Thread by @AlexandraErin

The way @worldcon2018 has treated a Hugo nominee -- ome of their honored guests -- has almost made me angry enough to stay home but I think upon reflection that instead I may be angry enough to show up.

So. Yeah. I am almost mad enough to skip WorldCon despite being out airfare and memberships. I seriously considered donating my memberships and just doing the "BarCon", maybe seeing some of San Jose.

But instead I am going to be there.

I am going to be there. I am going to be there and I am going to be present and I am going to be visible and I am going to be myself. I am there for my trans and especially my genderqueer and non-binary friends, family, and colleagues who have been mistreated so shamefully.

There are probably people involved in throwing this shindig who don't know who I am. That's okay. A lot of people don't. I am in the quantum superposition of nobody and somebody. I exist in a liminal space adjacent to importance.

For those at @worldcon2018 who don't know me, let me tell you who I'm not.

I'm not a member of the SFWA or any other organization, professional or otherwise.

I'm not affiliated with or employed by any publisher.

I'm not represented by anybody.

I'm not representing anybody.

I'm not a member, I'm not a joiner, I'm not an employer nor an employee.

Freedom is not just another word for nothing left to lose, but that's a nice place to start.

You know who I am?

I'm a gadfly.

I don't need your good opinion, I don't need your kind regards, I don't need a little favor, I don't need your contact information. You have nothing that I want and can't offer me anything I need that I can't get for myself.

So I am coming to Worldcon 76 in San Jose exactly as I planned to.

I am not going there for the industry schmoozing and I am not going there to network and I am not there to win friends and influence people.

I am going there to be Jenny on the Spot. I am going there to be in the room where it happens, if it happens. If anything happens.

And if anything happens to my family?

I will be angry.

And I am like an existential Incredible Hulk, my friends.

You won't like it if I'm angry.

Queer folks going to San Jose or thinking about going to San Jose? Uncertain about your reception or safety? You can holler at me any time and I will be your escort. I will be your neutral observer. I will sit up front at your panel and be your buddy in the crowd.

We'll work out the details closer to the con but I will set up a rapid response system so that anybody who needs backup gets it. We are going to have each other's backs.

I am not remotely joking about any of this. We will form up like a queer Voltron.

Fudge it. I suspected something like this was going on when I heard from so many people passed over for programming, but this is just so blunt.

I'm going all in.

Who wants to do some counterprogramming with me? Let's put together some guerrilla panels.

https://twitter.com/halleluyang/status/1021238143117275136

"A lot of our attendees don't know what #OwnVoices are." I bet they'd love to learn! That's a great reason to have a panel! "Our attendees don't know the Hugo nominees." SO YOU HAVE A MEET THE NOMINEES PANEL THIS ISN'T HARD @WORLDCON2018

Also it's clear that WorldCon 76 has a very clear concept of who "their attendees" are and all of us -- including those who are Hugo nominees -- are just people showing up at their thing.