From Friday, October 8 to Sunday, October 10, ClexaCon will hold its annual convention in Las Vegas. What began in 2017 as a response to the tendency for television shows and films to kill off queer characters is now a staple convention for LGBTQ women, transgender, and non-binary fans to celebrate queer media representation.
Earlier this year, ClexaCon held a virtual convention featuring LGBTQ actors and creators including Amy Acker (Person of Interest), Melonie Diaz (Charmed), Devon Hales and Maddie Phillips (Teenage Bounty Hunters), and Leo Sheng (The L Word: Generation Q).
While some of these folks are returning for this year’s in-person gathering, the organizers of ClexaCon thought it was important to hold an in-person gathering if they could do so safely. (Note: the organizers are requiring guests to be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test from the last 72 hours).
“I’m looking forward to our socially distanced, and smaller ClexaCon because I think it will give us as producers more of a chance to connect with attendees and guests in meaningful ways,” says Kimberly Hooper, one of the organization’s executive directors.
Hooper adds: “I think we also have some sponsors and guests who feel the same way, so there’s a sense of being present and genuinely connecting with each other as humans that we’ll be afforded by our size this year, and it’s really a lovely thing.”
Even though this year’s event will be smaller, the lineup of LGBTQ actors and creators is massive. The featured guests for this year’s event include: Amy Acker (Person of Interest), Bethany Brown (Charmed), Jenna Brown (Are You The One?), Mary Chieffo (Star Trek: Discovery), Devon Hales & Maddie Phillips (Teenage Bounty Hunters), Amalia Holm (Motherland: Fort Salem), Caity Lotz & Jess Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow), Kiana Madeira (Fear Street), and Toya Turner (Warrior Nun).
Industry guests also scheduled to make an appearance include Ellie Brigida (Lez Hang Out, The Flame), Caitlyn Clear-Brady (The Flame), Dana Piccoli (Queer Media Matters), and artist and activist Annie Segarra. Several DJs will also be appearing for the pool parties and Saturday evening after party, including DJ Aravi, DJ Chyld, DJ Goodboy, DJ Lotus Banks, and DJ Skye.
The schedule for the weekend is packed with panels, autographs, photo ops, and meet & greets. Some of the panel topics include trans and non-binary representation, directing sex scenes, bi+ representation in media, podcasting 101, polyamory and popular culture, queer BIPOC representation, queering the documentary, and Latinx representation in media.
Several guests are also doing their own standalone panels including Devon Hales & Maddie Phillips, Amy Acker, Kiana Madeira, Toya Turner, Mary Chieffo, Amalia Holm, and Caity Lotz & Jess Macallan.
For those that cannot attend ClexaCon in-person, there are also several virtual panels and the option to purchase virtual 1-on-1s and snapshots with some of the guests. This year’s virtual panels include: Amy Acker, Kiana Madeira, The Rise of the Alphabet Mafia on Social Media, and Amalia Holm.
“We’re just so excited to be able to facilitate [this smaller event],” shares Hooper. “We are here for our community, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to talk and interact with people in ways that just aren’t as likely or possible in massive events.”
For more information on ClexaCon, please visit: https://clexacon.com/.
