Things are difficult right now. With rising costs and calls for defunding organizations that support DEI efforts, GeekGirlCon has found itself in the same position as so many other amazing nonprofits.
GeekGirlCon made a return to in-person events in 2022 with the excitement of providing our community a physical space to gather in once again. However, the financial strain that comes with running a convention has made it increasingly difficult for us to break even. Since 2020, GeekGirlCon has been running the con at a financial deficit and we have come to a difficult point where we need to acknowledge that GeekGirlCon might not be able to make a return in 2026.
Finance Update
The team here at GeekGirlCon has been hard at work to address our current financial situation.
What we’re doing:
Adding a dedicated sponsorship and grants manager to the GGC team who is committed to increasing our corporate sponsorship and grant revenue by $50,000 in 2025
Recruiting more passionate volunteer staff and Board members to continue to run the show
Reducing the con footprint to save on venue costs
Planning fundraising events that we’ll share with the community soon
Negotiating rates as we work with the wonderful vendors and contractors
Continuing our CD investment strategy with remaining cash reserves
Reducing monthly operating costs
Running as lean as humanly possible while still maintaining everything we love about GeekGirlCon
Since returning to in-person conventions, we’ve continuously looked for ways to reduce spending as pricing, especially of goods and services, have continued to rise. In 2025 even with the reduction efforts, estimated higher labor costs may render any savings in that area null.
What we’re not doing:
Moving venues: We love having the convention in downtown Seattle because it allows for greater accessibility by public transportation and has plenty of amenities within walking distance for con attendees and staff. In the past year, we have considered different venue options both inside and outside of Seattle but any change would have required us to greatly reduce our space in exchange for minimal savings and a less accessible location. Ultimately we decided to stay with our current location. However, keeping it downtown does come with a high sunk cost. Every year, venue costs alone account for about 60% of our budget.
Raising pass prices: GeekGirlCon has raised the price of passes in the past, with our most recent pass hike occurring in 2024. We take decisions on our pass prices very seriously – and take a lot of pride in being one of the most affordable 2-day cons in Seattle. We strive to ensure anyone who wants to go to GeekGirlCon can afford to do so through lower-than-market pricing and our scholarship program. Because community is more important than ever, we chose not to raise the price of our passes.
Impact to GeekGirlCon 2025
GeekGirlCon 2025, in all its glory, will still be happening this year. Panels, workshops, games, science, cosplay… everything you expect to see at GGC will be returning to the Seattle Convention Center in November! This year we’re celebrating 15 years of providing you a community focused convention that celebrates geeks of all kinds and we’re so happy that we will get to celebrate with all of you.
GeekGirlCon is more than just a convention — it’s a home for geeks who’ve been pushed to the margins. It’s a place to feel seen, to celebrate what we love, and to find each other. That space matters — now more than ever and we need your help.
Together we can keep GeekGirlCon going
In the upcoming months, we’re going to be putting a lot of work into raising money so we can continue to put on our amazing show. In addition to the $50,000 in corporate sponsorship and grants, we’re also aiming to raise $25,000 in individual giving, plus sell an additional 400 passes to our 2025 convention.
Here are some ways that you can help us achieve these pivotal goals:
Ways to give:
Buy Passes: Pass sales, like all money raised, go directly to the con! Buy passes for yourself, your friends, your scouting troop, and share the experience with loved ones.
Donating: We’re planning on launching multiple donation campaigns over the next year, including the upcoming GiveBIG campaign in Washington and a matching fundraiser that will count down towards GGC 2025.
Sponsorship: Did you know that you can sponsor individual areas of GeekGirlCon – from specific events, rooms & stages, to entire programming zones!
Attend other GGC events: Did you know we have other events outside of the convention? We host a monthly book club at Outsider Comics (masks are mandated) and a Creative Community Drop-In at Distant Worlds Coffeehouse.
Spread the word: Tell folks you know about us! We learn every year that people are learning about GeekGirlCon for the first time.
Write us a review: Yep, conventions need reviews too. If you’ve attended GeekGirlCon before, let people know what you think!
If GeekGirlCon has meant something to you, or if you believe in the importance of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for all kinds of geeks — we’re asking for your help. Every dollar — whether from donations, passes, or merch — goes directly to running the con. We’re 100% volunteer-run, and every bit of support helps keep the lights on.
Together, we can keep the GeekGirlCon community strong and ensure it continues into the future. Thank you all for the support you’ve provided us in the past and into the future. GeekGirlCon is what it is because of you.
Growing up, I was a Black girl, but I often felt like I didn’t quite fit into society’s expectations associated with that label. My interests in cartoons, books, and video games set me apart from what others expected. However, these forms of media provided me with both comfort and a means to explore and understand my identity, mainly since my parents rarely talked about my cultural background beyond the skin color I inherited. It wasn’t until middle school that I learned about my mother’s Trinidadian heritage, and I discovered my father’s Panamanian heritage only at the end of high school.
Media helped me understand many things my parents wouldn’t discuss. However, I couldn’t blame them; they were two immigrants who came to the United States at a young age and had to figure everything out on their own. While the media played a significant role in my upbringing, it was largely dominated by an overwhelming presence of whiteness. The TV shows and movies I watched primarily featured white characters. The books available in my school library typically focused on white protagonists or animals. The video games for sale often lacked representation of anyone who looked like me.
Representation of Black girls like me was mostly absent in the media.
Media representation extends far beyond race and gender. It also includes ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, and mental health conditions. The media influences societal self-perception and perceptions of others, prompting discussions about representation across various platforms. There is an increasing demand for authentic and inclusive representation, especially in the video game industry, where discussions have arisen about portraying and integrating diverse characters and narratives into gaming experiences.
For instance, one key example of these discussions in video games is the representation of Black female protagonists. Discussing the representation of Black female protagonists in video games is vital in today’s gaming communities because Black female gamers are an overlooked demographic that deserves recognition and representation in the industry. Their voices and experiences must be acknowledged and celebrated, as they contribute to the gaming landscape that doesn’t adequately represent them.
Representation fosters a sense of belonging by allowing Black female gamers to see themselves authentically reflected in the games they play, which validates their identities and affirms their presence within the gaming world.
This sense of belonging helps counter the longstanding stigma that video games are exclusively for White cisgender males. This stereotype often marginalizes and excludes Black women from feeling accepted in gaming environments. By highlighting Black female protagonists, the gaming industry can better recognize the contributions and experiences of Black female gamers while challenging damaging stereotypes.
To comprehend the importance of Black female protagonists in video games, let’s delve into Black women’s demographics in the American gaming spaces. While there are limited specific statistics available on Black female gamers, the Entertainment Software Association (2024) reports that there are 190.6 million video game players in the United States, with 46% identifying as female. Furthermore, 12% of American gamers are Black or African American. These statistics show approximately 10.5 million Black female gamers, representing about 5.5% of the total gaming population in the United States. In comparison, the general Black female population in the United States is about 23,530,579, making up roughly 6.92% of the total US population (United States Census Bureau, 2024).
Black women are not well represented in gaming compared to their numbers in the general population. This lack of representation raises questions about inclusion in the gaming industry.
Black female gamers face barriers, such as not having relatable characters, targeted marketing that overlooks them, and stories that do not reflect their experiences. This situation indicates that gaming spaces may not be welcoming or inclusive for Black women, which could discourage them from taking part in a medium that should be for everyone.
The experiences of Black female gamers in gaming spaces are greatly shaped by the complexities of their intersecting identities as both Black individuals and women. This intersection of race and gender creates a distinct lived reality, requiring them to navigate environments where they are frequently underrepresented and marginalized. As Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989), an American civil rights advocate and a scholar of critical race theory, explained, intersectionality highlights how overlapping identities can lead to either discrimination or privilege, illustrating the multifaceted experiences of Black female gamers.
In gaming spaces, this intersectionality is evident through hostile interactions, such as racial and gender harassment, and the psychological impact of stereotype threat (Richard & Gray, 2018). TreaAndrea M. Russworm, PhD, professor of interactive media and games division at the University of Southern California, noted that “[a] history of white supremacy runs deep in the gaming industry, both past and present…[and] doesn’t value or even acknowledge Black women players” (Starks, 2023). The continued marginalization of Black female gamers results in their existence and contributions being overlooked.
Black female gamers frequently face negative experiences due to barriers tied to both their race and gender, a phenomenon often described as racialized misogyny. These challenges can create a profound sense of isolation, reminiscent of the exclusion many marginalized gamers feel in the gaming community (Richard & Gray, 2018). Isolation can negatively impact an individual’s mental health by fostering feelings of loneliness, which in turn increases the risk of anxiety and depression (Mann et al., 2022). Loneliness can lead to mental and physical health problems, like increased stress, higher inflammation, and negative thoughts. Over time, these issues can make loneliness feel even worse.
Many Black female gamers reported feeling isolated in gaming spaces due to not only a lack of representation and inclusivity but also the prevalence of racism and online harassment, particularly from men (Starks, 2023). Many female gamers, especially Black female gamers, have faced harassment from males who make racist, vulgar, or sexist comments on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. A 2023 report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on hate and harassment in gaming reveals that the harassment rate for women is 8%, while for Black gamers, it stands at 50%. This report does not include specific research on the experiences of Black female gamers. However, the available data suggests that the unreported harassment rate they face could be even higher, potentially ranging from 55% to 70%.
Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda)
When analyzing mainstream AAA games and established franchises, it becomes clear that Black female characters are present in the gaming world, though they are rarely the main protagonists. A look at video game history reveals that female video game characters were often depicted in ways that reinforced traditional gender roles. For example, characters like Pauline in Donkey Kong and Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda were depicted as damsels in distress, needing rescue from male protagonists (Bashir, 2022). In the 1990s, the introduction of strong female video game protagonists, such as Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, marked a significant shift. However, while many people credit Lara Croft as the first female protagonist in video games, the true pioneer was Billie Sue, a farmer girl from the 1982 game Wabbit for the Atari 2600, which a Vietnamese woman created.
Wabbit’s Billie Sue character
Regarding Black characters, most of their earliest portrayals were as athletes in sports title video games, reinforcing the “Black Athlete Trope.” The first playable Black video game character was widely recognized as the athlete in Atari’s Basketball, which was released in 1979 and depicted in color (Edwards, 2009). However, there is ongoing debate about whether the character in Sega’s Heavyweight Champ, released in 1976, could also be considered the first Black playable video game character, due to the game’s ambiguous black-and-white graphics (Norwood, 2021). Historically, Black characters in video games were often reduced to merely being selectable options in fighting games or serving as secondary characters that supported their white counterparts, who were typically the main protagonists. It wasn’t until 1987 that the first Black male video game protagonist appeared in the lesser-known PC game Mandroid (NowThis Nerd, 2018).
Black female protagonist D’Arci Stern in Urban Chaos
The gaming world didn’t see its first Black female protagonist until 1999 with D’Arci Stern in Urban Chaos (DirecTV, 2022). Since then, a report from DiamondLobby shows that only 8.3% of the main characters in video games are women from non-white ethnic backgrounds (Lin, 2023). This statistic highlights the ongoing challenges of achieving diversity and inclusion in gaming. Black female protagonists are rare, even many years after D’Arci’s introduction. Several recent examples of Black female protagonists in gaming include Nilin Cartier-Wells from Remember Me, Clementine from Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and Alfre “Frey” Holland from Forspoken. However, despite these characters, the gaming industry still struggles to create authentic and well-developed Black female protagonists.
Frey Holland, protagonist of Forspoken
From the perspective of a Black woman in gaming, it is essential to address issues such as colorism, harmful stereotypes, and the portrayal of trauma concerning Black female protagonists to improve their representation, especially since there are about 10 million Black female gamers whose experiences are largely overlooked in current gaming representation (Entertainment Software Association, 2024). Improving representation is not about just ticking a diversity checkbox. It calls for an industry to reflect its diverse audience authentically. Elevating these voices not only combats harmful stereotypes but also enriches the gaming landscape with multifaceted characters who can inspire a broader range of players.
There needs to be greater visibility for dark-skinned Black women, rather than focusing solely on lighter-skinned or racially ambiguous Black women in lead roles. Black women should not be reduced to one-dimensional tropes such as the “Strong Black Woman” or “Sassy Black Woman.” Their narratives should not concentrate exclusively on trauma, pain, or oppression. Instead, Black female characters deserve to celebrate the joy, complexity, and positive experiences that come with their identities.
In conclusion, media representation impacts societal perceptions and individual self-identity. Representation matters, especially for the little black girl I once was who rarely saw herself reflected in the media she consumed growing up. She would often feel out of place, especially with the presence of whiteness in her interest in cartoons, books, and video games. She never really got to see herself as the hero of the story. That little black girl even felt alone and invisible.
Now as a Black woman and still a gamer, I recognize how vital authentic and multifaceted gaming representation is for Black female gamers. Representation is a powerful affirmation of their identities.
When Black female gamers see characters who they can resonate with—characters that go beyond harmful stereotypes, colorism, or narratives solely centered on trauma—it combats their feelings of isolation by reinforcing that their presence and perspective matter in the gaming community. It cultivates a sense of belonging in an industry where they have been historically underrepresented or misrepresented. Addressing the representation of Black female protagonists in gaming is not just a matter of diversity. It is about creating inclusive narratives that acknowledge Black female gamers. By doing so, the gaming industry can provide the representation that many Black female gamers, like my younger self, desperately need to see.
Ashlee Lawson-Kilpatrick
References:
Anti-Defamation League. (2023). Hate is No Game: Hate and Harassment in Online Games 2023.
Bashir, D. (2022, May 18). World’s First Female Video Game Protagonist Was Created by a Vietnamese Programmer. Retrieved from IGN Southeast Asia: https://sea.ign.com/wabbit/185503/news/worlds-first-female-video-game-protagonist-was-created-by-a-vietnamese-programmer
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139–167. Retrieved from https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1052&context=uclf
DirecTV. (2022, February 28). The Evolution of Black Female Video Game Characters. Retrieved from DirecTV: https://www.directv.com/insider/black-history-month-the-evolution-of-black-women-in-video-games/#:~:text=It’s%20a%20somewhat%20distressing%20fact,deserved%20time%20in%20the%20spotlight.
Edwards, B. (2009, January 19). The First Black Video Game Character. Retrieved from Vintage Computing and Gaming: https://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/536/the-first-black-video-game-character
Entertainment Software Association. (2024). 2024 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry. Retrieved from Entertainment Software Association: https://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Essential-Facts-2024-FINAL.pdf
Google. (2023, February). Google Global Insights Diversity Equity & Inclusion Report Feb 2023. Retrieved from https://games.withgoogle.com/: https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/gamer_research_on_dei.pdf
Lin, B. (2023, February 22). Diversity in Gaming Report: An Analysis of Diversity in Video Game Characters. Retrieved from DiamondLobby: https://diamondlobby.com/geeky-stuff/diversity-in-gaming/#:~:text=Gender%20Diversity%20in%20Video%20Games,females%20of%20non%2Dwhite%20ethnicities.
Mann, F., Wang, J., Pearce, E., Ma, R., Schlief, M., Lloyd-Evans, B., . . . Johnson, S. (2022, May 18). Loneliness and the onset of new mental health problems in the general population. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(11), pp. 2161-2178. doi:doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02261-7
Nadal, K. (2021, December 27). Why Representation Matters and Why It’s Still Not Enough. Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-the-people/202112/why-representation-matters-and-why-it-s-still-not-enough
Norwood, R. (2021, February 26). Coding Blackness: A History of Black Video Game Characters. Retrieved from WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/black-character-history-video-games/
NowThis Nerd. (2018, February 8). The History of Black Video Game Characters | NowThis Nerd. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-xEABBIk_8&t=185s
Richard, G. T., & Gray, K. L. (2018, January). Gendered Play, Racialized Reality: Black Cyberfeminism, Inclusive Communities of Practice and the Intersections of Learning, Socialization and Resilience in Online Gaming. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 39(1), pp. 112-148. doi:10.5250/fronjwomestud.39.1.0112
Starks, S. L. (2023, August 22). Black Girl Gamers Band Together Against 2023’s Final Boss: Loneliness. Retrieved from allure: https://www.allure.com/story/black-girl-gaming-groups-loneliness?utm_source=chatgpt.com
United States Census Bureau. (2024). QuickFacts: United States. Retrieved from United States Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/RHI225223#RHI225223
As you may have noticed with last week’s 2025 convention announcement, GGC is moving from a mask mandated convention to a mask strongly recommended one. Since then, we’ve heard concerns from our community about how this policy change was communicated, especially the lack of transparency in not mentioning it directly in our newsletter or on social media. We apologize for the shock this caused. We realize that we should have announced this policy change separately and prior to ticket sales opening.
We have heard from community members reaching out via email and on our Discord to ask questions and seek more information as to why the mask policy was changed. The decision to update this policy did not come lightly.
GGC has fewer people on staff now than we did in 2019. We have struggled to fill agent roles. During the 2024 convention, we heard from attendees who were concerned with inconsistencies in how we were enforcing the mask mandate. Due to our lack of funding and volunteers, we’ve realized we are unable to improve enforcement for 2025.
Ultimately, we no longer have the resources to produce a fully masked convention. We acknowledge that the decision to move from a mask mandated convention to a mask strongly recommended will directly impact some of our most vulnerable community members and prevent them from attending GeekGirlCon. Though we can’t fully make up for changing this policy in a large way, we are trying our best to support the community in other ways.
We are requiring our staff, agents, and venue staff to continue masking, and will also be continuing to provide complimentary KN95 masks at the entrance and throughout the rest of the convention. We are actively looking into how we can support a more robust online experience during the event, including expanding our online offerings beyond streaming the main stage. Additionally, we will continue to host our mask protected community events, like our monthly book club series.
Some community members shared confusion over our choice to continue to post photos of our attendees in masks. Not only are these the most recent pictures from our last few conventions, but we firmly believe that since we will be strongly recommending masking at our 2025 convention, we need to normalize masking through our promotional materials.
We understand that this decision has impacted different parts of the community in different ways; we encourage people to continue to reach out at communityprotection@geekgirlcon.com.
While much of the outreach we have received so far has been respectful and thoughtful, unfortunately, some of it has violated our harassment policy. As such, comments have been turned off on this blog post and on associated social media posts, in order to simultaneously protect our volunteer staff from further harm and ensure all comments, questions, and ideas are funneled directly to the board. Everyone that runs GeekGirlCon, from agents to staff to the board of directors, is a volunteer. We will respond to emails we receive about this change as soon as we can in the coming days but please understand that any delay in response does not reflect a lack of appreciation or care for the emails sent. Thank you for your patience and continued support!
🗺️🚩Familiarize yourself with the con layout and plot your most efficient course to maximum geekery by checking out the official floor maps here.
GeekGirlCon Programming Schedule:
There are so many fun and geeky things to do at GeekGirlCon! From bugs to fanfiction and from comics to crafts, you’ll definitely discover something for your brand of geekdom. Here’s just the teeniest of samplers just to get you excited before you rush over to check out the complete programming schedule!
Panels:
So How Often So You Think About the Galactic Empire?
Women’s Brick Initiative: Inspiring Women and Girls to Create With LEGO® Bricks
Pop-up Murder Mystery – The Curious Carnival
PLUS:
Get your game on at GeekGirlCon!
Video Gaming: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Location: Okoye
Play amazing video games and meet developers from near and far! Video games include: Astrolander, Potions: A Curious Tale, Surradia, Unstable Scientific, Clockwork Ambrosia, So, This Vampire Walks into a Bar, Fisti-Fluffs, Puzzle, Depot, Heart of the Dungeon, Fall For You, Desert Angels, Feltopia, Vago, and more!
Console/VR Free Play also returns to GeekGirlCon with this year’s best co-op titles alongside the single player hits. Come bring a friend or make some new ones!
Tabletop Gaming:
9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: Storm
Play amazing tabletop games and meet developers from near and far! Tabletop games include: Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Epilogue, Blood on the Clocktower, Hummingbird Sugar Rush / Fiebre de Azúcar en Colibríes, Flesh and Blood TCG, Executive Producer, For All Mankind, and more!
You can also join developers, creators, and influencers as they play the games they love, chat about the games they’ve made, and have some fun on our Let’s Play Stage in Okoye! We have Tabletop and Video Games content on both Saturday and Sunday. Check the schedule for a list of events!
You can learn more about the diverse and exciting range of both tabletop and video game content coming to GeekGirlCon 2024 HERE.
Learn something new at GeekGirlCon!
DIY Science Zone: Saturday, November 9: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday, November 10: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Across from registration
Visit the DIY Science Zone, where our highly-trained team of scientists and science educators will guide you through a selection of fun experiments and answer all your questions about their scientific specialty. Don’t forget to make your own slime to take home and see if you’re brave enough to hold Beyonce the tarantula in your hands!
Treat yourself to some shopping at GeekGirlCon!
Vendor Hall: We’re so excited for you to see all of the goods and goodies that our exhibitors will be bringing to this year’s convention and get your shop on! It’s a great place to get all your holiday shopping done, AND treat yourself to a variety of geek merchandise.
Every exhibitor at GeekGirlCon is hand-selected—from artists to artisans, shop a variety of hand-crafted wares and inspiring creations. From t-shirts and fashionable accessories, to art prints and stickers, there’s bound to be a little something for every geek! You can browse this year’s list of vendors HERE.
This is also where you can find the Official GeekGirlCon Merchandise Booth – new and improved location in booth 709 – for all your geek shopping in one awesome location!
2024 Featured Contributors:
We’re so excited to be featuring some absolutely amazing Featured Contributors at GeekGirlCon 2024. They’ll be talking graphic novels, audiobooks, inclusive board gaming, whether or not you should go to art school, and more!
Check here for the full details of where you can find GeekGirlCon 2024’s amazing lineup of Featured Contributors.
Meetups: Connect with your fellow geeks and bond over your favorite franchises—we’ll be hosting a variety of meetups for every fan throughout the weekend.
GeekGirlCon on Twitch: If you can’t make it to GeekGirlCon this year, of course we are super bummed about that. However, the GeekGirlCon twitch team will once again be streaming awesome mainstage content, feature, interviews, and behind -the-scenes tidbits for your FREE viewing pleasure on the GGC twitch channel.
Give us a follow on twitch.tv/geekgirlcon to experience the awesomeness of GeekGirlCon all year long where we create & host content for all geeks —from science & art to comics & gaming!
Please remember to bring your mask, as GeekGirlCon will once again be a fully-masked event to help us gather in-person safely. You can check our full Covid-19 Policies below:
A few other reminders:
You must wear your valid GeekGirlCon badge at all times to be admitted to the con or events during con weekend.
Please keep in mind that GeekGirlCon is an all-ages event. We strive to maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for children and adults.
If you are taking photographs of attendees, please respect those that do not wish to be photographed or recorded by asking permission to take pictures and avoiding anyone with a “do not photograph” sticker.
Remember to take care of yourself, stay hydrated, and take breaks in the Geek Retreat room when you need them.
Have fun, be safe, be respectful, and we’ll see you at the con!
This year, GeekGirlCon is rolling out the geek carpet for an incredible lineup of featured contributors who are set to inspire, entertain, and ignite your passion for all things geeky! Wondering who these amazing geeks are and where you can learn more about them? You’ve come to the right place! Get excited about the 2024 GeekGirlCon Featured Contributors and the panels and special events where you can find them on November 9 & 10!
🌟Banana Chan, Game Designer and Publisher:
Banana Chan is a Cantonese Canadian game designer, writer and publisher living in Seattle. Her most notable work has been on Forgery, Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, The Revenant Society, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, Chucky: the board game and Betrayal at House on the Hill: 3rd Edition. They won Dicebreaker Awards’ Game Designer of the Year 2022 and 2 Silver ENnie Awards in 2022.
🌟Eunnie, Author-Illustrator:
Eunnie is an author-illustrator based in Washington. She loves exploring relationships through her art and writing, and finds much joy in the portrayal of queer intimacy. When she’s not cooking up new stories, Eunnie spends her time watching video essays and collecting hoodies in every color. Her debut graphic novel, If You’ll Have Me, was created in the spirit of shoujo romance, and is her love letter to women and sapphics everywhere.
🌟Maia Kobabe, Cartoonist:
Maia Kobabe is a nonbinary queer cartoonist, a kpop fan, a voracious reader, and a daydreamer. You can learn an astonishing number of intimate details about em in GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR (America’s most challenged book in 2021-2023) and in eir short comics and writing published in The Nib, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, NPR, and Time Magazine. Maia’s second book is BREATHE: JOURNEYS TO HEALTHY BINDING (2024) with Dr Sarah Peitzmeier and e is currently working on SAACHI’S STORIES (2026) with Lucky Srikumar.
🌟Natalie Naudus, Audiobook Narrator:
“A fave among audiobook listeners” (Buzzfeed), Natalie Naudus is one of the most beloved audiobook narrators working today. She has won an Audie award and nine Earphones awards, and maintains a robust social media following. She lives with her family on a mountain in Virginia. Gay the Pray Away is her debut novel.
🌟Mad Rupert, Cartoonist:
Mad Rupert is less than 5 feet tall and lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. She got her start in online comics over ten years ago, and authors two ongoing webcomics: Sakana, a slice-of-life workplace comedy, and Robber-Robert, a sci-fi romance for mature readers. She has also worked extensively on comic adaptations of Cartoon Network properties like Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Steven Universe, and is the artist for Bunt!, an upcoming ogn written by Ngozi Ukazu, published in Feb 2024 through First Second. ‘Mad’ is short for Madeline, she’s not actually angry.
🌟Ngozi Ukazu, Graphic Novelist:
Ngozi Ukazu is a DC Comics artist, New York Times-bestselling graphic novelist, and creator of comics like Check, Please!, BUNT!, and the upcoming graphic novel FLIP. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing in the Arts and has been featured in The New Yorker.
So, where can you find these amazing humans at GeekGirlCon 2024?
SATURDAY, November 9:
Should I go to Art School and Other Questions Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Garnet
Speakers: Mad Rupert, Ngozi Ukazu, Eunnie
Want to pursue a career in animation or illustration, but not sure if going to art school is worth it? You’re not alone! Join Eunnie (If You’ll Have Me), Mad Rupert (Bunt!, Sakana), and Ngozi Ukazu(Bunt!, Check, Please!) to discuss the pros, cons, and everything in-between of the great art school conundrum.
Autobio Comics: A Conversation with Maia Kobabe and Ashley R Guillory Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: Garnet
Speakers: Maia Kobabe, Ashley R Guillory
Description: Long time friends and autobio comic authors Maia and Ashley talk about turning memories into stories, why one moment might spark a comic and not another, working in short form and pitching full length memoir books, ethical questions about protecting the identities of family and friends and the veracity of memory.
It can be tough to break into art industries and publishing is no different. Join Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer), Natalie Naudus (Gay the Pray Away), Mad Rupert (Bunt!, Sakana), and Ngozi Ukazu (Bunt!, Check, Please!) as they discuss all the hurdles, pitfalls, and forks in the road to publishing.
Moving Past Medieval Europe in TTRPGs Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Furiosa
Speakers: Banana Chan, Hadeel Jeanne
The world of fantasy games can extend beyond Euro-centric castles and Anglo accents to encompass the entire world of myth and legend. Join award-winning tabletop game designer Banana Chan and GeekGirlCon Board President Hadeel Jeanne for an intimate chat about expanding game worlds across the whole globe.
SUNDAY, November 10:
The Great Board Game Design Show Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: America
Speakers: Lysa Penrose, Fertessa Allyse, Banana Chan, Shannon Lyon, Danny Quach
Watch tabletop game inventors scramble to design a board game in one hour! In this interactive panel, seasoned board game designers must combine a mystery box of components and quickfire audience prompts into one delightful, ridiculous, chaotic game concept. Shout out suggestions to design along and learn about the game design process in the most rambunctious way possible.
Finding Your Voice in Fandom: The Magic of Transformative Work Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: Garnet
Speakers: Maia Kobabe, Mad Rupert, Ngozi Ukazu, Eunnie
It’s no secret that fandom and fan works can sometimes get a bad rap from those who aren’t a part of it, but we know that’s not the whole story. Explore all the joy and benefits of fan works with Eunnie (If You’ll Have Me), Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer), Mad Rupert (Bunt!, Sakana), and Ngozi Ukazu (Bunt!, Check, Please!).
Let’s Play Forgery with Banana Chan! Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Twitch.tv/GeekGirlCon
Speakers: Banana Chan and the GGC Twitch Team!
Forgery is a story of a down-on-her-luck art forger named Tempest, who receives a new commission to recreate a painting that they discover is cursed over time. It is a solo tabletop roleplaying game where the player (you) will be coloring in a paint-by-numbers image. The colors that you choose determine the outcome to the story. Watch-along as Banana Chan demonstrates this awesome game she created and we play along!
From Script to Page: The Graphic Novel Process Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Rey
Speakers: Tori Sharp (moderator), Mad Rupert, Ngozi Ukazu, Eunnie
Graphic novels are one of the fastest-growing genres in publishing today and with good reason! Graphic novels offer a chance to connect with readers who struggle with traditional novels and provide beautiful art to accompany the story. Join Eunnie (If You’ll Have Me), Mad Rupert (Bunt!, Sakana), and Ngozi Ukazu (Bunt!, Check, Please!) as they speak on the unique process of building a graphic novel from beginning to end.
Reading with your Ears: The Euphonious World of Audiobook Narration Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Rey
Speakers: Natalie Naudus
Whether you read with your eyes or your ears, reading is reading! Audiobooks are an engaging, accessible, and fun way to read, but where would we be without the dulcet tones of our favorite narrators? Join featured contributor Natalie Naudus as she discusses this exciting medium!
+ Meet your 2024 Featured Contributors one-on-one!
GeekGirlCon 2024 will be November 9 & 10 at the Seattle Convention Center.
Saturday, November 9, 2024: 9:00am – 8:00pm Sunday, November 10, 2024: 9:00am – 6:00pm Vendor Floor Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm Saturday and Sunday Friday Registration: 4:00pm – 7:00 pm
If you don’t have passes yet, it’s not too late! You can get yours HERE!
We hope you are as excited as we are to geek out with the awesome featured contributors of GeekGirlCon 2024 – See you there, geeks!
GeekGirlCon has recently been lucky enough to welcome three Seattle area high school students as interns to a 6-week internship with GeekGirlCon. They have lent us their creativity, passion, and energy and even taught us some things in return. Each amazing GGC intern has not only written a blog post, they have been working on individual projects, creating presentations, and attending learning sessions with the marketing department, the programming department, and even with the GeekGirlCon Board of Directors! They weren’t the only ones learning – the GeekGirlCon volunteers already have ideas for improvements for any future internship programs.
We asked the interns for feedback on the GeekGirlCon Intern experience, and here is what they said:
Sumaya:
Working with GeekGirlCon has been an incredibly enriching experience for me. I’ve learned so much about marketing, from creating engaging campaigns to understanding audience insights. This hands-on experience allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios, significantly enhancing my skills. The collaborative environment and the opportunity to work with passionate individuals made the journey even more rewarding. Overall, it was a great experience that has not only broadened my knowledge but also inspired me to pursue further opportunities in marketing!
~ Sumaya A.
Yarinet:
At this internship, I have had a great time getting to know all these amazing people, and the different things they do for GeekGirlCon (GGC). In my first year of high school, I took a marketing class, so I had some background knowledge when I entered the internship. With the internship, I got to expand my knowledge on marketing. I learned, and actually got to use the websites the marketing team uses when making posts on platforms such as Facebook, and Instagram. GGC uses the website Hootsuite where the team can upload posts made in Canva, and schedule a post on different sites, whether it be Instagram, or Facebook. I really enjoyed this app, not only because you could schedule the posts, but because you could add the same description and hashtags to both without having to move from post to post, unlike as if one was to post directly from the site.
I also got to learn how to use twitch, which is what the twitch team uses for their live streams, which I also learned how to upload onto Hootsuite. At my time in the internship, I was also given the opportunity to actually create a post for the upcoming GGC trivia night, which was later edited, and will later be posted! Another great thing I absolutely enjoyed doing during my time at the internship was the photoshoot for the merch. What I loved about this, was that it was all in person! I enjoyed getting to see people, and meet them in-person for the first time! This was also something I got to do with another intern, Halleluia! I had a great time working with her, taking photos, and striking different poses!
GeekGirlCon was a great experience, and I would love to work with them again in the future, as a volunteer or staff member! If anyone is interested in working with awesome geeks, with knowledge on just about anything, but are also interested in marketing, gaming, design/creativity, GGC is the to-go!
~ Yarinet
Halleluia:
Some of the things I learned at GGC was not only how to use new platforms for me like Discord and Hootsuite, where the team can upload posts made in Canva, but I also got to learn more about marketing and community communications. Since I want to go into the communications field when I go to college, it was great getting real life experience in what I could be doing in the future and it also piqued my interest in marketing.
Creating new content on social media was also something I truly enjoyed doing! One of my other favorite things from the content on social media was making Tik Toks for the account that will be seen soon I hope! I also had a great time doing the photoshoot with Yarinet. I enjoy modeling for pictures and modeling in general so this photoshoot was really fun to do. I did not have a least favorite part of this internship. I had a great time overall and would gladly intern again if I can. For anyone who wants to intern at GGC I think it would be the best idea for any student.
To students who are considering interning with GGC in the future I’d say you will definitely have a great time interning. This organization is so inclusive and makes you feel right at home when you first start. There are so many different opportunities at GGC so I would say it is the perfect place to be an intern at!
What excites me most about potentially attending GGC is finally meeting many of the people I met at this internship. I met and got to know so many amazing people at the internship.
~ Halleluia
A huge thank you to our three excellent interns, Sumaya, Yarinet and Halleluia, as well as to our internship contact Vanessa. And thank you to members of the GeekGirlCon staff who participated in supporting these geeks – from putting together trainings and projects, setting schedules, donating extra time, coordinating I.T., and even uploading this blog to the website – we appreciate every one of you!
Thank you to our GeekGirlCon intern, high school student Sumaya for the following blog post: More Geek Spaces? By Sumaya
Having geek spaces are very important because they provide a close and welcoming environment for people who share the same interests and hobbies. These spaces can help create creativity, collaborations and sense of belonging. They allow people to connect with others who have the same passions, which could be very valuable for those who might feel like a black sheep or isolated in social settings. On top of that, geek spaces often encourage learning and innovation, which can lead to new ideas and friendships.
Not only do geek spaces create a close and welcoming environment, they’re also known for their inclusive atmosphere, where diversity, backgrounds, and identities are celebrated and embraced with a warm welcome. These open spaces welcome everyone, regardless of their level of expertise or specific niche interest, creating an ocean of ideas and perspectives. This inclusivity holds a culture of acceptance and mutual respect, allowing individuals to feel loved and supported. By destroying barriers and encouraging open-mindedness, geek spaces not only enrich the experiences of each and every member but also contribute to a more diverse, welcoming, and dynamic community.
Geek spaces offer amazing opportunities for learning, making them valuable center points for personal and professional growth. These environments are overflowing with scholarly and well educated individuals who are eager to share their expertise in areas like gaming, science fiction, technology, and more. Discussions, Workshops, and collaborative projects are not uncommon, supplying hands-on experiences that increase learning. Doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner looking to be interested in a new hobby or an expert aiming to increase your skill and knowledge, geek spaces provide the community support and resources needed to create continuous learning experiences and development.
Geek spaces play a critical role in community building with individuals with shared passions and interests coming together. These spaces produce a sense of belonging, where members can connect over common hobbies and experiences. By engaging in group events, discussions, and activities, individuals create strong friendships and bonds that reach out beyond the geek space itself. This feeling of community holds mutual support, collaboration, and a welcoming environment where everyone feels valuable and embraced. In essence, geek spaces help to sew a tightly knit community where individuals can blossom both collectively and personally.
Gamers Engaged 2023 gaming charity event at Mox Boarding House in Bellevue.
In conclusion, Geek spaces are amazing for their inclusive atmosphere, creating a welcoming environment where diversity in interest and identities is celebrated. These spaces foster a home for acceptance and mutual respect, enhancing the community with many different perspectives. The community also provides ample learning opportunities, with discussions, workshops, and collaborative projects that magnify skills and knowledge across various fields. Whether you’re a newcomer or a specialist, geek spaces support continuous professional and personal growth. Additionally, these spaces are the heart for community building, creating friendships and strong bonds through shared activities and passions. By connecting common hobbies to individuals, geek spaces cultivate a sense of belonging and support, making sure everyone feels valued. Geek spaces are dynamic portals that encourage inclusivity, community, and learning, making these spaces essential for fostering a vibrant and engaged group of individuals.
Thank you to our GeekGirlCon intern, high school student Halleluia for the following blog post:
We always hear stories about the athlete or the musician highlighting the defining moments in their lives that shaped their journeys and who they are. Today I will be interviewing someone who proudly identifies as a geek: my cousin, Helina Yohannes. We will be learning more about her geeky interests, what makes her consider herself a geek, what she thinks of the word geek, how it has changed over the years, some advice she has for today’s geeks and her younger self, and how embracing her geeky passions has influenced her life for the better.
What do You Geek Out About?
“Cars. I have always liked how they looked and have been interested in how they are built and how they work and how they are each programmed differently,” Helina says. “It was the one thing that brought me and my dad together when I was a kid. Something we could bond over. He actually taught me everything I knew about cars, which led to a deep love for them and how they are programmed,” She continues with a smile on her face. “I also geek out about music. I always found it to be interesting how different melodies, chord progressions, and production can make you feel a plethora of emotions. It is just so interesting how much of a moving experience it is.” Helina enjoys a lot of different genres of music and can tell you who produced a song based off of the melody alone. “I think it is so amazing how music can bring so many different people together and connect with one another. I love how you can always feel seen and understood and it is such a great tool to express yourself.”
This is a Porsche 911, one of Helina’s favorite cars. She says if she could she would definitely want this car to be her first one she buys by herself.
In What Ways Do You Consider Yourself a Geek?
“I tend to take interest in the randomest things. For example, music! I have a different attachment to it, like I internalize it a lot more than other people do and I tend to dive into the production and the lyrics. I feel like I get more excited about these things more than a regular music listener would.” Her love of music and music production led her to spend a lot of her free time producing music. She gets inspiration from artists like Adele and Charlie Puth.
This is the Weeknd, Helina’s favorite artist. He is also another artist she gets inspiration from all the time.
How Do You Define “Geek”?
“To me, I would define a ‘geek’ as someone who is very passionate about a certain topic or subject. Someone who could completely dive into a topic, try to collect all the knowledge they can, and be able to talk about it for hours. We are enthusiasts about our certain area of focus,” Helina explains.
How Do You Think The Term “Geek” Has Changed Over the Years?
“ I feel like at some point as the internet and social media grew and became more and more of a thing, the word geek was used as a more derogatory term against people that were interested in some things that not many people were into,” Yohannes thinks. “And, since it was the norm to be the same as everyone else, everyone that was different was made fun of for being that way. So, the word geek, instead of just describing people who have particular interests and are very passionate about them, was used to alienate those same people who are eager to talk about their interests. But, now as we evolve and grow into a more conscious society, the word geek is slowly finding its way back to the meaning it was meant to have and has become more of a compliment than an insult like it was before,” Helina says she is proud to be considered a geek though and is glad that the word has been brought back to its original meaning.
Do You Have Any Advice For Today’s Geeks?
“I think my only advice for today’s geeks would be there is nothing to be ashamed about when being called a geek, or geeking out about certain interests of yours like cars, music, art history etc. Be who you are because it’ll also help others be who they really are too,” Helina advises.
If You Could Give Your Younger Self Any Advice, What Would It Be?
“I think I would say the same thing I said for today’s geeks, to own it and own who you are. Growing up I felt like I was ashamed of my interests and would hide it from others for the longest time because I just didn’t think they were cool. So, I would tell my younger self to just own it. Believe it or not those interests make you more interesting than everyone else and that ended up being the reason a lot of people wanted to be your friend.”
How Has Embracing Your Geeky Passions Influenced You and Your Major?
“Being able to embrace my passions for cars and how they work and music and how it is produced led me to want to major in computer science in college,” Helina gushes about what she chose as her major. “ Once I was able to finally be true to myself and attend clubs like Robotics, I felt like I was closer to finding what I truly wanted to do in college. Taking my first computer engineering class made me realize I found something that I would truly enjoy doing for the rest of my career.”
Robotics is a club that Helina joined later on in high school. Her robotics club was one of the reasons she realized she enjoyed computer science.
Overall
Helina had a lot to say when it came to being a geek, her opinions on the word, and how being a geek helped shape who she has become. But, overall we really got to hear how proud she is to be considered a geek and how grateful she is to finally be true to herself and her geeky passions. Without those passions and without her confidence in those passions, she wouldn’t have met and bonded with the people she knows today and she wouldn’t have found her true passion that she will be pursuing for the rest of her life. Thank you Helina!
GeekGirlCon is super excited to welcome some Seattle area high school students as they lend us their creativity, passion, and energy through their 6-week internship with GeekGirlCon. Each amazing GGC intern has written a blog post on the geeky topic of their choosing to be published on the GeekGirlCon blog!
Intern Yarinet chose to write a tv review of one of her favorite tv shows: Gilmore Girls! Here is what she has to say about it:
We are all a geek at heart, whether it be about a book, podcast, movie, or tv show. I am a geek for the tv show Gilmore Girls. I love talking about the main character, Rory Gilmore, and her development throughout the series; how many of the other characters in the show influence her in both negative and positive ways. An example can be found in the 6th season of the show. Rory had previously dropped out of Yale University, and it was not until she encountered Jess, and his famous “Why Did You Drop Out of Yale” Speech, (that all us Gilmore Geeks know my heart,) that motivates Rory to return to Yale.
I also love having debates with my friends on who the best boyfriend for Rory was, in my opinion, it was Dean. Dean was a very kind and caring boyfriend; he read Rory’s favorite books, movies, and shows. Dean put himself in uncomfortable situations, to be with Rory and see her happy. DEAN BUILT RORY A CAR, A CAR!! Dean was amazing in the first season, an amazing first boyfriend. After season one, his character started to change, and not for the better… The writers really ruined his character. But overall, in my opinion… Season 1 Dean was superior, and an amazing first boyfriend.
But what I love the most about Gilmore Girls is how it sets a role model to many girls to follow the steps of Rory Gilmore; a hardworking and studious girl, always setting goals for herself, and doing her best to strive in school, allowing her to succeed greatly academically, leading to her acceptance to Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.
Gilmore Girls is an amazing tv show. Having amazing and funny characters, such as Michel and his amazing sassy attitude. Sookie, a great chef, and her nice and caring ways toward everybody. Luke, another amazing character, who’s grumpy, but whose caring attitude could make anyone laugh. Lane, an amazing drum player, with great taste in music. Emily Gilmore, who wouldn’t love a baddie like her?! And of course, Lorelai Gilmore, Rory’s mom, with her amazing taste in fashion! And how could I forget the iconic Kirk?! Too many awesome characters in this show that could be discussed, all with different stories to follow.
And, of course, like many shows, Gilmore Girls has its ups and downs. One thing I strongly dislike is the relationship between Lorelai and her mom, Emily. Their relationship could be described as a love and hate one. Because of their strong, and different points of view, they always clash. At times they wouldn’t even talk to one another. It isn’t until big moments in the show, like Richard’s (Lorelai’s father) heart attack, that they come to understand each other, and have sympathy for one another. But stuff like this, the “negatives” of shows is what teaches us, the audience, what to avoid, and what to expect, when talking to certain people, and making certain decisions. Overall, Gilmore Girls is a great show, a 10 out of 10, I would definitely recommend!
Mark your calendars now because we’re thrilled to announce the dates for GeekGirlCon 2024:
Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10! at The Seattle Convention Center
Dive into the world of geek culture, connect with like-minded individuals, and celebrate the strength of diversity in the community. From panels and workshops to cosplay and gaming, GeekGirlCon is the ultimate gathering for all things nerdy and fantastic!
We’re on the lookout for passionate speakers, panelists, and workshop hosts to make this year’s con unforgettable! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a rising star, your unique perspective is what makes GGC special, and we can’t wait to hear your awesome ideas!
There are several programming submission forms:
Panel Submission: To submit your own panel or presentation for consideration.
Panelist and/or Moderator Application: To be considered as a panelist or moderator on any panels needing additional participants.
Workshop Submission: To submit interactive/educational content (Paint ‘n Take, hands-on wig styling tutorial, learn-to-code hour, etc.).
Games Floor Host Application: To submit a game you/your company created for consideration for the Gaming Floor.
We will accept submissions to all forms until Tuesday, April 30 at 11:59pm PST. Remember to read over our Mission & Values and ensure that your submission is in line with them.
Questions? See our Programming FAQ or contact info@geekgirlcon.com
Don’t wait – submit your programming ideas HERE today!
Vendor Applications
Calling all vendors and creators! Vendor applications for the astounding GeekGirlCon vendor hall are officially open! Secure your spot to showcase your awesome craft and creations and connect with the vibrant GGC community. The deadline for applying is June 15.
Stay connected with all your favorite GGC BFFs on our newly created community Discord channel. Join us to chat with friends old and new about your favorite geeky topics, stay connected and experience GeekGirlCon content all year round!
You can also follow us on our socials @GeekGirlCon for more details, including upcoming guest announcements, programming highlights, and more! It’s going to be an event to remember, and we can’t wait to share the geeky goodness with all of you!
🌟Banana Chan, Game Designer and Publisher:
🌟Eunnie, Author-Illustrator:
🌟Maia Kobabe, Cartoonist:
🌟Natalie Naudus, Audiobook Narrator:
🌟Mad Rupert, Cartoonist:
