Policies

Shows must apply to be on the network. Once shows have applied, the membership committee will screen them for compliance, quality, and fit.

• The membership committee will present their comments to the wider network, who will vote to include or exclude the show.

• If a majority of members vote yes, the show will be accepted.

• Accepted shows will owe their annual dues within the first 90 days of membership.

Shows must pay annual dues of $10. This can be waived by the leadership committee in cases of undue hardship.

Leadership committee will host quarterly meetings open to all network shows.

• The leadership committee will make a good faith effort to schedule meetings at a time that works for all shows. If this is not possible, shows that cannot make the meeting can provide written feedback on relevant topics in advance to be shared by the leadership committee.

• Quarterly meetings will be recorded in audio or minute format. These recordings will be made available to the community.

• All major decisions discussed during meetings will be decided using polls, unless all network shows are represented during a given meeting.

At least 1 representative from each show must vote on polls posted by the network and leadership committees.

• Shows that fail to vote in 3 consecutive polls will be removed from the network.

Shows must advertise their membership in the network.

• Shows must include the network stinger each episode.

• Shows must mention “Member of the Rainbow Roll Network” on their socials and website (if applicable).

At least 1 representative from each show must participate in 1 committee per calendar year.

• If a member is unable to serve the full 12 month term in a given committee due to undue hardship, this requirement can be waived by the leadership committee provided that a good faith effort is made to serve on the committee before the time of the member’s exit.

An annual election will be held to choose a leadership committee of 3 network members.

The leadership committee will put forth a good faith effort to increase the profile of the network and the various member shows as their primary duty.

The leadership committee will take votes on any and all major decisions before moving forward with them.

Shows must be active at the time of membership.

Shows can take a hiatus of up to 6 months (180 days) without losing network member status.

• Shows must notify the membership committee when they decide to go on hiatus.

• If a show falls inactive without declaring a hiatus, a member of the membership committee will reach out to the show to confirm their hiatus. If the show does not respond, their hiatus period will formally begin on the date when the membership committee contacted them.

• This hiatus period can be extended by the leadership committee in cases of undue hardship.

• All benefits of membership will still be available.

• Shows on hiatus must continue to participate in polls. If the hiatus is unplanned (e.g., due to life circumstances), participating in committees is waived for this 6 month period.

Shows that are on hiatus for greater than 6 months will be removed from the network and their dues refunded, prorated to the proportion of the year that membership was conferred.

Shows coming off hiatus that were network members previously may re-join the network without an application.

Limited run series (or their producing studios) can join as network partners.

• Limited run series must meet the same criteria as podcasts, including 1 available episode.

• Producing studios must have at least 1 published episode of an LGBTQIA+led AP show that is available on a popular podcatcher and a history of producing shows free of hateful/bigoted material.

• Limited run series and/or their producing studios will undergo the same application and acceptance process as ongoing podcasts.

Limited run series must pay annual dues of $10 prorated for the expected runtime of the show. This can be waived by the leadership committee in cases of undue hardship.

• For example, a show expected to run 6 months will pay $5. A show expected to run 18 months will pay $15.

• Annual dues are due within 90 days of membership.

If a producing studio joins as a partner, they must pay annual dues of $10 for each limited run series prorated for the expected runtime of the show. This can be waived by the leadership committee in cases of undue hardship.

• For example, if a producing studio is running 1 limited run series expected to last 6 months, they will pay $5. If they plan to run 3 limited run series that will last 6 months, they will pay $15.

• Limited run series are considered concurrent if they overlap by 1 month or more.

• Annual dues of $10 are due within 90 days of membership. Additional dues per each concurrent show are due within 90 days of the additional limited run series’ start.

Committee participation and poll voting are encouraged but not required for single limited-run partner shows.

Poll voting is required for partner studios. Committee participation is encouraged but not required.

• At least 1 representative from each partner studio must vote on polls posted by the network and leadership committees.

  • Studios that fail to vote in 3 consecutive polls will be removed from the network.

Limited run series are entitled to all network benefits for the duration of their run.

Producing studios are entitled to all network benefits for each calendar year where they have produced at least 1 limited run series.

• Producing studios that fail to produce at least 1 limited run series a year will be removed from the network.

When a partner show has ended, it will remain on our network website under a “Limited run” category.

Creators confer no ownership of their show or associated intellectual property to the network.

The network maintains no creative control over the shows or associated intellectual property.

Creators and their shows can leave the network at any time for any reason.

• Dues will be refunded at the time the show leaves the network, prorated to the proportion of the year that membership was conferred.

Shows are not required to be exclusive to the network.

The network maintains the right to archive and republish promotional materials, including festival entries, for reasons including but not limited to reruns, videos-on-demand, and social media promotion.

• This right can be revoked by creators through a formal request to the leadership committee.

The network reserves the right to terminate membership if creators or shows violate membership policies against hateful or prejudicial content.

• Shows whose memberships are terminated due to policy violations will not have their dues refunded or prorated.