dashPunk

Within fandom, as with the mainstream culture, assimilation into an ‘acceptable person’ is not a way to be safe.

For years I have participated in the panels and sundry other discussions about whether GLBT fans should blend into the background, or whether we should be more vocal, and make our presence known and felt. It was a struggle at first, but eventually we came to believe the price of silence too high for us to pay.

In other words, those who were naturally straight-acting, were encouraged not to change their persona at fan events, and those of us who were a bit more obvious in our sexual orientation and gender identity were encouraged to be ourselves. The only exception we stressed was for cosplay (dressing in costume and pretending you are what you are dressed as).

While we always used common sense, we found it was best to be open and upfront about our orientation and identity. The vast majority of negative experiences I have had at fan events were when someone found out I am gay, and felt like I had hidden it from them.

I am very inappropriate

I am more inappropriate and direct with people then the average person, and will often introduce myself: “Hello, I am Eric, and I am a gay man, may I presume you are heterosexual.”

It usually gets a laugh, and will often open the door for people to understand the awkward position GLBT people are placed in by society. If we are not open about our identity or orientation, it is assumed we were hiding it.

You don’t have to be as upfront as I am, but be careful not to lead people into believing you are covering it up. This self-serving sense of betrayal is often used as a thin veil to excuse a person’s homophobia. “Well, I just don’t know who you are anymore.” Whoever you are, always be yourself, be open, and be honest.

Klingon Drag Queen

Last year, our first klingon drag queen attended Shore Leave. She was stunning and took the time to make each piece of the costume by hand to express her gender identity and passion for klingons. Unfortunately, she also experienced an inordinate amount of sneers and cat calls as she went through the convention.

Our group also features a number of male-to-female transgenders who often come in costume. They have not faced some of the same hurdles the rest of the community have. When I talked to one who asked to remain anonymous, she told me that her biggest problem at the conventions were that people assumed she merely wore a costume.

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• Networking:
  Meet established authors and network with aspiring writers.  Join writing groups such as: Bookstacks, Written Word, Writers Guild, The Guild Of UK Writers, Third Life & Farpoint, Inksters. These groups have book and writing events weekly. You can join in a writing workshop, learn how to write poetry, listen to voice chats hosted by authors or participate in text chats. There are also some groups that put on writing contests.  Visit Book & Publishing Island to go to book conventions and hang out at Writer’s Block Café and Bar, a local hang out for writers. Check out the writer and publisher booths and find out about publishing your work with a Second Life publisher. To get there, sign up for Second Life and click this link here.
• Writing:
  Write for a Second Life magazine like Anon Literary. These magazines pay in SL money, but you can use this coin to pay rent on a space to advertise your work or so you can upload advertisements to post on writing billboards.  To visit the home of Anon Literary and submit your work, follow this link here
  
• Advertise:
  Advertise your work by renting a room or booth on book and publishing island or another place where readers and writers frequent.  You do have to pay a small fee to rent out the space, but your ad is there 24-7 for anyone who passes by to see and investigate.  Some of the writing groups allot their members a small space on their land to display their work.  There are also many author spaces that have libraries and wouldn’t might putting your book on their shelf.  Just don’t be afraid to ask!
• Meet An Author:
  Every other Sunday at 2pm at the Red Sky Club, there is a filmed tv show called Meet An Author.  This show features a new author every episode.  You can attend, ask the authors questions and even ask to be on the show yourself if you have a book or project to pitch.  You can watch previous shows here:  To attend, you can click on this link here: 
• Meet Fans, Host Events:
  Author events abound on Second Life.  If you are an established author or podcast author, the opportunities are limitless.  Host your own group, invite your fans to gatherings where they can meet you, or help host author events by offering to be on panels.

If you are interested in building your fan base, Second Life is a wonderful place to do it.  The next big author event on Second Life is March 7th & 8th.  This weekend Horror Fest is being hosted by Bookstacks and offers you the chance to see an online convention first hand.  Authors scheduled to appear are: Second Life regular Michael A. Stackpole, Mark Eller from The Hell Hole Tavern, and Emerian Rich (that’s me) author of Night’s Knights Vampire Podnovel.  To get more info about this convention, sign up for Second Life and then join the group Bookstacks.

Get started and sign up for Second Life here

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I have the schedule for this weekend. I will be on the GLBT in Fandom panel Friday, July 11 at 11 pm in Salon B and the Podcasting panel on Saturday, July 12 at 4 pm in the Tack Room. I cannot wait for our diner meet up tonight.

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