# Queer science fiction geeks unite! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771 "2003-03-12T06:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/21 "2003-03-13T00:11:00Z")
If you like good related reading, check out [The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards](http://www.spectrumawards.org/), which are given annually to the best genre work with GLBT themes or characters (modelled after the Triptee Awards, and an offshoot of the Gaylactic Network and Gaylaxicon itself). Includes past nominees and winners, which makes for a fantastic reading list. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/22 "2003-03-13T00:13:51Z")
**Padeye** , I think that happens at every rodeo (well, at least the PETA part). Me, I go for the dancing, and the occassional Japanese cowboy… 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/23 "2003-03-13T16:30:58Z")
PETA people protest rodeos? Sorry only rodeo I’ve been to was in texas. Everyone I know who went to the one in 2000 had a blast. ☹ pity I had 5 hrs of lab work to do on the day everyone went and couldn’t go. a number of those panel talks sounded quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/24 "2003-03-13T17:19:28Z")
**CRorex** , perhaps not rodeoes in _Texas_, for even they have a sense of self-preservation. 😉 (They feel using animals in the rodeo is cruel, and they make claims that they are not treated humanely; obviously the cowboys and cowgirls disagree.) And those are just a sample of the panels we had in the past - we’re cooking up some rather new and interesting ones for next year. If anyone’s interested in checking us out, we’ll be advertising at a bunch of conventions (mostly on the west coast) between now and then, including: [ul][li][ConFurence](http://www.confurence.net) (LA)[/li][li][Baycon](http://www.baycon.org) (SF)[/li][li][LepreCon](http://www.leprecon.org) (Phoenix)[/li][li][Westercon](http://www.wester56.org) (Seattle)[/li][li][Comic-Con](http://www.comic-con.org) (San Diego)[/li][li][San Diego LGBT Pride Festival](http://www.sdpride.org)[/li][li][WorldCon](http://www.torcon3.on.ca) (Toronto)[/li][li][Coppercon](http://www.coppercon.org) (Phoenix)[/li][li][Conjecture](http://www.conjecture.org) (San Diego)[/li][li][Loscon (LA)](http://www.loscon.org)[/li][li][Gallifrey (LA)](http://www.gallifreyone.org)[/li][li][Condor](http://www.condorcon.org) (San Diego)[/ul][/li] Ought to keep me busy for a while. 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/25 "2003-03-13T17:20:38Z")
Oh, and I suppose I should mention Gaylaxicon 2005 is being held in Boston, and word is Toronto might bid for 2006. But, of course, coming to sunny southern California to see me is a far, far better deal, right? Right? 😛 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/26 "2003-03-13T20:47:39Z")
“Gaylaxicon”…almost has as much ring as Tampas NecronomiCon! Ludovic, not a Queer sci-fi geek, just a strange fantasy geek ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/27 "2003-03-13T21:54:19Z")
We cover fantasy, too - no doubt there will be quite a bit of Legolas/Aragorn, Merry/Pippin and Sam/Frodo slash benig passed around. (Who does that leave - Gimli/Bilbo/Gandalf? \) Esprix ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/28 "2003-03-14T00:44:37Z")
So… is Tigerman coming or not? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/29 "2003-03-14T01:04:35Z")
**Esprix** , did I read right? A _Chocolate Symposium_ , at the convention? I’ve been to several cons but I never saw anything like that! Will there be a charity? At several of the fan-run conventions I’ve been to there were money-raising contests, with proceeds going to a worthy local charity. For example, at a KCCon in the 80’s there was “The Intergalactic Tribble Breeding Contest” Folks had made their own unique tribbles, and they were placed on a table, each with a coffee can in front of them. You dropped change in the can of your favorite tribble, and the winner was the one who raised the most cash. Said cash went to a charity supporting abused children. There was the “Isaac Asatribble” wearing thick glasses, the rainbow striped tribble(hmmmm), there were Siamese tribbles, and so on. But my favorite was Mr. **T** ribble This one was brown and mostly hairless, with a black Mohawk. It’s “breeding card” said it won every contest it was in because all the other tribbles usually dropped out, for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/30 "2003-03-14T08:13:52Z")
**astro** , I expect Cat will be there, yes. Yes, **Baker** , a Chocolate Symposium. Certainly a long-standing Gaylaxicon tradition. Mmmm! Just make sure you bring milk. 😉 And we’re planning on having an AIDS charity auction hosted by none other than David Gerrold, who, ironically enough, wrote “The Trouble With Tribbles” for the original Star Trek series! He’s also written a lot of great books, one of which one a Spectrum award, and another which just got nominated for a Lambda award. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/31 "2003-03-14T13:54:55Z")
> [@](#): > > doubt there will be quite a bit of Legolas/Aragorn, Merry/Pippin and Sam/Frodo slash benig passed around. Hmm. I wonder if there will be a market for the Balrog/Gandalf bit I wrote a while ago… ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/32 "2003-04-01T20:59:42Z")
Woo hoo! Not only did we finally sign a contract with the [Red Lion Hanalei Hotel](http://www.hanaleihotel.com), and ubercool Hawaiian-themed hotel for the convention, but we also got another GoH confirmed - [David Gerrold](http://www.gerrold.com/index-2.htm), who, to quote his web page: > [@](#): > > … is the Hugo and Nebula award winning author of _The War Against The Chtorr_, _Jumping Off The Planet_, _The Martian Child_, _The Voyage of the Star Wolf_, _The Man Who Folded Himself_, _When HARLIE Was One_, and “The Trouble With Tribbles” episode of _Star Trek_. I’m giddy with excitement - GIDDY, I tell you! 😃 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/33 "2003-04-01T21:47:10Z")
I want to come. I have no idea how I’ll get there or rationalise taking the time off so close to finals. But as of now, I really want to come. I have a year to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/34 "2003-04-01T22:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > **I’m giddy with excitement - GIDDY, I tell you! 😃** And this is different from normal how? 🙂 [sub]BTW, I’ve been meaning to ask you: being a SCAdian, do you have a coat of arms? If so what’s your blazon?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/35 "2003-04-01T22:43:55Z")
😛 And I do have a device, although I couldn’t blazon it to save my life - that’s what heralds are for. 😃 Basically, the top half is a cow on a blue field, and the bottom half is a horizontal blue feather on a white field. Why do you ask, m’lord? Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/36 "2003-04-01T22:49:23Z")
Do **Buffy** and **Angel** fans count as part of the _Fantasy_ fandom? Will there be anything for us there? ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/37 "2003-04-01T23:18:29Z")
Oh, heavens yes, especially considering the lesbian subtext on _Buffy_. Heck, one of the biggest complaints of Worldcon last year were that there were _too many_ _Buff_ panels. In fact, we’ll probably be inviting Joss Wheadon as a guest (although we probably won’t get him). Esprix ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/38 "2003-04-01T23:46:19Z")
What position is the cow in? And do you have a link? (just curious… i’m into heraldry 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/39 "2003-04-02T00:14:37Z")
Me, too, **matt**. > [@](#): > > Basically, the top half is a cow on a blue field, and the bottom half is a horizontal blue feather on a white field. Here’s a shot at it: Blanc[sup]1[/sup], a feather azure fesswise, on a chief of the second a cow[sup]2[/sup] proper[sup]3[/sup] passant[sup]4[/sup]. [ol][li] Technically, white is “argent” (=silver), but there are strong grounds for making the distinction, among them the official arms of the Prince of Wales, which have a white label on the neck of a silver unicorn. Untraditionally but in the interests of precision, I use “blanc” for white as a color as distinct from “argent” which is specifically silver and a metal.[/li][li]Probably ought to be “vache” in the Anglicized Old French vocabulary of heraldry, but modern heraldry has tended to use standard English except for those things which are specifically and traditionally heraldic.[/li][li]“Proper” means in its natural color(s); if the cow is a specific heraldic color, substitute it. A Hereford in its normal ruddy-bronze coloration would be proper; a cow that was fire-engine red would be “gules.”[/li][li]What the cow is doing is important – I used “passant” – walking and facing in the direction he’s walking (assumedly towards the right of the shield as viewed). “Statant” is standing there, “rampant” is rearing. “Gardant” is looking out from the shield at the viewer, and is used after “passant” etc.; “regardant,” used likewise, is looking back over its shoulder towards its tail. (“At gaze,” normally used only of various deer, is identical to “statant gardant.”)[/ol][/li] To get back to the OP, I’ll be glad to deliver to the offices of _The Front Page_, our local gay newspaper, any publicity you send me. Don’t forget to mail press releases to the appropriate gay media, particularly the smaller papers that are desperate for interesting gay-themed stories other than “Fred Phelps picketed X last week” – and call the _Advocate_ – they’ll probably do a story if they get enough advance notice (_Out, Genre_, and their imitators probably won’t; it won’t fit their editorial policy, which as far as I can see consists entirely in flogging their advertizers’ products using sexy models). Dunno if _XY_ would or not, but it can’t hurt to touch base with them. And emphatically be sure to send press stuff to _Locus_, any SoCal semiprozines and established fanzines, and the conventions column in _Analog_ (see any issue’s conlist for the proper address to send notices). ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771/40 "2003-04-02T00:31:57Z")
Lord, **Poly** - if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a queer geek yourself! (And _Locus_ is a 'natch - their web editor won a Hugo last year at Worldcon and I was lucky enough to meet him and his partner at the Gaylaxians party afterwards.) And, um some of that blazon is correct, but I’d have to dig up my approval to get it right. We had quite a time figuring it out. And remember, _real_ heraldry isn’t quite the same as _SCA_ heraldry. Esprix [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/queer-science-fiction-geeks-unite/160771.md?page=3)