GaymerX is an American public-benefit nonprofit corporation based in California dedicated to celebrating and supporting LGBTQ people and culture in the world of gaming, with a focus on video games. GaymerX puts on a fan-facing convention with LGBTQ-oriented gaming and geek culture, or gaymer, with panels primarily focused on LGBTQ issues and debates in the gaming industry.
History GaymerX was founded in August 2013 by Matt Conn and Toni Rocca as part of MidBoss.
The goal was to establish a space for those who felt larger gaming conventions like E3 were unwelcoming places for LGBTQ gamers. The first GaymerX event was financed through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and occurred on August 3–4, 2013 in San Francisco, CA. Organizers have said the event is about uniting gay gamers, not creating a division among gamers, as they want to create a "safe place" for LGBTQ gamers.
The planned convention began with significant news coverage of its initial Kickstarter launch, but the event achieved more widespread attention after the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, known widely as a hate group that pickets espousing homophobic statements, announced that they would protest the convention.
GaymerX began with a Kickstarter project launched on August 1, 2012, which was covered by sites such as Examiner and GamePolitics.com. The convention raised over $14,000 in its first two days, exceeded its goal of $25,000 as early as August 6, and ended with over $90,000. Throughout the fundraising campaign, organizers added new support levels, in addition to existing support levels that include admission to the event and voice acting from Ellen McLain. At a session during the convention, McLain took part as assistant to a marriage proposal to help an attendee propose to his boyfriend by voicing a version of the song Still Alive with reworked lyrics.
GaymerX2 was held at the InterContinental Hotel between July 11–13, 2014 in downtown San Francisco. It featured Darren Young, the first openly gay wrestler in the WWE, who revealed that he would be a playable character in the upcoming WWE 2K15.
In July 2017 Gaymerx officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit, separating it from MidBoss. At this time a board of directors was formed consisting of Raymond Lancione, Tanya DePass, Brian Kunde, Soraya Een Hajji, Steven Harmon, and Eugenio Vargas. Matt Conn was replaced by Toni Rocca as executive director.
In 2018 Matt Conn was accused of labor rights violations. While Matt had not been affiliated with GaymerX since the organization split from MidBoss the previous year, he was the head of MidBoss, which had been a major sponsor of past events. In response GaymerX announced they were cutting all ties with MidBoss, and would no longer allow them to sponsor future events. Although shortly afterwards Matt resigned from MidBoss, the two organizations have had not had any further relationship.
In April 2018 GaymerX named a new Executive Director, Katie Kaitchuck, replacing Toni Rocca. Since her appointment, they have launched a new scholarship program to help LGBTQ developers get into the industry.
In January GaymerX East 2019 was announced and planned to take place on April 27–28 at the Microsoft Conference Center in Times Square. On February 14, 2019, it was announced that GaymerX East 2019 had been cancelled.
Events Name Dates Venue Location Atten. Guests of HonorGaymerXAug 3 – Aug 4, 2013Hotel Kabuki & Hotel TomoSan Francisco, California1,400Ellen McLain, Zach Weiner, Matthew Michael Brown, Anna Anthropy, John Patrick Lowrie, Pandora BoxxGaymerX2Jul 11 – Jul 13, 2014InterContinental HotelSan Francisco, California1,900David Gaider, Mattie Brice, Alexis Ohanian, Gordon Bellamy, Darren Young, Zach Weiner, 2 Mello, Colleen Macklin, Jaime WooGXDev: Everyone CreatesJan 9 - Jan 11, 2015PubNubSan Francisco, California60Johnnemann Nordhagen, Anna Kipnis, Kortney Ziegler, Matt ConnGX3: Everyone GamesDec 11 – Dec 13, 2015San Jose Convention CenterSan Jose, California2,429Jennifer Hale, Zach Weiner, Anita Sarkeesian, Rob Jagnow, Jamin Warren, Natasha Allegri, Trixie MattelGaymerX • Year FourSep 30 – Oct 2, 2016Santa Clara Convention CenterSanta Clara, California2,100Dave Fennoy, David Gaider, Tim Cain, Kitty PowersGaymerX EastNov 12 – Nov 13, 2017Microsoft Technology CenterNew York City, New York?Kitty Powers, Mattie Brice, Robert Yang, SAMMUS, Shawn Alexander Allen, Tanya DePassGaymerX East 2019cancelled (was Apr 27 – Apr 28, 2019)Microsoft Conference Center in Times SquareNew York City, New YorkBrandon Stennis, Katherine Cross, D.J. Kirkland
GXDev: Everyone Creates GXDev: Everyone Creates, was a game jam and hackathon that happened over January 9–11, 2015 and featured over 40 developers who produced over 10 games featuring queer content and themes, including one about "dating butts", and one about polyamory.
Award Game NameJudge's ChoicePatchworkCrowd ChoiceFatal[e]Diplomacy AwardHere’s Your Fuckin’ Papers#suchridiculousCheek 2 CheekThe Whole Picture (Most Complete)Cactus Seeking HugBest FeminismFatal[e]LSD AwardCosmic EndeermentTobii EyeX AwardCosmic EndeermentFirebase AwardWe Are HereVolume AwardConsensual ChaosStrangest GamePatchworkPrismatic Award for DiversityCheek 2 CheekBest MessageShiny Things
See also
References
External links
GaymerX on Twitter