Gaylaxicon

Logo of the 2009 Gaylaxicon in Minnesota
Part of a series on
Sex and sexuality in
speculative fiction
Main topics
Genres
LGBT themes
Recurring elements
Awards and conventions
Other topics

Gaylaxicon is a recurring science fiction, fantasy and horror convention that focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics. It has taken in various locations in the United States and occasionally Canada, often on the East Coast.

Started in 1988 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, Gaylaxicon was organized by member organizations of the Gaylactic Network. The Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society (GSFS) was the New England–based chapter of the Network, which organized the original convention.

The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards were sometimes awarded at Gaylaxicon and were instituted by the organisers of the conference. They are now managed by the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Council, an independent organization.

Origins

Main article: Gaylactic Network

Gaylaxicon was organized by member organizations of the Gaylactic Network.[1] The Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society (GSFS) is the New England–based chapter of the Network, which organized the original convention in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in 1988.[2]

Spectrum awards

Main article: Gaylactic Spectrum Awards

The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) topics in a positive way. Established in 1998, the awards were initially presented by the Gaylactic Network, with awards first awarded in 1999 at Gaylaxicon. In 2002 the awards were given their own organization, the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Foundation.[3]

The results were generally announced and presented at Gaylaxicon, although they have also been presented at Worldcon in the past.[4][5]

Past conventions

Year Location: Town Location: State Guest(s) of Honor: Author Guest(s) of Honor: Other Note Refs.
1988 Provincetown Massachusetts J.F. Rivkin — Gaylaxicon '88,
90 attendees 		[6]
1990 Tewksbury Massachusetts Melissa Scott Hannah M.G. Shapero (artist) Gaylaxicon '90,
130 attendees 		[6]
1991 Tewksbury Massachusetts Samuel R. Delany Hannah M.G. Shapero (artist) Gaylaxicon '91,
245 attendees 		[6]
1992 Philadelphia Pennsylvania Tanya Huff Tristan Alexander (artist) Gaylaxicon IV,
360 attendees 		[6]
1994 Rockville Maryland Jewelle Gomez Tom Howell (artist)
Forrest J Ackerman (special guest) 		Gaylaxicon V,
350 attendees 		[6]
1995 Niagara Falls New York Don Sakers Heather Bruton (artist) Gaylaxicon VI,
180 attendees 		[6][7]
1996 Burlington Massachusetts Ellen Kushner
Delia Sherman 		Colleen Doran (artist) Gaylaxicon VII,
342 attendees 		[6]
1997 Marlboro Massachusetts — — Gaylaxicon Lite '97,
90 attendees 		[6]
1998 Troy Michigan Anne Harris Kurt Erichson (cartoonist)
Frank Gembeck, Jr. (artist) 		Gaylaxicon 8,
60 attendees 		[6]
1999 Arlington Virginia Diane Duane Nancy Janda (artist)
Jean-Pierre Dorleac (special guest) 		Gaylaxicon 1999,
303 attendees,
the 10th Gaylaxicon 		[6][8]
2000 Arlington Virginia Fiona Patton Nan Fredman (artist) Gaylaxicon 2000,
265 attendees 		[6][9]
2004 San Diego California David Gerrold Joe Phillips (artist)
Virginia Hey (actor, Farscape) 		285 attendees [10]
2005 Boston Massachusetts Lois McMaster Bujold Phil Jimenez (artist: Star Trek: Hidden Frontier)
 250 attendees [11]
2006 Toronto Ontario (Canada) Nalo Hopkinson Ellen Muth (actor)
Richard Arnold (media)
Michael Rowe (editor) 		Gaylaxicon 2006 [12][13][14]
2007 Atlanta Georgia Jim Grimsley Georges Jeanty (artist) Other guests: David Gerrold,
Joe Haldeman, Steve Berman,
Toni Weisskopf, James Cawley,
David B. Coe 		[14][15]
2008 Bethesda Maryland Geoff Ryman Alicia Austin (artist) [14][16]
2009 Minneapolis Minnesota Margaret Weis Andy Mangels
Lawrence Schimel
Terrance Griep 		Gaylaxicon 2009,
313 attendees 		[17][18]
2010 Montreal Quebec (Canada) Canceled [19] [20]
2011 Atlanta Georgia n/a (Wayback of Outlacon website lists guests, but only three GoHs) Amber Benson (GoH)[21]
Don Schermerhorn and Wayne Hergenroder (fan GoHs)[22] 		May 13 to 15. Hosted as part of Outlantacon. [23]
2012 Minneapolis Minnesota Kyell Gold Gary Russell (Writer/Producer)
Lyda Morehouse (Writer)
Barbara Schulz (Artist) 		Gaylaxicon 2012,
unknown attendees 		[24]
2014 Atlanta Georgia Philip Bonneau May 2–4 [25]
2016 Minneapolis Minnesota
unknown 		[26]
2018 Atlanta Georgia May 11–13
Outlantacon/Gaylaxicon 2018
attendance unknown 		[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gaylactic Network Yahoo groups page
  2. ^ "Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society official web site". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2005-07-07.
  3. ^ "About the Gaylactic Spectrum Award". Gaylactic Spectrum Award Foundation. 2000–2008. Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  4. ^ "Books and Publishing June 1999". Locus Publications. 2003. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  5. ^ "News Log July 2003". Locus Publications. 2003. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Gaylaxicon Photo Album - Master Index". Fanac.org. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  7. ^ Gaylaxicon 1995 Badges
  8. ^ Gaylaxicon 1999
  9. ^ Gaylaxicon 2000 on the 1999 web site
  10. ^ Gaylaxicon 2004
  11. ^ "Gaylaxicon 2005". Archived from the original on 2005-05-19. Retrieved 2005-07-04.
  12. ^ "Gaylaxicon 2006". Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  13. ^ Gaylaxicon 2006 Sampler web page
  14. ^ a b c Gaylaxicons Yahoo Groups page
  15. ^ "Gaylaxicon 2007". Archived from the original on 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  16. ^ Gaylaxicon 2008
  17. ^ "Gaylaxicon 2009". Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  18. ^ Gaylaxicon 2009 Yahoo Groups page[dead link‍]
  19. ^ 2010 Gayaxicon redirected website Archived 2009-11-13 at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 12, 2010.
  20. ^ Gaylaxicon 2010[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ Wayback Machine 2011 May 11 archive of Outlacon main webpage
  22. ^ Wayback Machine 2011 July 25 archive of Gaylaxicon 2011 Guests webpage
  23. ^ Gaylactic Network Gaylaxicon Page Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Gaylaxicon 2012". Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  25. ^ "Convention LGBT+ | OutlantaCon".
  26. ^ a b Rhode, Jason. "Outlantacon/Gaylaxicon Celebrates Geek, Gay Culture" Georgia Voice May 14, 2018