Here’s a list of cons that Angel Martinez put together. If you know of an LGBT or LGBT friendly con that’s not listed, email the info to her at ravenesperanza@yahoo.com.
You’ll also find a downloadable Google Docs spreadsheet version here.
Looking for Slash Cons? There’s a great list here.
February:
Coastal Magic
http://coastalmagicconvention.com
Location: Daytona Beach
Attendance: 300
Focus: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal. Romance
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Boskone
http://www.boskone.org
Location: Boston, MA
Attendance: 1400
Focus: Science Fiction – Brought to you by the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA), Boskone is an annual science fiction convention, the oldest in New England.
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Queercon
http://queercon.ca
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Attendance: ?
Focus: “Ottawa’s premiere LGBT2SQIA+ geek culture convention… the space that queer geeks deserve!”
March:
C2E2
http://www.c2e2.com
Location: Chicago
Attendance: 62,000
Focus: Comic book and pop culture
Not LGBTQ specific but queer friendly
Shuto Con
http://www.shutocon.com/
Location: Lansing, MI
Attendance: 7-10,000
Focus: Anime and Cosplay
Not LGBTQ specific but queer friendly
April:
ClexaCon
https://www.clexacon.com/
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Attendance: 2000
Focus: Queer women/ media
A Media & Entertainment Convention for LGBTQ Women and Allies
Rainbow Book Fair
http://rainbowbookfair.org
Location: Midtown Manhattan
Attendance: 1500
Focus: LGBTQ book fair
Writer, publishers, agents across the spectrum of LGBTQ publishing
Haven Con
http://www.havencontx.com
Location: Austin
Attendance: ?
LGBTQ Geek and Gaming Con
Fandom oriented
Queers and Comics
http://www.queersandcomics.cca.edu
Location: Moves from year to year
Attendance: 300-400
Queer comics and cartoons
May:
WisCon
http://www.wiscon.info/index.php
Location: Madison, WI
Attendance: 1000
Focus: Feminist and LGBT SF con for writers
Book oriented convention, some other media
Outlantacon
http://www.outlantacon.org
Location: Atlanta, GA
Attendance: 200
Focus: Queer Geek fandoms
Yaoi/Yuri North
http://www.yaoinorth.com
Location: Toronto
Attendance: 28,000
Focus: Yaoi/Yuri
While this is an anime oriented con, all sorts of LGBTQ geek/ genre culture is welcome – runs as part of Anime North
ConquesT
http://www.conquestkc.org
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Attendance: 1100
Focus: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Marcon (Multiple Alternative Realities Convention)
held in early May
http://marcon.org
Location: Columbus OH
Attendance: 1500
Focus: Pan Greek Culture (Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science, Music, Gaming, Cosplay, Art.) Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
QFXEast
held in May
https://www.qfxevents.com
Location: Tampa FL
Attendance: ?
Focus: QFX Events aims to create diverse, inclusive and accessible events for queer fans to celebrate LGBTQ+ content.
July:
Euro Pride Con
http://europridecon.com
Location: Travels (Europe)
Attendance: ?
Focus: LGBT fiction
San Diego Comic Con
http://www.comic-con.org
Location: San Diego
Attendance: 130,000
Focus: Multigenre entertainment/ comic
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Outwrite Book Fair
http://thedccenter.org/outwritedc/
Location: Washington DC
Attendance: ?
Focus: LGBTQ themed books
Book fair, readings, panels etc.
Pride Con
http://www.pride-con.com
Location: Anaheim, Ca
Attendance: 2016 is the first year
Focus: LGBTQ pop culture, comics, anime, cosplay
ShiMMer Author Signing
hthttps://shimmerauthorevent.com/
Location: Birmingham, UK
Attendance: ?
Focus: M/M Romance, many UK based authors
August:
World Con
http://worldcon.org
Location: Travels
Attendance: 4-5,000
Focus: World Science Fiction Convention
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Flame Con
http://www.flamecon.org
Location: Brooklyn
Attendance: 2,500
Focus: Comic book and pop culture
LGBTQ specific, looking for vendors across queer media
Nine Worlds Geekfest
https://nineworlds.co.uk/
Location: London
Attendance: 1000
Focus: gaming, cosplay, fandom, literature, film, science, geek culture, not specifically LGBTQ but with queer content and queer friendly. (Also kid friendly.)
September:
Dragon Con
http://www.dragoncon.org
Location: Atlanta
Attendance: 63,000
Focus: Multigenre entertainment/ comic
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Baltimore Comic Con
http://baltimorecomiccon.com
Location: Baltimore
Attendance: 15,000
Focus: Comic book and fan culture
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
GeekGirlCon
https://geekgirlcon.com
Location: Seattle, WA
Attendance: 6000
Focus: GeekGirlCon is an organization that works to empower women and girls to pursue their passions—whether they love science and technology, comics, literature, gaming, or anything else! Not queer specific, but queer welcoming.
UK GLBTQ Meet
http://ukglbtfictionmeet.co.uk
Location: Travels (UK)
Attendance: 150
Focus: Queer Fiction
October:
WinCon
http://www.omgwincon.com
Location: Pittsburgh
Attendance: 300
Focus: Multimedia Fandom
From the WinCon website: “annual multi-fandom gathering for fans that aims to provide a safer space for women, people of color, lgbtqia+ folks, intersections thereof, and other under-represented fans of popular media and culture…”
Gaylaxicon
http://www.gaylaxicon2016.org
Location: Travels (2016 in Minneapolis)
Attendance: 400
Focus: LGBTQ SF, Fantasy and Horror
Attendance #’s are most likely outdated
GRL
https://gayromlit.com/
Location: Travels
Attendance: 400
Focus: Gay Romance/related fiction
More of a retreat than a traditional convention, GRL (Gay Romance Literature) does offer panels and readings, etc. and other opportunities for readers to connect with authors.
OVFF (Ohio Valley Filk Fest)
usually held last weekend in October
http://ovff.org
Location: Columbus OH
Attendance: 300
Focus: Filk music. Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Sirens
http://www.sirensconference.org/
Location: Beaver Creek, CO
Attendance: ?
Focus: Conference dedicated to the remarkable, diverse women of fantasy literature.
November:
Chessiecon
http://chessiecon.org
Location: Timonium (Baltimore area)
Attendance: 600
Focus: SFF and Steampunk
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Can*Con
http://can-con.org/cc/
Location: Ottawa
Attendance: ?
Focus: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Not LGBTQ specific but welcoming/ friendly
Naked Heart LGBTQ Festival Of Words
http://can-con.org/cc/
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 2000
Focus: LGBTQ Fiction – the largest and most diverse LGBTQ literary festival in the world, with an estimated 2000 attendees.