SBCDCC member, Democratic candidate, or other person associated with SBCDCC. Prohibited harassment may be:

• Verbal: intimidation, threats, slurs, jokes, insults, epithets, gestures, or teasing.
• Visual: the physical or digital posting or distribution of offensive memes, posters, symbols, cartoons, drawings, computer displays, emails, or similar material.
• Physical: threatening another person, blocking someone’s way, touching private parts, or making physical contact in an unwelcome manner.

SBCDCC also prohibits harassment based on sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, gender, gender identity, or gender expression. Prohibited sexual harassment may include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, conversations regarding sexual activities, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexually harassing conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire and may include situations that began as reciprocal relationships but later ceased to be reciprocal.

Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment

SBCDCC prohibits making submission to sexual conduct a term or condition of membership, committee appointment, leadership, or any other role within SBCDCC. It also prohibits using an individual’s submission to or rejection of sexual conduct as the basis for decisions affecting that person.

Hostile Environment

SBCDCC prohibits conduct that creates an intimidating or offensive environment, including but not limited to:

• Unwelcome sexual advances, flirtation, or teasing.
• Sexually suggestive or obscene letters, invitations, notes, emails, voicemails, or gifts.
• Sex-, gender-, or sexual-orientation-related comments, slurs, jokes, remarks, or epithets.
• Leering, obscene or vulgar gestures, or sexual gestures.
• Displaying or distributing sexually suggestive or derogatory objects, pictures, cartoons, posters, or similar items.
• Impeding or blocking movement.
• Unwelcome touching or assault.
• Abusive yelling or screaming, verbal threats, or disrespectful language directed at another person.
• Reprisals or threats following a negative response to sexual advances.
• Conduct or comments consistently targeted at one gender, even when the content is not sexual.

These examples are illustrative, not exhaustive. Conduct that interferes with an individual’s participation in SBCDCC or creates an offensive environment may violate this Code of Conduct even when the person responsible did not intend to cause harm.

Retaliation Prohibited

Members are encouraged to report harassment or discrimination affecting themselves or others as soon as possible. Retaliation for making a report or participating in an investigation is prohibited. Retaliation may include, but is not limited to:

• Exclusion from meetings or committees.
• Ostracism.
• Bad-mouthing.
• Conduct that limits a person’s engagement with SBCDCC.
• Conduct reasonably likely to deter someone from reporting harassment or participating in an investigation.