Our Awareness Structures
Trigger Warning: The following discusses the prevention of discriminatory assaults. We do not describe specific incidents. Nevertheless, we want to use this note to alert people who might be triggered by potential traumatic memories while reading.
Why do we implement awareness structures?
We all want to enjoy the lunatic festival – but for some of us, this is not possible, or only possible to a limited extent. That is they experience assault, (sexualized) violence or discrimination. This can happen intentionally or unintentionally and is due to social inequalities and structures.
This includes various forms of racism, sexism, Ableism, anti-Semitism Ageism, Lookism, classism and others.
To counteract this, we as individuals want to feel responsible and address power structures and privileges. Additionally, there will be awareness structures at the lunatic, which aim to make the festival a safer space for everyone.
Measures
There will be a trained mobile awareness team on the site, as well as a place of retreat and rest (near entrance), which will be clearly signposted. If you feel uncomfortable, have observed something, need rest or have experienced a difficult situation, the awareness team is available and wants to help you at all time. You will recognize them by their pink shirts with a white A on it. In addition, there will be a BIPoC safer space, which offers both a place of retreat and exchange.
Further contact points are all bars, the security staff as well as all people with a crew shirt. You can reach the awareness team by phone at 0170 5422138.
Our rules
- We are there for each other and look out for each other.
- No one will be stared at, judged or harassed based on appearance or behavior.
- Respect individual boundaries.
- Be aware of any privileges in your behavior and language.
- Don’t infer gender from the outside – you can use gender-neutral language and ask for pronouns in a sensitive and respectful manner.
- Don’t film/photograph without consent.
- If you feel uncomfortable appearing in photos/videos, there are red sticky dots you can pick up during admissions and at the awareness booth.
- Catcalling will not be tolerated.
- We do not wear symbols of cultural appropriation (e.g. bindis, feather jewelry).
- Keep your shirt on.
- No flags or right-wing symbols/writings.
- We are polite and respectful to each other and try not to take up too much space.
- Racism, sexism, ableism, queerphobia, and other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated and will result in exclusion from the event.
Our understanding of awareness work
- We want the lunatic festival to have a non-discriminatory and appreciative atmosphere – we as visitors, service providers, artists and crew are responsible for this together.
By awareness we mean a sensitive approach to individual boundaries and needs.
- Any kind of discrimination and assault, verbal or physical, will not be tolerated!
- Assault is always defined in a self-determined manner by the affected person(s)!
Whoever is assaulted has to bear the consequences according to the person(s) concerned!
3 pillars of awareness work
Our understanding of awareness is based on the 3 principles formulated by safethedance:
- Consensus and consent: Individual boundaries are respected: No always means no (Addition: A no can have different forms of expression, which do not have to be verbal)! And even more important: Only yes means yes!
- Power of definition: The beginning of an assault is always determined by the person affected. They have the right to decide how to proceed after the incident.
- Partisanship & Solidarity: The perception of the affected person is not questioned – solidarity comes first.
We see awareness work as an ongoing learning process and are committed to continuing to critically engage with it on an ongoing basis. So if there is something you are missing or something bothers you, we are always grateful for your feedback to awareness@lunatic-festival.de. We look forward to an exchange with you.