Gaylaxicon
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| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Gaylaxicon |
| Dates: | |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Location: | shifting and international |
| Type: | fan-run fan con |
| Focus: | GLBTQ SFF |
| Organization: | Gaylactic Network, The Gaylaxians |
| Founder: | The Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society (GSFS) |
| Founding Date: | 1988 |
| URL: | 2004 con 2004 mailing list 2005 con 2009 con 2012 con |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Gaylaxicon is an annual international Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror convention for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people and their friends. Gaylaxicon was begun in 1988.[1]
Rodger Gonder was head of the art show up until 1992.
1988
1989
1990
The two guest of honors were Melissa Scott and Hannah Shapero.
1990: Con Report
I went to Gaylaxicon, where I was an invited guest. This is a con for Gay people and their friends." I was on several panels. One of the most interesting was one on "why Lesbian women like to see men make it." I found out that even some of the most "feminist" and "politically correct" Lesbians have the same desire to read stories about Gay male relationships Several reasons were given: 1) Lesbians like to read and write stories about any sort of Gay relationship, whether it involves men or women 2) Writing about Gay men puts just a bit of "distance" for a Lesbian writer: writing about Gay women can get just a bit too personal. 3) Many women like to write about men, perhaps to make them more "romantic." I've heard the criticism of slash that "real Gay men don't act this way." This assumes, stereotypically, that all Gay men are obsessed with sex and physical appearance, that no Gay man can bear monogamy or romantic relationships. I know plenty of Gay men, and know this stereotype to be FALSE. Anyway, yet another reason for wanting to read and write about Gay men is to deal with such "women's" topics as rape and incest. A split occured in the panel, between those who were into rape fantasy and those who felt they needed to deal with rape and incest as real and personal issues in their lives. The tension got a bit high at this point. I am one of those people who simply can NOT fantasize about rape. I got the distinct impression that some women like to fantasize about male rape because they can then take the role of the rapist; they can turn the whole scene around and make a man into a sniveling, humiliated victim. I can't relate to this, either.
One rumor to lay at rest: Ellen Kushner was at this con, and she made it clear that SWORDSPOINT is based on her original characters, NOT on any media characters (a popular rumor has it that SWORDSPOINT started as a Bodie/Doyle novel. Not true).
Other interesting panels included world-building, Lesbian characters, and a slash workshop. I met more slash fans, including a few Gay male fans. There is an organization called the Gaylactic Network, and they are preparing a special issue of their bulletin, based on slash. I just sent in an article concerning Bodie/Doyle fandom. [2]
1991
1992
1993
There was no con this year due to the death of Rodger Gonder.
1994
This con was the sixth "Gaylaxicon."
Guest of Honor was Jewelle Gomez, Artist Guest of Honor was Tom Howell, Jr. Special Guest was Forrest J Ackerman.
flyer for 1994
1995
from the first progress report for 1995
from the first progress report for 1995
1999
2004
The 2004 convention was held April 8–11 in San Diego.[3]
2005
The 2005 convention was held July 1–4 in Boston.[4]
2009
The 2009 con was held in Minneapolis. Doctor Who fan Jason Tucker helped to run the con during this year.[5]
2012
The 2012 con was held in Minneapolis. Doctor Who fan Jason Tucker helped to run the con during this year.
References
- ^ Miriam Boon (June 7, 2006). "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore". Xtra. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ Susan Douglass in Short Circuit #3 (October 1990)
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040404030822/http://www.gaylaxicon.org/2004/
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040404071601/http://www.gaylaxicon.org/2005/
- ^ Queers Dig Time Lords book - "He helped to run Gaylaxicon, the annual GLBT science fiction and fantasy convention in 2009 and 2012, when it was held in Minneapolis."