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Global Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 8, 2026

Welcome to GayFOLs! Your privacy and security are incredibly important to us. Because our community serves a diverse group of LGBTQIA+ adult fans of LEGO across the globe, including members who may be closeted or require strict privacy parameters, we are deeply committed to protecting your personal information. This policy is designed to comply with global privacy standards, including the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Canada's PIPEDA.

GayFOLs is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States and operates as the Data Controller for information collected through our platform.

1. Legal Basis for Processing Data

We only collect and process your personal information when we have a legal basis to do so. For GayFOLs, this is typically based on your explicit consent (e.g., opting into our member map or joining our communication channels) or our legitimate interest in maintaining a safe, moderated, and troll-free environment for our international members.

2. Information We Collect and How We Use It

We only collect information that you voluntarily provide to us:

  • Account & Vetting Information: To access our closed, moderated spaces (such as Discord or Facebook), we collect your email address and basic verification details to protect the safety of the community.
  • Donations & Financial Data: Donations are securely processed through PayPal. GayFOLs never stores or sees your credit card numbers or financial credentials.
  • Event Coordination & Metrics: Data submitted via the GayFOLs Event Reporting Form is used strictly for organizing meet-ups and fulfilling our reporting guidelines as a Recognized LEGO® Online Community (RLOC).

3. Photo Safety and "Outing" Protections

Intentional safety is the core catalyst of our non-profit. We strictly enforce the following rules for event photography:

  • Before any group photos are uploaded to gayfols.com or shared on our public channels, members are given a clear opportunity to opt out.
  • We will never publicly tag, name, or identify members in photos on our website without explicit, written consent.

4. International Data Transfers

Because GayFOLs is hosted and operated in the United States, any data you provide will be transferred to and stored on servers located in the US. By interacting with our platform, you acknowledge and consent to this transfer. We utilize strict data security practices to ensure your information remains protected to the highest international standards regardless of location.

5. Data Retention

We only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected (such as maintaining your active membership profile or displaying your pin on the global map). If you request account closure or data deletion, your personal information will be purged from our active databases within 30 days.

6. Your Global Privacy Rights

Regardless of where you live in the world, GayFOLs grants all members the same robust privacy rights. You have the right to:

  • Access & Portability: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correction & Deletion: Request that we update inaccurate data or completely delete your information (including removing your pin from the Global Map or removing photos of you).
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent to data processing at any time.

7. Third-Party Links

Our website includes links to external networks, online marketplaces, and partner RLUGs. We do not govern the privacy practices of external websites and encourage you to review their policies when leaving our site.

8. Contact Us & Lodging Complaints

If you have questions, wish to exercise your data rights, or need to request an immediate data removal, please contact the GayFOLs Board of Directors directly:

  • Email: gayfolsgroup@gmail.com
  • Status: Registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit & Recognized LEGO® Online Community (RLOC).

EU, UK, and Canadian residents also have the right to lodge a complaint with their local Data Protection Authority if they believe their data has been mishandled.