{{short description|American non-profit}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox Organization | name = GaymerX | image = 250px | caption = | status = Active | location = Berkeley, California, United States | tax_id = 47-4583146 (EIN) }}
'''GaymerX''' is an American public-benefit nonprofit corporation based in California dedicated to celebrating and supporting LGBTQ people and culture in the world of gaming, with a focus on video games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gaymerx.org/about-us|title=About Us – GaymerX: Everyone Games|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015831/https://gaymerx.org/about-us}}</ref> GaymerX puts on a fan-facing convention with LGBTQ-oriented gaming and geek culture, or gaymer, with panels primarily focused on LGBTQ issues and debates in the gaming industry.
== History == GaymerX was founded in August 2013 by Matt Conn and Toni Rocca as part of MidBoss.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-04-06-gaymerx-cuts-all-ties-to-midboss|title=GaymerX cuts all ties to MidBoss|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=6 April 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>
The goal was to establish a space for those who felt larger gaming conventions like E3 were unwelcoming places for LGBTQ gamers.<ref>{{citation|url=http://narrative.ly/stories/were-here-were-queer-and-we-love-the-legend-of-zelda/|title=WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER AND WE LOVE THE LEGEND OF ZELDA|author=Malcolm Thorndike Nicholson|date=26 June 2015}}</ref> The first GaymerX event was financed through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter,<ref>{{cite web|title=GaymerX on Kickstarter|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gaymercon/gaymercon-everybody-games|work=Kickstarter}}</ref> and occurred on August 3–4, 2013 in San Francisco, CA.<ref name="boing">{{cite web|publisher=BoingBoing|url=http://boingboing.net/2012/08/16/planning-for-a-gay-old-time-at.html|title=GaymerCon for LGBT gamers|date=16 August 2012|access-date=August 19, 2012|archive-date=October 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029131454/http://boingboing.net/2012/08/16/planning-for-a-gay-old-time-at.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Organizers have said the event is about uniting gay gamers, not creating a division among gamers,<ref name="venturebeat">{{cite web|publisher=VentureBeat|title=GaymerCon is about uniting gay gamers, not separation|date=6 August 2012|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/08/06/gaymercon/}}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> as they want to create a "safe place" for LGBTQ gamers.<ref name="arstechnica">{{cite web|publisher=ArsTechnica|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/08/gaymercon-wants-to-provide-a-safe-place-for-lgbtq-gamers/|title=GaymerCon wants to provide a "safe place" for LGBTQ gamers|date=10 August 2012|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=May 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520092510/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/08/gaymercon-wants-to-provide-a-safe-place-for-lgbtq-gamers/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The planned convention began with significant news coverage of its initial Kickstarter launch, but the event achieved more widespread attention after the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, known widely as a hate group that pickets espousing homophobic statements, announced that they would protest the convention.<ref name="upcomingcons">{{cite web|publisher=Upcoming Cons|title=Gay Gaming Con To Be Protested By Westboro|url=http://www.upcomingcons.com/posts/477-Gay-Gaming-Con-To-Be-Protested-By-Westboro|author=Nate Cook|access-date=2012-08-19|archive-date=2013-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330230810/http://www.upcomingcons.com/posts/477-Gay-Gaming-Con-To-Be-Protested-By-Westboro|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/gaymerx-best-weekend-evar|title=GaymerX: Best Weekend Evar|publisher=gamerevolution.com|accessdate=1 September 2013 |author = Nicholas Tan|date=5 August 2013}}</ref>
GaymerX began with a Kickstarter project launched on August 1, 2012, which was covered by sites such as Examiner and GamePolitics.com.<ref name="gamepolitics">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2012/08/03/gaymercon-raises-over-14000-two-days|title=GaymerCon Raises over $14,000 in Two Days|publisher=GamePolitics|access-date=August 19, 2012|archive-date=August 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805192732/http://www.gamepolitics.com/2012/08/03/gaymercon-raises-over-14000-two-days|url-status=dead}}</ref> The convention raised over $14,000 in its first two days,<ref name="venturebeat" /> exceeded its goal of $25,000 as early as August 6,<ref name="shacknews">{{cite web|publisher=ShackNews|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/75165/lgbt-convention-gaymercon-secures-kickstarter-funding|title=LGBT convention GaymerCon secures Kickstarter funding}}</ref><ref name="kickstarter">{{cite web|publisher=Kickstarter|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gaymercon/gaymercon-everybody-games|title=GaymerCon: Everybody Games}}</ref> and ended with over $90,000.<ref name="kickstarter" /> Throughout the fundraising campaign, organizers added new support levels, in addition to existing support levels that include admission to the event and voice acting from Ellen McLain.<ref name="gameranx">{{cite web|publisher=GameRanx|url=https://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/8191/article/ellen-mclain-summons-glados-to-voice-support-for-gaymercon/|author=Lana Polansky|title=Ellen McLain Summons GLaDOS to Voice Support for GaymerCon}}</ref> At a session during the convention, McLain took part as assistant to a marriage proposal to help an attendee propose to his boyfriend by voicing a version of the song Still Alive with reworked lyrics.
thumb|264x264px|Logo for GaymerX2. GaymerX2 was held at the InterContinental Hotel between July 11–13, 2014 in downtown San Francisco. It featured Darren Young, the first openly gay wrestler in the WWE,<ref name="thinkprogress">{{cite web|publisher=ThinkProgress|url=http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2013/08/15/2476321/wwes-darren-young-comes-out-as-first-openly-gay-professional-wrestler/|author=Travis Waldron|title=WWE's Darren Young Comes Out As First Openly Gay Professional Wrestler|access-date=October 21, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065626/http://thinkprogress.org/sports/2013/08/15/2476321/wwes-darren-young-comes-out-as-first-openly-gay-professional-wrestler/|url-status=live}}</ref> who revealed that he would be a playable character in the upcoming WWE 2K15.<ref name="Varsallone-pg1">{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/wwes_darren_young_reveals_his_wwe_2k15_character_pic-2014-07|title=WWE's Darren Young reveals his 'WWE 2K15' character: Pic|date=July 11, 2014|last=Hayner|first=Chris|work=Zap2It|access-date=October 21, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006184039/http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/wwes_darren_young_reveals_his_wwe_2k15_character_pic-2014-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2017 Gaymerx officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit, separating it from MidBoss.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/07/gaymerx-foundation-becomes-a-nonprofit-to-boost-its-diversity-mission/|title=GaymerX Foundation becomes a nonprofit to boost its diversity mission|date=2017-07-07|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909045047/https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/07/gaymerx-foundation-becomes-a-nonprofit-to-boost-its-diversity-mission/}}</ref> At this time a board of directors was formed consisting of Raymond Lancione, Tanya DePass, Brian Kunde, Soraya Een Hajji, Steven Harmon, and Eugenio Vargas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gaymerx.org/who-we-are|title=Who We Are – GaymerX: Everyone Games|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Matt Conn was replaced by Toni Rocca as executive director.
In 2018 Matt Conn was accused of labor rights violations. While Matt had not been affiliated with GaymerX since the organization split from MidBoss the previous year, he was the head of MidBoss, which had been a major sponsor of past events. In response GaymerX announced they were cutting all ties with MidBoss, and would no longer allow them to sponsor future events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/04/gaymerx-cuts-ties-to-midboss-amid-allegations-agai.html|title=GaymerX Cuts All Ties to MidBoss Amid Allegations Against Founder|website=pastemagazine.com|date=6 April 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> Although shortly afterwards Matt resigned from MidBoss,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-04-06-midboss-names-cade-peterson-ceo|title=MidBoss names Cade Peterson interim CEO|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=6 April 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> the two organizations have had not had any further relationship.
In April 2018 GaymerX named a new Executive Director, Katie Kaitchuck,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/GaymerXOfficial/posts/1814336578623564|title=GaymerX|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> replacing Toni Rocca. Since her appointment, they have launched a new scholarship program to help LGBTQ developers get into the industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gaymerx.org/gaymerx-gdc-scholarship|title=GaymerX GDC Scholarship – GaymerX: Everyone Games|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015808/https://gaymerx.org/gaymerx-gdc-scholarship}}</ref>
In January GaymerX East 2019 was announced<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://gaymerx.org/gxe19|title=GaymerX East 2019 – GaymerX: Everyone Games|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015833/https://gaymerx.org/gxe19}}</ref> and planned to take place on April 27–28 at the Microsoft Conference Center in Times Square.<ref name=":0" /> On February 14, 2019, it was announced that GaymerX East 2019 had been cancelled.<ref name="2019East-cancel">{{cite web|url=https://gaymerx.org/news/gaymerx-east-19-has-been-cancelled|title=GaymerX East '19 Has Been Cancelled|last=Kaitchuck|first=Katie|date=February 14, 2019|department=News|website=gaymerx.org|access-date=2020-03-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317225351/https://gaymerx.org/news/gaymerx-east-19-has-been-cancelled|archive-date=2020-03-17}}</ref>
=== Events === {| class="wikitable" width="100%" |- ! Name !! Dates !! Venue !! Location !! Atten. !! Guests of Honor |- |GaymerX |Aug 3 – Aug 4, 2013<ref name="upcomingcons2">{{cite web|url=https://www.upcomingcons.com/upcomingcons/5309-GaymerCon|title=GaymerCon 2013|publisher=Upcoming Cons}}</ref> |Hotel Kabuki & Hotel Tomo |San Francisco, California |1,400 |Ellen McLain, Zach Weiner, Matthew Michael Brown, Anna Anthropy, John Patrick Lowrie, Pandora Boxx |- |GaymerX2 |Jul 11 – Jul 13, 2014 |InterContinental Hotel |San Francisco, California |1,900 |David Gaider, Mattie Brice, Alexis Ohanian, Gordon Bellamy, Darren Young,<ref name="GayGamer.net">{{cite web|url=http://gaygamer.net/2014/02/openly-gay-wwe-superstar-darren-young-joins-gaymerx2/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141001052336/http://gaygamer.net/2014/02/openly-gay-wwe-superstar-darren-young-joins-gaymerx2/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 1, 2014|title=Openly Gay WWE Superstar Darren Young Joins GaymerX2|publisher=Upcoming Cons}}</ref> Zach Weiner, 2 Mello, Colleen Macklin, Jaime Woo |- |GXDev: Everyone Creates |Jan 9 - Jan 11, 2015 |PubNub |San Francisco, California |60 |Johnnemann Nordhagen, Anna Kipnis, Kortney Ziegler, Matt Conn |- |GX3: Everyone Games |Dec 11 – Dec 13, 2015 |San Jose Convention Center |San Jose, California |2,429 |Jennifer Hale,<ref name="CNET.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/gx3-everyone-games-set-for-2015-with-jennifer-hale|title=Gamer idol Jennifer Hale to prove Everyone Games at GX3|publisher=CNET}}</ref> Zach Weiner, Anita Sarkeesian, Rob Jagnow, Jamin Warren, Natasha Allegri, Trixie Mattel<ref name="GaymerX.com">{{cite web|url=https://gaymerx.com/bosses/|title=Bosses of Honor{{!}}GX3: Everyone Games|accessdate=2014-12-23}}</ref> |- |GaymerX • Year Four |Sep 30 – Oct 2, 2016 |Santa Clara Convention Center |Santa Clara, California |2,100 |Dave Fennoy, David Gaider, Tim Cain, Kitty Powers |- |GaymerX East |Nov 12 – Nov 13, 2017 |Microsoft Technology Center |New York City, New York |? |Kitty Powers, Mattie Brice, Robert Yang, SAMMUS, Shawn Alexander Allen, Tanya DePass |- |GaymerX East 2019 |cancelled<ref name="2019East-cancel" /> (was Apr 27 – Apr 28, 2019) |Microsoft Conference Center in Times Square |New York City, New York | |Brandon Stennis, Katherine Cross, D.J. Kirkland<ref name=":0" /> |- |}
==GXDev: Everyone Creates== GXDev: Everyone Creates, was a game jam and hackathon that happened over January 9–11, 2015 and featured over 40 developers who produced over 10 games featuring queer content and themes,<ref name="Itch.io">{{cite web|url=http://itch.io/jam/gxdev |title=GXdev|accessdate=2015-01-19}}</ref> including one about "dating butts",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/16/7559133/bobs-burgers-butts-tina-belcher-cheek-to-cheek|title=Inspired by the best character in Bob's Burgers, here's a game about butts|first=Danielle|last=Riendeau|date=January 16, 2015|accessdate=January 16, 2015|publisher=Polygon}}</ref> and one about polyamory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/1/16/7558005/polyamory-game-free-game-gxdev|title=A game about gardening, cute deer and dating multiple people|website=Polygon |date=16 January 2015 |accessdate=2015-01-16}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Award !! Game Name |- |Judge's Choice |''Patchwork'' |- |Crowd Choice |''Fatal[e]'' |- |Diplomacy Award |''Here’s Your Fuckin’ Papers'' |- |#suchridiculous |''Cheek 2 Cheek'' |- |The Whole Picture (Most Complete) |''Cactus Seeking Hug'' |- |Best Feminism |''Fatal[e]'' |- |LSD Award |''Cosmic Endeerment'' |- |Tobii EyeX Award |''Cosmic Endeerment'' |- |Firebase Award |''We Are Here'' |- |Volume Award |''Consensual Chaos'' |- |Strangest Game |''Patchwork'' |- |Prismatic Award for Diversity |''Cheek 2 Cheek'' |- |Best Message |''Shiny Things'' |}
==See also== * {{annotated link|ClexaCon}} * {{annotated link|Flame Con}} * {{annotated link|Gaylaxicon}} * {{annotated link|LGBTQ culture in San Francisco}} * {{annotated link|Video games in the United States}}
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250301055724/http://gaymerx.org/|title=Official website|date=March 01, 2025}} * [https://www.twitter.com/GaymerX GaymerX on Twitter]
Category:2013 establishments in California Category:Annual events in California Category:Gaming conventions Category:Kickstarter projects Category:LGBTQ and video games Category:LGBTQ culture in San Francisco Category:LGBTQ events in the United States Category:Recurring events established in 2013 Category:San Francisco Bay Area conventions Category:Video gaming in the United States