The GeeksOUT mission:
Comic conventions draw giant crowds for a number of reasons: For some, it’s a chance to dress up as their heroes and read, game and gawk at passers-by; for others, cons are a serious networking opportunity or a chance to check out emerging work in a vital art form. But while everyone’s got a unique reason for attending a con, they’re all ultimately seeking the same thing: community.
GeeksOUT was founded in recognition of the ever-growing LGBT presence within that community. The creation of five gay fanboys, GeeksOUT seeks to raise queer visibility within the worlds of comics and gaming, and to provide LGBT-friendly spaces (both virtual and real) where geeks and gamers can feel creative, empowered and safe.
The goal of GeeksOUT is to get queer nerds out from behind the keyboard and mixing it up in the real world. To that end, our first major goal is securing a booth at 2011 New York Comic Con, an annual event that gathers more than 79,000 fans of comics, sci-fi, and gaming. In addition to creating an LGBT-positive space on the convention floor—showcasing the work of queer creators and queer-friendly comics—GeeksOUT will host discussion panels and signings with artists and creators from the comics and gaming industries. All of this adds up to an unprecedented forum for dialogue and outreach.
Problem is the cost of NYCC space- it ain’t cheap by any standard. Thus, GeeksOUT will be hosting their first fundraiser/costume party to help with the costs next Saturday, January 22nd at Vlada (331 West 51st St. between 8th and 9th Avenues, no cover), where they’ll be auctioning off a ton of neat stuff from the likes of Howard Cruse, Edie Fake, Bowen Designs, and FPNYC.
