Your use of this Web site,
or "network," which is operated and administered by theGayEditor and The Gay Publishing Company, constitutes your acceptance of this Community Content Policy, as well as the terms and conditions of our Privacy Statement and our Terms of Use Agreement. You are responsible for reviewing and becoming familiar with the terms on all three of these pages and for acting in accordance with the guidelines and rules in them.
Last Revised: July 31, 2009
Our Communities
The Gay Publishing Company (hereafter known as the "Company" or "we" or "our") is committed to nurturing a respectful and fun, and protective, environment where gay writing can be celebrated and honored. To that end, we recognize two official communities among our users.
The first of these communities is the community of writers and authors (hereafter known as "authors"), artists of the written word who submit creations for editorial review, revision, and publication—on this Web site and throughout our online network, in our virtual publications, and in our print publications. Our authors are held accountable by regulations and guidelines noted elsewhere in our network and by terms detailed in contracts that are individually negotiated and signed. For the most part, this Community Content Policy (hereafter known as the "policy") does not apply to them.
Instead, it applies primarily to the second of our recognized communities: our readers—"members," who receive limited access to the network and materials at no charge, and paying subscribers. As the Company's network develops and a variety of online capabilities opens up, members will be able, and encouraged, to communicate among each other. It is largely for the protection of this community that this policy exists.
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Action against Violators
Because we encourage an environment of free exchanges of discussion, comment, words of empathy and empowerment, and suggestions for improvement or alteration, a certain amount of abuse is feared, though expected.
If and when necessary, appropriate action will be taken against reported violators in order that this environment can be preserved for all. Those actions may be spawned by expressions of bigotry and hatred as well as any act of harassment or abuse. Disrespectful, intolerant, or otherwise ignorant attitudes will not be tolerated regardless of the violator's subscription level or level of involvement in The Gay Publishing Company. Such activity will lead to immediate and permanent suspension of subscription privileges and/or termination of your account without any right of refund.
Violators should be reported to the Company.
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A Note on "Guarded" Content
One of the primary goals of the Company is to supply a stream of reading material to the largest number of audiences possible. One of these desired audiences consists of readers of younger ages who are searching for positive information and lifestyle illustrations in their search for role models and examples of gay living. To that end, the Company will do its best to protect readers in this audience by cautioning them about guarded material that might not be suitable.
As a rule, the Company accepts submissions in which authors focus on providing well-written stories with solid plots, well-conceived and believable settings, and fully developed, engaging characters (additional information on what we look for and discourage is available in our writers' guidelines). However, we do not actively censor our submissions, and some content that is an integral ingredient to those plots, settings, and characters might still be considered objectionable to some readers and may not be totally suitable for the more youthful audience. Such "pieces" will be labeled as "guarded." Content that may be labeled as guarded includes but is not limited to
- explicit descriptions
- vulgar language
- unjustified expressions of bigotry and outright hatred
- depictions or descriptions of extreme violence
- the topics of bestiality, incest, masochism, sadism
- drug abuse
- any other content the Company deems to be objectionable
Where the advisory board of the Company has deemed such action necessary, you will be asked to certify that you are eighteen years of age or older. If you are not yet eighteen years old, we ask you to respect this limitation and either skip that particular piece or proceed elsewhere.
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Objectionable Attitudes
We encourage readers to support and communicate with our authors; but, when communicating, we expect you to interact with each other respectfully, intelligently, and in accordance with the law. Below are a few guidelines to keep in mind as you venture into personal contact.
- Be considerate of others' time and energy and refrain from repeating messages or extending a single monologue, even with different ideas. Let others into the conversation!
- If a disagreement results for some reason, always opt to cease and report rather than escalate your differences into a "flame" war or physical attack.
- Be cautious and conservative in the distribution of personal information—names and physical descriptions, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and even descriptions of schools, workplaces, and landmarks near your physical address.
- If an offline interaction, or meeting, is arranged, we cannot accept responsibility for any consequences.
Remember, we do not conduct background checks or otherwise pre-screen authors or subscribers for criminal backgrounds, mental illness, or other societal or behavioral issues.
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Member Registration
In order to use designated parts of the network, you may be required to register and establish an online account. Where and when necessary, you will be subject to the following specific terms:
- You represent that you are of legal age* under the laws of your applicable jurisdiction and legally able to form a binding contract.
- You represent that you are not a person barred from receiving services such as those provided by the Company and its network under the laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction.
- You agree that your member account is non-transferable and that access to your password, user name, and account information or any content within your member account will be limited.
- You agree to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself as prompted by the registration form. You also agree to maintain and promptly update any registration information that might change in the future, to keep it true, accurate, current, and complete. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete or if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that your information is untrue, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse or limit your current or future involvement in the community.
If registration requirements change, you will be expected to provide additional information as needed to complete any new registration requirements. Should you opt not to fulfill any revised registration requirements, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse or limit your current or future involvement in the community.
* If you are under the age of thirteen, you may only be involved in our community with the accompanying involvement of a parent or guardian. If you are between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, we invite you to participate with the knowledge and approval of a parent or guardian. The Company reserves the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, remove or edit content, or cancel orders for members under the age of eighteen.
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Passwords and Account Accessibility
You will receive an assigned password once you complete the registration process. You may change your password immediately or at any time, but you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and controlling access to your account. YOU ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR UNDER YOUR PASSWORD OR WITHIN YOUR ACCOUNT. If you notice or suspect any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, you agree to notify the Company immediately.
The Company cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply.
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Member Conduct
In addition to the discussions established and limitations put forth in the Terms of Use Agreement, members agree to use the Company's network and its parts—surveys, polls, questionnaires, e-mail or messaging services, forums, news and event boards, discussion lounges or chat rooms, virtual communities, profile pages, calendars, photo collections, libraries, and other technological capabilities as developed and made available at varying times—for whatever purposes they are intended and allowed.
Primarily, by way of example but not limitation, in using this network, you agree not to use it for these representative activities:
- to dissiminate surveys, contests, pyramid schemes, chain letters, junk e-mail, spamming, or distribution of any duplicative or unsolicited messages (commercial or otherwise);
- to defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, or otherwise violate any legal rights of others;
- to publish, post, upload, distribute, or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, obscene, indecent, or unlawful topic, name, material, or information;
- to upload or otherwise make available files that contain images, photographs, audio recordings, or other material protected by intellectual property laws unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary permissions;
- to upload files that contain viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer or property;
- to download and distribute any file posted by someone else and for which you know or should know cannot be legally reproduced, displayed, performed, and/or distributed;
- to falsify or delete any copyright management information, such as author attributions, legal notices, proprietary designations, or labels that reveal the origin or source of any content or other material;
- to restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the services;
- to harvest or otherwise collect private or public information about others or download or otherwise copy or provide (whether or not for a fee) to a person or entity any directory of members or users;
- to violate any laws or regulations;
- to create a false identity for the purpose of misleading others;
- to interfere with or disrupt the network or any servers or networks connected to the network, or to disobey any requirements, procedures, policies, or regulations of networks connected to the network; or
- to violate any code of conduct or other guidelines that may be applicable for any particular service.
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Account Termination
You agree that, under certain circumstances and without prior notice, we may terminate your member account and block any associated e-mail address, any associated user name, and/or any access to the network. Cause for such termination shall include but not be limited to
- breaches or violations of the Terms of Use Agreement or the Privacy Statement or breaches or violations of any other Company agreements, guidelines, policies, or rules, as well as breaches or violations of this policy;
- requests by law enforcement or other government agencies;
- unexpected technical or security issues or problems;
- extended periods of inactivity;
- your engagement in fraudulent or illegal activities; and/or
- nonpayment of any charges or fees owed by you.
Termination of your member account includes (a) removal of access to all offerings including but not limited to any surveys, polls, questionnaires, e-mail or messaging services, forums, news and event boards, discussion lounges or chat rooms, virtual communities, profile pages, calendars, photo collections, libraries, and/or other technological capabilities available at the time; (b) permanent deletion of your password, user name, and all related information and files, including any content associated with or inside your account (or any part thereof); and (c) the possibility of barring further use of the network or future involvement in any community.
Further, you agree that all terminations shall be made at our sole discretion and that we shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any consequences resulting from the termination of your account, any associated e-mail address, user name, or access.
In the event of your death, your member account may be closed and terminated upon receipt of a death certificate or copy or facsimile thereof.
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Other Advice and Restrictions
For additional information about member limitations and obligations, please review the relevant sections of our Terms of Use Agreement.
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Modifications to Policy
Due to changes in legislation, best practices, or enhancements in functionality and content, we may make occasional modifications to this Community Content Policy. Those changes will be reflected on this page, and you will be responsible for its periodic review. If we make any significant changes to the way we treat your member information or this policy, we will inform you of such changes via e-mail to the primary address on record or by posting a prominent notice in relevant areas of the network. If no such notification is made within a one-year period, an e-mail announcement or posted notice will provide an annual reminder to review this policy, as well as the Terms of Use Agreement and the Privacy Statement. If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to contact the Company.
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