Community Guidelines 💓

The Collective is built on kindness, respect, and intentionality. These guidelines help us ensure everyone can feel safe, welcomed, and supported:

Be kind. Treat every Neighbor with respect. Lead with empathy and understanding.
Show up authentically. Share your thoughts, experiences, and milestones without fear of judgment.
No hate or harassment. Racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, bullying, or any abusive behavior will not be tolerated. One strike = warning, two strikes = removal from The Collective, indefinitely.
No spam or promotion. This space is for community, learning, and connection, with limited self-promotion or sales.
Support and uplift. Celebrate others’ wins, provide constructive feedback, and contribute to a positive environment.
Participate at your own pace. Engage with posts, clubs, or chats as you feel comfortable, and remember there is no pressure to “do it all.”

By following these principles, you help The Collective remain a supportive, intentional, and thriving space for everyone.

Community Terms & Shared Responsibility

1. The Purpose of This Space

The Collective exists to create connection, learning, and community among LGBTQ+ people and allies. While we are intentional about creating a kind, respectful environment, this space is not a dating service, professional service, or background-checked network.

Participation is voluntary, and each Neighbor is responsible for their own interactions, boundaries, and decisions.

2. Personal Responsibility & Online Safety

By joining The Collective, you acknowledge that:

You are responsible for protecting your personal information
You should never feel obligated to share contact details, financial information, or personal data
You engage with other Neighbors at your own discretion and comfort level

While we actively moderate the community, The Collective is not responsible for the actions, behavior, or communications of individual members, whether online or offline.

3. Hate, Harassment, & Harm

Hate speech, harassment, discrimination, threats, or abusive behavior of any kind are not tolerated.

If you experience or witness harmful behavior:

Report it immediately through the platform
We commit to reviewing all reports seriously and promptly

However, The Collective cannot guarantee the behavior or intentions of every individual, and participation does not eliminate the risks inherent in online or in-person interaction.

4. In-Person Meetups & Off-Platform Interactions

Any connections, meetups, or communications that occur outside of The Collective platform are solely the responsibility of the individuals involved.

The Collective does not:

Organize or supervise private meetups
Verify identities
Conduct background checks

We encourage Neighbors to prioritize safety, meet in public spaces, trust their instincts, and set clear boundaries.

5. Moderation, Strikes, & Removal

To protect the community:

The Collective enforces a one-strike policy for violations of community guidelines
A second violation will result in removal and permanent banning
Any behavior that raises concern about malicious, deceptive, or unsafe intentions may result in immediate removal without warning

These decisions are made to protect the collective well-being of the community and are final.

6. No Liability Disclaimer

By participating in The Collective, you agree that:

The Collective, its creator, and moderators are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from interactions with other members
This includes (but is not limited to) emotional distress, harassment, scams, or offline interactions

This space is a platform for connection, not a guarantee of outcomes.

7. Our Commitment

While we cannot control every interaction, we do commit to:

Clear community guidelines
Active moderation
Swift action when safety concerns arise
Removing individuals who violate the spirit or rules of the space

Our goal is to create a supportive environment while being honest about the shared responsibility required to keep it safe.

8. Media, Content Use & Privacy

By participating in The Collective, you acknowledge that portions of the community experience may be shared publicly for promotional, educational, or storytelling purposes. This may include screenshots from virtual hangouts, community discussions, events, badges, leaderboard highlights, testimonials, or other visible activity within the platform.

We will never intentionally share sensitive personal information. However, usernames, profile photos, first names, or visible participation may appear in shared content.

If you prefer not to appear in any promotional materials:

You may use a nickname and/or keep your camera off during live sessions
You may notify the Host or Neighborhood Leaders at any time to opt out
You may request removal of content featuring you, and we will review and address requests promptly

By participating in community events and discussions, you understand there is a possibility your likeness or participation may be featured unless you opt out.

We respect privacy and will always prioritize safety and discretion when sharing content.

9. Agreement

By joining The Collective, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms and to participate with care, respect, and accountability.