LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) In the wake of the #MeToo movement, and as the flagship event for Goldenvoice awaits its 2019 summer edition, the promotion company has announced a new “code of conduct” for Coachella to inhibit sexual harassment on the festival grounds.
The 2019 version of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will take place in Indio, Calif., over two sold-out weekends, April 12-14 and April 19-21, featuring acts like Ariana Grande and Childish Gambino. Last year’s event was the focus of a report in Teen Vogue where the reporter claimed to have been groped 22 times during her 10 hours on the festival grounds and interviewed 54 young
women, all of whom claimed sexual assault during their visit.
The new code of conduct “will NOT tolerate any form of assault or harassment, be it sexual, physical or verbal,” Goldenvoice announced. Dubbed “Every One,” the festival will include “every one tents” staffed with trained counselors to support patrons and provide them a “quiet moment away,” plus there will be all-gender bathrooms.
- We will deploy Trained Safety Ambassadors throughout the festival grounds to facilitate access to care services for anyone in distress.
- every one tents will be staffed with trained counselors for anyone that needs extra support or a quiet moment away. They will be available in the Venue and Camping.
- There will be restroom locations offering male, female and all-gender restrooms.
- All-Gender Restrooms are for anyone regardless of gender identity or expression.
- ADA Access – Coachella welcomes guests with disabilities. See our ADA Guide for a list of policies and services.
- The every one logo signifies places with program information or people trained in awareness and appropriate response
Coachella also asks patrons to do their part:
- Hold each other accountable.
- Always ask for consent.
- Know where your nearest Safe Space, Medical Tent and Info Kiosk are located.
- Be respectful of other people’s cultures.
- Report misconduct to an Info Kiosk.
- Challenge yourself and your peers to be more mindful.
- Enjoy yourself responsibly and take care of your peers.
- Remember: every one deserves to be safe.
“We are pushing ourselves and our guests to do better and to be better. We are taking deliberate steps to develop a festival culture that is safe and inclusive for everyone. Persons of any gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, age or ability are welcome at Coachella,” Goldenvoice says.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how fans respond and utilize these services,” Maggie Arthur, the co-lead of the activist group Our Music My Body, and a sexual violence prevention educator for Resilience, told the Los Angeles Times. “This is potentially a really good place to start this work, because people ascribe to the ideals of the festival.
“If this community is asking them to step up,” Arthur continued, “they’re more likely to listen. It could be a catalyst…and an incredible model for fests moving forward.”
