A Science Fiction Convention Of Our Own

Think that being a GLBT science fiction and fantasy fan is all about running around in a Star Trek uniform talking to your pet tribble (not that there’s anything wrong with that)? Think again.

While Xena and Buffy live on only in fannish memory, now there’s Torchwood and The Lair. In addition, there are seemingly more GLBT characters in comics, gaming and books than ever before. But this isn’t to say that those characters are never marginalized or prone to wearing red shirts. While fandom (the larger community of science fiction and fantasy fans) as a whole is pretty accepting of us, that doesn’t mean that GLBT fans and our issues and concerns often get center stage at the conventions that are the primary social networking vehicle for sf/f fans.

Enter Gaylaxicon, a science fiction convention for GLBT fans and their friends. The Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society started Gaylaxicon in 1988. The first convention was held in Provincetown, Massachusetts, moving from there to various points on the East Coast, California and Canada, adding more fans, more guests and more activities on its travels. The emphasis has always been on creating a mix of GLBT and allied writers, artists and performers who portray queer characters in a positive way. Guests of honor have included GLBT writers and artists such as Samuel Delany, Melissa Scott and Phil Jimenez, as well as allies like Diane Duane, Lois Bujold and artist Colleen Doran.

Gaylaxicon is also the home of the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards. The Spectrum Awards are the only fan-based award for works that emphasize the positive portrayal of GLBT characters and themes in science fiction, fantasy and horror. There are separate awards given for Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best Other (screenplays, collections, etc.). Founded in 1999, winners have included David Gerrold, Joss Whedon, Laurie Marks and Nalo Hopkinson. See the Spectrum Awards site for a full list of winners and nominees.

I recently got to attend Gaylaxicon 2007 in Atlanta where I went to events that ranged from a fun-filled game of queer sf Jeopardy to readings by authors like Jim Grimsley and Selina Rosen. The convention featured readings, panels, evening concerts, a dance and showings of “Hidden Frontier,” the fan-produced Star Trek show. And then of course, there were the parties. I gather I missed a few of the really lively ones, but the few I did make it to were pleasant and filled with fabulous food, good company, interesting conversations.

My only complaint was that there weren’t many women in attendance, which in turn meant that there weren’t very many panels or programming items dealing specifically with female characters and writers. There were exceptions such as the panel “Lesbians in Red Shirts: Is the Lesbian Mortality Rate in SF/F/H Too High?” and dyke/queer performance art by LotSix, but overall lesbian and transsexual/transgender issues both got rolled up into pan queer panels and events. Here’s hoping that word gets out and next year’s gender balance is a bit more even.