CODE OF CONDUCT
& Anti-Harassment Policy
It’s important for a show like the Pittsburgh Gaming Expo (from here referred to as PGX) to have a set of guidelines in place for the safety and comfort of its attendees. Outlined below, you’ll find our code of conduct and anti-harassment policy.
It’s a lot of text, but you should familiarize yourself with it, as all attendees, VIPS, guests, volunteers, content creators, game runners, et al, are required to abide by it during the show.
help us keep pgx safe and welcoming to all!
some Basic Rules
Follow all show policies, venue rules, and staff directions.
No running, jumping, throwing, or other unsafe shenanigans.
Support each other in maintaining a safe environment.
Remember that COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT. Do not take pictures or touch other attendees without expressed permission from them.
Report concerns to Convention Staff or Security.
Be Courteous
Don’t harass anyone. Seriously, it’s that easy.
Respect everyone's physical and social boundaries and personal property.
No stealing, cheating, trolling, name-calling, use of hate speech or griefing.
Have Fun
Make a friend
Play some games
Explore
Remember to eat, sleep, and shower
Everyone should observe common-sense rules for behavior, personal interaction, courtesy, and respect. Harassing or offensive behavior will not be tolerated. Pittsburgh Gaming Expo (from here referred to as PGX or PRG) reserves the right to revoke, without refund, the membership, badge, or pass of any participant not in compliance with this policy.
PGX is committed to providing a safe environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Harassment or unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, visual, or in any other form, is strictly prohibited. PGX’s anti-harassment policy applies to all persons involved in the operation or attendance of the convention or PGX-sponsored event. PGX will not tolerate harassment of anyone by anyone, including participants, vendors, hosts, or PGX staff.
PGX defines harassment as any behavior that threatens a person or A group—
or produces an unsafe or otherwise non-inclusive environment
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, offensive verbal comments or non-verbal expressions related to gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religious beliefs. Harassment also includes, but is not limited to, sexual or discriminatory images in public and quasi-public spaces (online and offline), intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Harassment may take the form of comments, epithets, slurs, jokes, teasing, display or discussion of written or graphic material, repeatedly standing too close to or brushing up against a person, or giving gifts of an unwanted or sexual nature. Advocating or encouraging any of the above is also considered harassment.
Harassment at PGX does not include respectful disagreement or critique offered in good faith. PGX reserves the right to alter or broaden its definition of harassment at its sole discretion.
No one should tolerate any conduct of this type. Should you experience or witness harassment, you may choose to take any of the following actions:
If you feel safe and comfortable doing so, ask the offender to stop. Whether the offending behavior is intentional or unintentional, expressing your discomfort to the offender directly often puts a stop to that conduct.
Leave the area. While this may be unfair to you, it is sometimes best for your safety and well-being if you to choose to leave the area, especially if you feel uncomfortable around the offender or their conduct. After separating yourself from the conduct, you may still choose to take additional actions.
If you are comfortable doing so, ask PGX Security or Staff Member for help. PGX staff and security will be clearly designated, and will help you solve your problem.
Report the incident formally to PGX staff, on-site or online. You may go to the Show Office or any Event HQ to file an incident report in person. This can also be done anytime during or after the show by emailing info@pghretrogaming.com
Contact the police or other appropriate authorities. Your health and safety are our most important concern. If you require immediate assistance from law enforcement, medical services, or other governmental entities, please do not hesitate to contact such services directly.
Based on any informal or formal complaint or report of harassment, PGX may take the following steps. Note that this list is not exhaustive, and other appropriate action may be taken as necessary.
Read and investigate all reports. PGX documents and reviews all reports. Reporting parties may be contacted for further clarifying information, unless they have submitted a report anonymously or asked to not be contacted further. Note that PGX will not share the results of these reports with anyone, including the person who filed the report, unless required by law.
Intercede if and when appropriate. PGX staff may take immediate action to address harassment concerns, including but not limited to, escorting participants to a location in which they feel safe, refunding tickets, cancelling events, moving event locations, requesting participants leave a specific area, removing offenders from the event, or banning offenders from the show. Bans and removals may be on a temporary basis, for the duration of the show, or permanent.
Contact police and medical authorities when appropriate. If, upon review, PGX finds that relevant local government officials should be notified, PGX may contact such entities and/or share confidential information as required by law.
Sanction participants based on our investigations. PGX participants found to have violated the Code of Conduct may be subject to sanctions, including but not limited to:
Verbal or written warning
Requiring the participant to avoid any interaction with, and physical proximity to the party or parties involved
Temporary suspension from any PGX/PRG sponsored events or online services
Permanent ban from any PGX/PRG sponsored events or online services
Immediate expulsion from the convention without refund
Reporting of the incident to the appropriate authorities
PGX’s Code of Conduct applies in all physical and online spaces within PGX's control. This includes, but is not limited to, event venues, Pop-Up PGX/PRG locations, PGX/PRG social media pages, streamed programming, and PGX/PRG Discords. Occasionally PGX is made aware of behavior by participants (or potential participants) that has occurred outside of PGX — either online or offline — and is a gross violation of our Code of Conduct. These actions need not occur in PGX/PRG-affiliated spaces to be considered for sanctions by PGX. These include, but are not limited to:
- Individuals who have not attended PGX but have a history of abusive behavior and/or known incidents that took place outside PGX that may cause risks to a participant’s safety, or which may contribute to a hostile or non-inclusive environment at the convention
- PGX participants who have been reported for outside incidents, including, but not limited to, conduct at other conventions, HARASSMENT, INAPPROPRIATE, threatening or abusive behavior online, or CONDUCT THAT COULD RESULT IN ANY ATTENDEES’ discomfort.
We understand that, at times, participants will have disagreements or interpersonal conflicts that do not necessarily escalate to the point of harassment or abuse. PGX will not arbitrate such disagreements—we ask that you please leave these conflicts at home.
PGX continuously strives to create a safe and welcoming space. Should you have any suggestions for how we can improve, please email us at info@pghretrogaming.com
WE MUST STATE EMPHATICALLY THAT ANY INSTANCE OF VIOLATION OF THESE RULES CAN RESULT IN EJECTION FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER WITHOUT REFUND, AND THIS CODE OF CONDUCT APPLIES TO ALL Invited GUESTS, VIPS, Volunteers, ATTENDEES, GMs/DMs, GAME RUNNERS, Cosplayers, PARTICIPANTS AND PGX STAFF
Our code of conduct is adapted from Gen Con’s Code of Conduct, as per their website, under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.