Non-discrimination Policy

Denying service or treating members differently because of their protected characteristics is not permitted in our community

ZeroDegrees is committed to promoting the health and well-being of people of all backgrounds. Our Members bring to our community an incredible diversity of backgrounds, customs and beliefs. By connecting people from different backgrounds, ZeroDegrees nurtures greater understanding and appreciation for the common characteristics shared by all human beings. To that end, all Service Providers agree to read and act in accordance with this Non-discrimination policy to strengthen our community and realize our mission of ensuring that everyone can live a well-balanced and fulfilling life. This Non-discrimination Policy applies to all parts of the ZeroDegrees business, on and off Platform.

Our commitment to promoting the health of people of all backgrounds rests on the principles of inclusion and respect. Becoming a Member of ZeroDegrees means being part of a community of inclusion. We expect our Members to engage with each other respectfully, even when someone else’s views may not reflect their own upbringings or beliefs. We are all committed to doing everything we can to help eliminate all forms of bias, discrimination, intolerance, prejudice and hatred from our community and our platform. Our shared commitment to these principles enables all Members of our community to feel welcome and respected no matter who they are, where they come from, how they worship, or whom they love.

We appreciate that local laws and cultural norms vary around the world and we expect all our Service Providers to abide by all applicable local laws that prohibit discrimination based on the following protected characteristics:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Nationality
• Descent
• Religion
• Marital status (being married or not)
• Sex/gender
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Age
• Familial status (having children)
• Disability or serious disease

1. Denial of Service or Differential Treatment

Service Providers may not deny service or treat members of our community differently because of their protected characteristics. This includes:

• Cancelling a booking from a Customer
• Impose any different terms or conditions based on a Customer’s protected characteristic
• Make any statement that discourages or indicates a preference for or against a specific type of Customer

Service Providers should instead provide extensive information about their services, including amenities, accessibility, language(s) the service is provided in, so that Customers can make an informed decision when scheduling the service and decide, ultimately, whether the service is appropriate for their needs. Below we include additional guidance on sex/gender or gender identity, age and familial status, disability or serious disease, and ability.

2. Sex/Gender or Gender Identity

We do not assign a gender identity to our Members. We consider the gender of individuals to be what they identify and/or designate on their user profiles, and we expect our ZeroDegrees community to do the same. This includes respecting the pronouns any Members identify themselves with (he/him, she/her, they/them, etc.).

Service Providers may not:

• Cancel a booking from a Customer based on sex, gender or gender identity.
• Impose any different terms or conditions based on sex, gender or gender identity.
• Post any listing or make any statement that discourages or indicates a preference for or against any Customer on account of sex/gender or gender identity.

Service Providers may however:

• Offer a single gender experience if it is necessary to create a safe space (one that does not incite harm or danger and one that is not illegal), protect the safety and privacy of participants and/or comply with legal or cultural requirements.

3. Age and Familial Status

Service Providers may not:

• Impose any different terms or conditions or cancel a booking based on the Customer’s age or familial status, where prohibited by law.

Service Providers may:

• Provide factually accurate information about their listing’s features (or lack of them) that could make the listing unsafe or unsuitable for Customers of a certain age or families with children or infants.
• Note in their listings applicable restrictions, regulations, or laws that prohibit Customers under a particular age or families with children or infants.

4. Disability or Serious Disease

Service Providers may not:

• Cancel a booking from a Customer based on any actual or perceived disability.
• Impose any different terms or conditions based on the fact that the Customer has a disability.
• Post any listing or make any statement that discourages or indicates a preference for or against any Customer on account of the fact that the Customer has a disability.
• Substitute the judgement of the prospective Customer with their own judgement about whether a service meets the needs of a Customer with a disability.
• Inquire about the existence or severity of a Customer’s disability, or the means used to accommodate any disability. If, however, a potential Customer raises his or her disability, a Service Provider may, and should, discuss with the potential Customer whether the service meets the potential Customer’s needs.
• Refuse to communicate with Customers through accessible means that are available, including relay operators (for people with hearing impairments) and e-mail (for people with vision impairments using screen readers).

Service Providers may:

• Provide factually accurate information about the service’s accessibility features (or lack of them), allowing for Customers with disabilities to assess for themselves whether the service is appropriate to their individual needs.
• Actively engage with Customers who have disclosed disabilities and/or have questions regarding the accessibility of a service.

5. Ability

Due to the broad range of Service offerings, Service Providers may need to ensure a Customer’s ability to participate in certain physical activities. We encourage Service Providers to provide factually accurate information about the physical nature of a service, if any, to allow Customers to assess for themselves whether the service is appropriate given their individual abilities.

6. Non-discrimination Policy Violation

While we believe that harmony among people cannot be mandated, we want to promote a culture of empathy and understanding across all cultures within the ZeroDegrees community that goes above and beyond mere compliance with the minimum requirements established by law.

Service Providers should keep in mind that no one likes to be turned down. While a Service Provider may have, and articulate, lawful and legitimate reasons for turning down a Customer, it may cause that Customer to feel unwelcome or excluded, undermining the strength of our community. Service Providers should make every effort to be welcoming to Customers of all backgrounds.

If a particular listing contains language contrary to this non-discrimination policy, the listing will be suspended and the Service Provider will be asked via email to remove the language and affirm an understanding and intent to comply with this policy and its underlying principles of inclusion and respect. If Service Providers demonstrate a pattern of rejecting Customers from a protected class (even while articulating legitimate reasons) or use language demonstrating that their actions on or off Platform are motivated by characteristics prohibited by this policy, ZeroDegrees will take steps to enforce this policy, including suspending the account for a period of time or even terminating the account, pursuant to section 17 of our Terms of Service.

To report a Service Provider that does not comply with this Non-discrimination policy, please click on the listing’s report button. As the ZeroDegrees community grows, we will continue to ensure that our policies and practices align with our most important goal: To ensure that our Members feel welcome and respected in all of their interactions with ZeroDegrees while pursuing a well-balanced and fulfilling life.