I first heard about WWU QueerCon just one day before the event. It was late April, and Bellingham was just starting to really blossom with activity like it does every Spring. I was looking forward to a weekend at home when QueerCon appeared on my Instagram feed. A queer-focused fiction media convention at Western Washington University? As a fairly recent transplant to the area, I wasn’t sure if this was a new event or maybe something only open to students— but that wasn’t the case! To my surprise and delight, QueerCon was in its eighth year in 2024, a fully developed, one-day event boasting over 100 vendors, guest speakers and panels, shows, games, and more!
QueerCon’s Origin Story
Back in 2016, a group of queer WWU students were talking about New York’s queer comic con, Flame Con. They all thought it sounded amazing, but nobody really had the time or resources to travel across the country. The next best thing was to create an event right here in Washington that would center queer creators and media!
After members from WWU queer clubs, games and comics clubs, and the WWU Queer Resource Center joined forces, the first QueerCon was held in 2017. It set the groundwork for future events with panels, a costume/cosplay contest, and over 30 exhibitors. Importantly, right from the start there was a focus on outreach, with an entire floor of Academic West dedicated to queer connection via the presence of local nonprofits, student clubs, and queer organizations.
QueerCon kept growing over the next few years, with virtual events in 2020 and 2021 that opened attendance to people around the globe. By 2024, QueerCon has made a name for itself as not just a celebratory space, but as a place for critical discussion and resource-sharing.
My Day at QueerCon
It was a drizzly Saturday when I arrived. QueerCon took up the ground, second, and third floor of the Academic West building on WWU campus. QueerCon’s programs were well documented online, with maps and schedules available on their website and posted to their Instagram, which helped me plan ahead. The event was 12 p.m.-8 p.m., with panels and events throughout the day.
My first stop was the “Folklore, Fandom, and the Invention of the Acafan” lecture, given by Melynda Huskey. Huskey was able to tell us the story of North American fandom, from its early days to now, because she lived it! Alongside Huskey’s first-hand account of typewriters and Ditto machines, she gave us a brief history of the academic interest in fandom and how it grew alongside race theory and queer theory fields (hence “acafan,” a term for academics who self-identify as fans). Like any good discussion of academia, her talk included a lot of book shoutouts to important titles like Camille Bacon-Smith’s 1991 book, “Enterprising Women: Television Fandom and the Creation of Popular Myth,” and Henry Jenkins’s 1992 “Textual Poachers.” Both texts examine transformative fanwork, who was writing it, and why.
After that, I went next door to the keynote presentation, “Finding Ourselves in Euphoria: How Radical Vulnerability, Art, and Community Can Transform Dysphoria.” This presentation was given by Dizzy Phoria, a local nonbinary drag performer. They’re well-known in town for their graphic makeup, cosplay or character-inspired drag, and trans pride. They went over the history of drag, then drag in Bellingham (did you know a famous female impersonator by the name if Julian Eltinge sold out a 2000-seat Bellingham theater in 1913?). Then they talked about modern drag and how their own drag career has helped them explore their gender, their identity, and helped them find community. They explained that even their drag name, Dizzy Phoria, is a reference to how drag helped them overcome their dysphoria. Dizzy Phoria went on to talk about how they’d started their own event in town simply called Euphoria, a drag show by trans folks for trans folks. You can attend the Pride edition of Euphoria at the Blue Room on June 8!
The last event I went to was called “Intersectionality and Afrofuturism through Janelle Monae,” an almost hour-and-a-half long presentation by WWU’s LGBTQ+ Director, Joe Hahn. Although I was a tad late due to staying back for Dizzy Phoria’s meet and greet, I believe Joe Hahn began by giving some guidelines for audience engagement throughout the talk. They went over the academic definitions and histories of intersectionality and afrofuturism (which is an aesthetic and genre that combines Black history, culture, and diaspora with futuristic settings or alternate realities). They then guided us through an overview and analysis of Janelle Monae’s body of work. Monae is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and actor whose music has been telling the story of her Black and queer experience for nearly 20 years. The main storyline throughout her work involves androids, cultural cleansing, and the fight for liberation. JoeHahn played clips of songs, provided lyric sheets, and encouraged audience members to think through the lenses of intersectionality and afrofuturism. Although I was already a Monae fan, I had never done such a deep dive and analysis of her work, and loved learning more about it.
Photographed by Kristen Boehm
After that, I hit the artist’s alley and merch hall. There were booths on all three floors of the building. I saw familiar faces from Mo’s Parlor, The Comics Place, Wild Whatcom, Glitt3r Lyfe (who was running a photo booth), and Cosmic Games—all great local businesses that are either queer-run or support the queer community. Lots of other artists, writers, and creatives were there, along with other queer-aligned organizations like Seattle Gay News, Pride IN Bellingham, Whatcom Youth Pride, and tons of WWU clubs.
By this time, I was wiped out, but I wish I’d been able to stay longer! After 5 p.m., QueerCon had several 18+ events, including a Queer Star Stories virtual planetarium show by astronomer (and Trekkie) Astro Erin, “Queer for Fear: Queer Horror Documentary and Discussion” with the Western Scream Queens, and a drag show by the Royal Gambit Drag Club.
There’s so much more to say about QueerCon. If you missed this year’s event, check out their website and follow their Instagram @wwuqueercon to learn more and stay informed! Meanwhile, don’t miss these fantastic prideful events happening this summer:
WHATCOM YOUTH PRIDE
June 1
If you’re reading this early on June 1, hustle on out to Whatcom Youth Pride and support queer youth! Every year, supporters line their parade route and cheer the kids on as they march. It’s followed by a family-friendly festival at Bellingham High School. If you missed it this year, mark it down for 2025! 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, whatcomyouthpride.com
Q CENTER OPEN HOUSE
June 7
Check out the Q Center, Downtown Bellingham’s new queer community center! Bellingham Queer Collective (BQC) is sharing the space with Northwest Youth Service’s Queer Youth Services program. This open house is a good opportunity to scope it out, meet peers and organization representatives, and learn about new resources. 3-8 p.m., Q Center, 1409 Commercial St., Bellingham, nwys.org or bellinghamqueercollective.org
MOUNT VERNON PRIDE
June 8
Join Skagit Queer for their Pride celebration! This party in the park features a laid-back Pride walk and talent show (all performances will be “rated PG-13” or under). 12-5 p.m., Edgewater Park, 600 Behrens Millet Rd., Mount Vernon, facebook.com/SkagitQueer
ANACORTES PRIDE
June 22
This Pride was established in 2021, and has been striving to keep Pride “an integral and always-visible part” of the Anacortes community. Join in for their third ever celebration and help make it the best one yet! 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Causland Park, 710 N. Ave., Anacortes, anacortespride.org
PRIDE IN BELLINGHAM
July 6-7
This Pride attracts thousands to Downtown Bellingham, and has events spread throughout the weekend. Whether you’re looking for a parade, a festival, a family-friendly picnic, or an all-inclusive dance party, Pride IN Bellingham’s got you covered! Bellingham, prideinbellingham.org
THE GENDER AFFIRMING FAIR
July 13
Make.Shift Art Space presents The Gender Affirming Fair, a new event for providing resources, empowerment, and connection to the queer community. Aimed especially at queer youth, this outdoor event will include a resource fair, arts and activities, performances, and workshops. 1-10 p.m., Make.Shift Art Space’s alley, 306 Flora St., Bellingham, 360.933.1849, makeshiftartspace.org
COMMERCIAL STREET BLOCK PARTY: PRIDE CONTINUES
July 19
The Commercial St. Block Parties are back this summer! Organized by 2BB Productions with support from the 1300 Block residents, their July 19 party keeps Pride going. Show up for a drag show, queer-owned vendors and artists, food trucks, and more. (Don’t miss the Juneteenth block party on June 14, either!) 6-9 p.m., Commercial St., Bellingham
