The LGBTQ-friendly video game convention known as GaymerX may be back, and that’s good news for those who understand the value of diverse spaces in game culture.
We reported in April that this year’s GaymerX con—the second of its kind—would be the last, owing to the size of the event and its associated costs. But according to a statement from GaymerX organizers, Blizzard Entertainment, Devolver Digital, Coffee Stain Studios, Hornet Networks, and Dim Bulb Games among others have all stepped up in light of that news to support the convention.
Buoyed by all of this support, the GaymerX organizers are running a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a third iteration of the con, which will be called GX: Everyone Games.
The Kickstarter page divulges that Blizzard Entertainment alone has donated $10,000. Hornet Networks has donated $50,000 in free ad space on their social networking app designed for the gay community.
Ten other companies and individuals, including independent game publisher Devolver Digital, Mike Bithell (developer of Thomas Was Alone), public relations firm TinsleyPR, and Coffee Stain Studios (developer of Goat Simulator), have donated $3,000 each to the cause. Those donations were made before the Kickstarter campaign to support GX: Everyone Games was launched.
The name of the con has been changed from “GaymerX” to “GX: Everyone Games” to reflect the fact that GaymerX represents a safe space not only for members of the LGBTQ community, but also their allies.
The toxicity within the video game world is very much tied to chauvinistic attitudes and a refusal to accept that video games are enjoyed by diverse groups of people.
All kinds of gamers, and not just members of the LGBTQ community, have chosen to reject those attitudes. And the recent events regarding a rash of doxxing and misogyny have made it clear that everyone can benefit from a safe space within video game culture.
The goal of the Kickstarter campaign is to raise $80,000, which is 51 percent of the projected costs of the convention. As of the time this article was published, the campaign has raised more than $19,000, and has 23 days to go.
Screengrab via GaymerX
