Events
VISAGE Verified Guilds on Raider.IO
At the end of 2022, we announced a collaboration with the Liquid Women in Warcraft initiative and their Approved Guilds program. The program has been immensely successful, currently featuring over 100 guilds housing over 48,000 players.
The LWIW initiative has since become an independent organization, and has recently announced a rebrand. They are now VISAGE: Visibility, Inclusivity, Support, and Advocacy in Gaming & Esports.
We are proud to continue our collaboration with and support of VISAGE, and are happy to announce that the Approved Guilds program will be continuing under a new banner: VISAGE Verified Guilds! This program is geared towards highlighting and promoting guilds that provide a welcoming environment and safe space for World of Warcraft players of all identities and backgrounds. In order for a guild to be “VISAGE Verified”, they must apply to the program and undergo a thorough review and vetting process by VISAGE leadership. “VISAGE Verified” guilds must have gender minorities in leadership positions, and uphold the values and ideals of VISAGE. Verified guilds earn a special designation here on Raider.IO, making them easily identifiable. The designation also acts as a filter in our Recruitment system. Read on to learn more about how it works!
Table of Contents
What is VISAGE?
Originally created under the Team Liquid banner, VISAGE is an initiative, an organization, and above all else a Community aimed at tackling the disparity of gender representation in gaming and esports, with a focus on World of Warcraft.
The VISAGE mission is to provide a network through which women, non-binary persons, and those belonging to all gender minorities can seek a safe, supportive space with other like-minded people. The collaborative initiative works to connect gender minorities from all aspects of World of Warcraft gameplay with experts and professionals in the field. VISAGE strives to empower, encourage, educate, and elevate gender minorities to the same positions of authority, respect, and visibility as their male counterparts.
VISAGE has established a clear pathway to achieve this, with workshops, roundtable discussions, programs, and more. To learn more about VISAGE, and to become a part of the inclusive and safe Community, check out the VISAGE Discord. This server is also where the Community holds events and interacts, so make sure you check it out!
VISAGE Values and Ideals
Part of becoming a VISAGE Verified Guild is agreeing to uphold the Values and Ideals of the initiative. Not only does Guild Leadership need to abide by them, but they must agree to enforce them as part of their Guild’s Code of Conduct.
- Be respectful of all members.
- Zero tolerance for harassment, toxicity, bullying, name calling, or hate speech.
- Zero tolerance for sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or any other kind of offensive language or behaviour.
How to Become a VISAGE Verified Guild
In order for your guild to earn the designation of “VISAGE Verified”, an application must be submitted to VISAGE Leadership, and certain requirements must be met. Only guilds with gender minorities in leadership positions will be considered. In order to apply on behalf of your guild, navigate over to the #programs channel in the VISAGE Discord and fill out the Application Form. Be thorough and thoughtful with your application!
Applications are reviewed by a Committee, which includes a vetting (to the best of their ability) of a guild’s background, members, and guild rules. Once approved, your guild will be featured in the VISAGE Discord, and be given special recruitment privileges on Raider.IO!
VISAGE Badge on Raider.IO
When a guild is Verified by the VISAGE program, they will earn a designated badge on Raider.IO. This will be visible on their Guild Profile page, as well as on any Guild Recruitment Profiles. This badge serves as an indicator that this guild has been reviewed and vetted by VISAGE, has gender minorities in leadership, and has agreed to adhere to and enforce VISAGE Values and Ideals. A guild with this badge has indicated they will strive to create a welcoming and safe place where peoples of all identities and backgrounds are treated as equal members.
VISAGE Recruitment Filter on Raider.IO
Becoming a VISAGE Verified Guild earns you a separate filter on the Raider.IO Recruitment System, improving the process through which likeminded guilds and players can find each other. First and foremost, all VISAGE Verified Guilds will have the VISAGE badge on their Recruitment Profiles for easy identification.
When creating a Recruitment Profile for a guild, there will be an option to select the “VISAGE Verified” tag. This option will show up on the dropdown menu for all guilds, but only guilds that have been designated as VISAGE Verified will be able to select it. Guilds that have not been approved will be given a link to the application upon attempting to select it!
This tag allows players to filter their individual Recruitment searches to only show guilds that are VISAGE Verified, and thus only VISAGE Verified guilds will be able to send them Recruitment messages. Optionally, players can manually add the VISAGE Verified tag to their search results to further filter, but not limit, which guilds can contact them.
We know that many players have difficulty finding safe spaces to continue their adventures in Azeroth, so we hope this filter will help improve the process.
To learn more about VISAGE, check out the active and supportive Discord Community. Make sure you toss a follow to the VISAGE Twitter / X for news and updates on upcoming events, workshops, and programs!
Why? Because Representation Matters!
