Flame Con 2024: A 10th Anniversary Bash for LGBTQ+ Fans
New York City is getting ready to host Flame Con 2024 once again this upcoming weekend, and we couldn’t be more excited! As the world’s largest and longest-running queer comic con, Flame Con is a celebration of LGBTQ+ creativity, bringing together fans, artists, and creators from across the spectrum of comics, gaming, and pop culture.
Flame Con is more than just a convention—it’s a beacon for LGBTQ+ fandom. Organized by the non-profit Geeks OUT, this event highlights the brightest voices in queer culture, offering a platform for expression through panels, interactive exhibits, and the best of queer cosplay. Whether you’re into comics, or art, or just want to soak up the vibrant atmosphere, there’s something for everyone at this inclusive event.
This year’s expo, taking place on August 17-18 at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel, is extra special as it marks Flame Con’s 10th anniversary. To celebrate a decade of queer fandom, the convention is going bigger than ever, expanding to a third floor and growing its Gaymer Lounge. This space is a haven for gamers, offering a chance to dive into board games, card games, video games, and TTRPGs.
The Gaymer Lounge is run by NYC Gaymers, a community-led LGBTQIA+ non-profit that uplifts marginalized voices in the gaming world. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just curious, the Lounge is the perfect place to meet new people, learn new games, and participate in tournaments, including the official Flame Con game!
We’re thrilled to see such an incredible lineup of special guests this year. JP Karliak, known for voicing iconic characters like Wile E. Coyote, the Boss Baby, and Marvel’s Green Goblin, will be joining us. He’s also the founder of Queer Vox, an academy dedicated to equitable casting opportunities for LGBTQ+ voice talent.
Kris Anka, lead character designer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and artist on beloved comics like Runaways and Captain Marvel, will also be there to share his expertise. And let’s not forget Molly Knox Ostertag, the brilliant mind behind The Witch Boy trilogy and The Girl from the Sea, whose works have captivated readers and are making their way to the screen.
ND Stevenson, the Emmy-winning creator of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Sara Myer, the acclaimed comic artist behind Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story, will also grace us with their presence.
Other guests include game designer Dillian Apelyan, editor Emily Drabinski, writer Jeremy Whitley, award-winning writer and video essayist Princess Weekes, artist and writer Shannon Watters, editor, writer, and professor Sharang Biswas, and illustrator and writer Terry Blas. For more information about all the guests please visit the official Flame Con 2024 page.
As Nic Gitau, President of Geeks OUT, puts it: “For years, the constant refrain we’d hear attending other conventions was ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if..? Wouldn’t it be cool if… there was a safe space for LGBTQ+ fans to connect?’ or, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if… there was a show that proved audiences were hungry for unapologetically queer storytelling?’ Over the last ten years, Flame Con has become a home for queer fans, championed queer stories, and celebrated queer creators as their careers have sparked and exploded. We’re grateful for a community that’s grown exponentially each year, and we’re excited to gather the best of LGBTQ+ comics and pop culture once more, in what will be a standout 10th-anniversary show.”
And of course, it wouldn’t be Flame Con without a party! To mark this milestone, the 10th anniversary of Flame Con will be celebrated with Fireball: The Official Flame Con After Party, on Saturday, August 17, at Hell’s Kitchen’s Industry bar. This 21+ celebration is set to be a night of drag, burlesque, dancing, and queer joy, hosted by the fabulous Megami, a cast member from the recent season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Tickets for Flame Con 2024 are available through Eventbrite and include daily and weekend passes, as well as passes to the official Flame Con 2024 party. Don’t miss out on what’s sure to be an unforgettable weekend! Tickets here!
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Featured Image: Via Flame Con 2024.
