This page contains our Safe Space Policy as well as our COVID Health and Safety Protocols.

PZS’s Safe Space Policy

The Portland Zine Symposium (PZS) is a volunteer-run organization that is working to serve the entire zine community.

 

PZS is a safer space, which means that it is intended to be a welcoming, engaging, and supportive environment free of oppressive actions, behaviors, and language. Participants and attendees are asked to consider how their language and behavior impacts others in attendance.

 

The following guidelines will help PZS be a safer space:

Respect folks physical and emotional boundaries.

Respect folks opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing points of view.

Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone, taking their photo, or crossing other personal boundaries.

Be responsible for your actions, and aware that they may have an effect on others regardless of your original intent.

 

The following actions and forms of discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated:

Racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, religious intolerance, ageism, sizeism, and all other forms of discrimination.

Cultural appropriation.

Theft of money or property.

Physical, verbal, or mental abuse.

Sexual harassment, inappropriate/unwelcome comments and behaviors.

Disruptive or disrespectful behavior.

Causing a participant or attendee to feel distressed or unsafe.

 

The organizers of PZS will not censor content by previewing material before the event. If individuals find certain materials oppressive, PZS volunteers encourage and invite you to reach out to us regarding problematic materials or behaviors. We will respect the needs of any person raising concerns to us as we address problematic behaviors or language.

 

Should an issue arise with a participant or attendee before or during the fest, PZS organizers will be available to hear these concerns and attempt to mediate to find a solution that is in the best interests of the community and the event being a safer space. The PZS staff reserves the right to ask any attendees who are violating the safer spaces policy to change or address their unsafe behavior or language. If anyone violating the safer spaces policy is unable to change or address their unsafe behavior or language, they will be asked to not attend or to leave the event.

 

Thank you for supporting the Portland Zine Symposium in helping to keep PZS a safe event for our community.

PZS Covid Health and Safety Protocols

We recognize that covid is a serious threat and heavy on many of our minds, as in-person events are returning. We have the following measures planned, keeping in mind our volunteer capacity. This policy is subject to change and will be updated as needed.


Measures that will be in place:

  • Masking strongly reccomended with extra surgical masks available for free, and kn95s for sale for $1/each.

  • Tabling artists will get 2 free kn-95 each day tabling.

  • Wider aisles between exhibitors than pre-2020 tests.

  • Strongly urging anyone who is not feeling well to stay home.

  • Providing online components for zinesters uncomfortable attending in-person events.

  • Keeping doorways open for better airflow to the outdoors when possible.

While we recognize that there are many people unable to attend due to the health risk of indoor events, we hope to be able to provide online programming to help make up for some of that loss.


Please stay tuned by joining our mailing list and by watching for further announcements on Instagram.


* Proper masking, means masks must cover nose and mouth. Tablers will be provided KN-95s and we ask they were those or stronger masks. We understand artists may need to temporarily remove their masks to drink water at their table. We do ask that tabling artists and attendees needing to eat or snack for a prolonged period take a break in a more socially-distant space than the tabling area.