[UPDATED!] CONvergence PSA: Safe Adults/Spaces List
Since harassment has always been a problem at conventions (though CONvergence has put forth a wonderful effort to combat harassment and assault), I have asked around for people to be known as available at the convention in case you or someone you know are being harassed.
It has become even more important to have these sorts of people widely known and recognizable, especially since after Sushi Killer’s CONsent project went viral, there has been a rash of people explicitly threatening to sexually assault women at conventions this year, in retaliation for standing up for themselves.
You may find this list useful if you are being harassed or threatened and don’t feel comfortable going to con staff/security/police, if you need to be around people that will not harm you (I’m vouching for them, which I guess isn’t much, but it’s something), or if you just need reassurance that not everyone is a sexist asshole.
This list is not just for persons under the age of 18 - this is for anyone who may feel threatened, uncomfortable, or harassed. Male, female, anywhere in between or outside of the binary.
Some of these people have volunteered to be a human shield if need be. Even if they are not necessarily able to physically protect you themselves, they are absolutely willing to help find you someone or something to protect you.
I have a lot of faith in the staff of CONvergence, but I also know that approaching con staff when you are being harassed can be downright terrifying (see: My experiences with TeslaCon). Where possible, I am including photos of the members of this list, and what their cosplays will be.
To reiterate: This list is not affiliated with CONvergence Events, but is a list of persons who will be attending CONvergence this year, and would like to help anyone in any way they can.
Tumblr usernames are on here as well, if they have one. If you would like to be added to the list, please let me know! I’d like to keep this as updated as possible in the week before CONvergence, and I’d love to have schedules of what costumes people will wear which days, if possible. I’ll update my own in the next couple of days, once I’ve sorted out my schedule.
Safe Adults/Spaces List:
Me/Jackie/phiremangston
I’ll be cosplaying a reptile lady on Thursday, femme!Nightcrawler (daytime) and Electro Girl (evening) on Friday, a war faerie on Saturday, and the above steampunk outfit on Sunday. The first two will involve a lot of body paint, so look for blue and green!
Emilie/thequeenofmorons
She will be recognized as femme!Raphael from TMNT in a group cosplay, and another tumblr cosplay.
Grace/berlinreplica
She will be cosplaying as a modern version of Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Graham/queelez
He will be dressed as The Master on Thursday, and then also as Lord Byron, Sif (from Thor), and Q (from Quantum of Solace).
Reed
Well, last year he was, rather obviously, Seneca Crane at last year’s CONvergence. He’s also over 6’ tall, which is helpful for looking intimidating to assholes. This year he will be seen as Greg House and Austin Powers.
Red
She’ll be in steampunk gear on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. On Saturday, she’ll be dressed as the Killer Rabbit from Monty Python.
Dan
This dude also runs around dressed as Deadpool-dressed-as-Sailor-Moon. Sometimes.
Apollo
Apollo’s pretty well-known in the convention circuit. He’ll be around as Jareth the Goblin King and as a Klingon Jedi knight.
Zem/Brooce/chronicluscious
Zem can often be recognized as a model for Heather Luca’s corsets (Scoundrelle’s Keep), as well as a couple other vendors, I think. She’ll be dressing as Jack from Mass Effect, and Sansa from GoT.
Eric/waterforjellyfish
I have no idea what he’ll be wearing this year. But he’s tall. Really freaking tall. And super nice.
Bess/ladybessyboo
Above is what’s probably her most recognized costume, as it was featured on io9.com. Femme!Jack Harkness. This year she’ll be around as Thor, Captain Kirk, and possibly femme!Jack again.
Sarah/shinychickens
Sarah will be dressing mostly steampunk this year, I believe.
kneecapdisplay
This is legit the largest picture I could find of her. She’ll be femme!Pyramid Head (with a handler who will communicate what’s going on to her), and a humanized Panic from Hercules.
Rin/thevictorinox
She’ll be cosplaying Black Canary, 50’s Housewife Wonder Woman, John Watson, and Boo from Monster’s Inc. She’ll also be around at the Scoundrelle’s Keep booth.
Spaces/People Without Photos Thus Far:
and-also-lace has volunteered to be a Safe Adult, and will be in a Royal Manticoran Navy uniform. She has also vouched for the Royal Manticoran Navy room party (room 229) as being as much of a harassment-free zone as they can make it. She said many of the members will be on your side if you experience harassment.
elendraug/Can Town St. Louis - I don’t have confirmation that this person/group will be at CONvergence, but elendraug has asked me to place both on the list, and any co-leaders will also provide safe spaces if they happen to be at the con.
mousezilla has volunteered!
Sigrid Ellis/sigridellis (that’s their badge name) has volunteered!
Adrienne (optimysticals) and her partner Mick have volunteered, and will be in the dealers room!
Dirk/stellarvisionary has volunteered!
Anime Detour/Anime Twin Cities is a safe space, and Rin said to mention her if you need to let someone know why you need a peaceful space there.
GPS (The Geek Partnership Society) is a safe space, and the people running it will be recognizable in blue shirts. I have met with the guy who runs this room party, and he said they also know who to contact on staff if you are having problems.
Scoundrelle’s Keep booth is a safe space, with women who will stand up for you and not take anybody’s shit! Two of the people on this list (Rin and Zem) will probably be near there.
***It has also been requested of me to mention that anyone in green and purple shirts are con staff/volunteers, and to please report harassment to them as well, in whatever way you can (even if it’s by proxy), so their report numbers are as close to correct as possible, and so they can do whatever they can to protect you and remove unsafe persons.***