Purpose
The purpose of this code of ethics is to state our values as an organization and to provide our advocates and other associates with guidelines for how they should act while participating in The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP) activities or while representing TAAAP.
Safety and Respect
Core Principle
As advocates of TAAAP, we are responsible for striving at all times to create and sustain an environment where all people—advocates and others alike—feel that they are safe and that their opinions and emotions are respected by those around them.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Core Principle
TAAAP recognizes that people come from many different backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Our advocates should always strive to recognize those who are marginalized by society, to include them in our organization and resources, and to provide them with equitable treatment.
TAAAP also believes in the right of the individual to choose how and why they identify as ace or aro, and we stand wholeheartedly against identity prescriptivism. Our advocates should always strive to make our work representative of this diversity, to include people of a variety of different ace and aro identities in our organization, and to provide equitable treatment to all of those different ways of being ace or aro.
Consent, Collaboration, and Trust
Core Principle
As advocates of TAAAP, the decisions we make will reflect on the organization. It is crucial that we collaborate with each other in these decisions so that we can trust one another and so that the communities we serve trust TAAAP.
In order to foster this sense of collaboration and trust, we commit to only acting where we have the freely given, ongoing, informed, and affirmative consent of the involved advocates affected by our actions, noting that occasionally ethical concerns and our commitment to prioritize the safety of others may warrant an action that may supersede another individual’s desire. We also commit to only working with organizations and individuals who share our values.
Conduct
Core Principle
While representing TAAAP or participating in its activities, we will act in a way that reflects positively on the organization itself and that supports the organization in carrying out its mission.
Integrity and Stewardship
Core Principle
As advocates of TAAAP, we are responsible to our fellow advocates, those who donate money, time, expertise, or other resources to our cause, and the ace and aro communities we represent. With this in mind, we will care for TAAAP’s resources with integrity, transparency, remain aware of the ace and aro communities’ priorities, and avoid engaging in conflicts of interest (such as using TAAAP’s resources to promote a mission contrary to our own).