An Update on Flame Con 2021: To our queer geeky community, What a year! From quarantines to vaccines, we are excited to finally share an update on this year’s Flame Con… Geeks OUT is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting you at a virtual Flame Con, Saturday, August 21 – Sunday, August 22.
Continue reading Update: Flame Con 2021 Will Be A Virtual Event This August
The Press Release:
To our queer geek community, 2021 has finally arrived, and with it we begin a new year of planning for this year’s Flame Con! 2020 presented us with several hard decisions and new challenges, especially around how best to keep everyone safe and provide as much of a Flame Con experience as possible. Several decisions were entirely out of our hands. 2021 is presenting us with very similar challenges.
COVID-19 continues to be the primary factor in our ability to hold an in person event safely. We are still in contract with the Sheraton Times Square, but are largely at the mercy of the venue’s priorities, the laws governing the city of New York and, of course, the pace of vaccine distribution across the country. Like many conventions, we currently have two imperfect options to choose from. If we preemptively cancel the event, before state & local authorities have expressly forbidden large gatherings, we forfeit our deposit with the venue. If we wait for authorities to make a decision on events like ours, we likely won’t know if an in-person Flame Con is possible until just before this August. As a non-profit with a modest budget, forfeiting the deposit to the venue would risk our ability to come back for another year. So, unfortunately, we must wait.
The Press Release:
While this likely does not come as a surprise, it is with great sadness that we must announce the postponement of Flame Con 2020, due to concerns around COVID-19. Though Flame Con will not be held this year, we look forward to coming back, bigger and better, at the Times Square Sheraton on August 21-22, 2021!
Geeks OUT’s mission is to support out queer geek community near and far. While we were hopeful that the global situation would have begun to improve by the late spring, it would have been irresponsible to risk anyone’s well-being by hosting an event of Flame Con’s size in NY this August.
Our organization would not be what it is without all the hard work, time, and passion you all have given. That we have grown to this size is a testament to the fact that hope and creativity can bring a community to life. The Geeks OUT board & Flame Con Steering Committee are eternally grateful for you.
And, of course, all is not a wash! We are looking into ways we can continue to bring our community together this summer. Details on remote events, presented by Geeks OUT, shortly.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy summer!
The Flame Con Steering Committee: Maya Bishop, Chair, Jayson Bennett, Gabe Berlin, Steve Gianaca, Kevin Gilligan, Nic Gitau, Bethany Gonzalez, Rachel Greeman, John Jennison, Niki Johnson, Sa’Mada Lawler, Michelle Rose Micor
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Piercing Ken Thoughts: The cancellation of any special event really gets to me and having been a media attendee to three Flame Cons already, I am saddened by this latest postponement news. As you diehard readers know, I cover a LOT of conventions and trade shows for both “The Chronicles” and for PiercingMetal and based on this terrible viral pandemic have not been anywhere since the first week of March. I feel bad for this still growing in prominence convention because they do such good for the geeks in the LGBTQ Community and I’ve been happy to use my own media voice to help broadcast the talented people that I meet at this convention. My hope is for a better, more exciting and most of all HEALTHY 2021. I cannot wait for things to get as close to normal as they possibly can. Stay healthy my friends, wear a mask if you go outside and practice social distancing and make sure you are in accordance with your own regions guidelines before doing anything. See you next time.
Official Website: http://www.flamecon.org
Official Website: http://www.geeksout.org
Based on concerns with the Covid-19 outbreak, the 2020 Flame Con is cancelled. It will return in 2021 at the same location on August 21-22.
Flame Con is the world’s only LGBTQ comic convention and it returns to Times Square for its 6th Annual event. Sponsored by the folks at Geeks Out, its a great event to support your favorite artists, enjoy some panels and lots of cosplay at a fun-filled event.
Based on concerns with the Covid-19 outbreak, the 2020 Flame Con is cancelled. It will return in 2021 at the same location on August 21-22.
Flame Con is the world’s only LGBTQ comic convention and it returns to Times Square for its 6th Annual event. Sponsored by the folks at Geeks Out, its a great event to support your favorite artists, enjoy some panels and lots of cosplay at a fun-filled event.
