GUTS is a leisure center for girls and trans people in Angered (Gothenburg). They call their core values “member’s speech”. When a new visitor comes, they sit with a leader who goes through the speech individually with them. 

Even if you only meet active members via the internet, it is still possible to go through this together virtually. You can clearly communicate the core values via Facebook or other social media. NOTE! This is only an excerpt of the speech, it is longer in its entirety.

From GUTS member speech (core values)

“GUTS is a free zone.

 GUTS is a free zone for everyone which means that everyone involved agrees to this: 

If you have negative or hurtful views about how someone is, looks, or lives, you cannot say it at GUYS. Do not whisper, do not yell, and do not show it with your body language. At GUTS, you will not call each other offensive things

(…)

Sexual Harassment is not accepted. It does not matter if it is a joke or not

(…)

Sometimes it can be difficult to remember or follow these rules because you are so used to speaking or thinking in a specific way. If you feel like it is difficult to be nice, we will help you. We know that you also want GUTS to be a fantastic place for yourself and everyone else.”

Reflections to take with you:

• Many core values would only include the first sentence “GUTS is a free zone” and not explain what that means. This allows more for too much room for different interpretations and a larger risk of not mattering in reality.
• Written for the target group, in this case young people who identify as girls and/or trans people.
• Even if the target group of your organization is not just girls and/or trans people, and you do not know if you have people with trans experiences in your organization today, it is still important to work preventatively so that you create spaces and possibilities for more people to feel welcome and safe with you.
• Since everyone gets to review the member’s speech before they start, it is well-known in the organization.
• The last sentence: assume that the visitors all mean well and want to have a good time. Creates community through the core values and a feeling that, “we are all doing this together!” instead of rules that are forced onto someone.