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.
See 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]
See main article: Gaylactic Spectrum Awards. The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBT (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]
| 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 | ||
| 1991 | Tewksbury | Massachusetts | Samuel R. Delany | Hannah M.G. Shapero (artist) | Gaylaxicon '91, 245 attendees | ||
| 1992 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | Tanya Huff | Tristan Alexander (artist) | Gaylaxicon IV, 360 attendees | ||
| 1994 | Rockville | Maryland | Jewelle Gomez | Tom Howell (artist) Forrest J Ackerman (special guest) | Gaylaxicon V, 350 attendees | ||
| 1995 | Niagara Falls | New York | Don Sakers | Heather Bruton (artist) | Gaylaxicon VI, 180 attendees | [7] | |
| 1996 | Burlington | Massachusetts | Ellen Kushner Delia Sherman | Colleen Doran (artist) | Gaylaxicon VII, 342 attendees | ||
| 1997 | Marlboro | Massachusetts | — | — | Gaylaxicon Lite '97, 90 attendees | ||
| 1998 | Troy | Michigan | Anne Harris | Kurt Erichson (cartoonist) Frank Gembeck, Jr. (artist) | Gaylaxicon 8, 60 attendees | ||
| 1999 | Arlington | Virginia | Diane Duane | Nancy Janda (artist) Jean-Pierre Dorleac (special guest) | Gaylaxicon 1999, 303 attendees, the 10th Gaylaxicon | [8] | |
| 2000 | Arlington | Virginia | Fiona Patton | Nan Fredman (artist) | Gaylaxicon 2000, 265 attendees | [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: ) | 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 | [15] | |
| 2008 | Bethesda | Maryland | Geoff Ryman | Alicia Austin (artist) | [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 |