Flame Con, created by LGBTQ nonprofit Geeks OUT, is announcing its third annual expo on August 19 and 20, at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Flame Con is New York City’s first and only queer comic con, featuring hundreds of creators exhibiting queer-positive comics, arts, crafts, clothes, and entertainment. It is open to all ages and will be free for all teens on Sunday, August 20 thanks to a partnership with the Ali Forney Center. In 2016, Flame Con drew more than 4,000 visitors, with more anticipated this year. The first 1,000 attendees on Sunday will receive an exclusive Kevin Keller #1 with the Flame Con exclusive cover.
This year, Flame Con is excited to announce the SparQ Fund, which will provide select LGBTQ artists the opportunity to create meaningful, provocative art that reflects their experience. Recipients of the SparQ Fund will then have a chance to share their work in an affirming, accessible community space, regardless of age, race, wealth, gender identity or expression.
“We created Flame Con with the goal of providing the best possible experience for our vibrant and wonderful community. This year, thanks to the generosity of Hive Works, we’re able to continue making that goal a reality with the introduction of our SparQ Fund,” said Joey Stern, President of Geeks OUT. “This unique fund seeks out young marginalized queer artists and brings them to the convention to allow our attendees to witness the creation of queer art they might not otherwise see and participate in creating some themselves. It’s a joyful extension of our con that will have a powerful impact on the community elements that have made this the largest queer fan convention in the world.”
Flame Con is also excited to announce this year’s special celebrity guest, Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham, The Walking Dead, Accepted) who plays The Penguin on the hit FOX Series, Gotham. A Northwestern University alum, Taylor started his career after moving to New York where he manned the camera for former roommate, Billy Eichner. Taylor is excited to be attending this year and will be participating in a special Q+A panel in addition to signings and photo ops.
“I am so excited to geek out with my LGTBQIA New York neighbors at Flame Con!” said Robin Lord Taylor. “When you grow up geek it is easy to feel like an outsider. At Flame Con, you belong.”
In addition to Taylor, this year’s Flame Con will host more than 200 queer-oriented vendors and feature creators Kate Leth (Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!), Dan Parent (Life with Kevin, Die Kitty Die), Amy Reeder (Rocket Girl, Batwoman), Steve Orlando (Supergirl, Justice League of America), writer and illustrator Laurent Linn (Draw the Line), writer James Tynion IV (Detective Comics, Batwoman), voice actor Cecil Baldwin (Gravity Falls, Welcome to Night Vale), designer Marcy Schwerin, Tea Berry-Blue (RAW: A Hannibal/Will Fanthology), illustrator and writer Aimee Fleck (RAW: A Hannibal/Will Fanthology), Jennie Wood (Flutter), Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, New X-Men, The Invisible), cosplayer Jay Justice, House of Gunt member Dax ExclamationPoint (RuPaul’s Drag Race), and more! Tickets to Flame Con are available through Eventbrite and vary from Daily, Weekend and VIP passes that include access to the first ever Camp Fire party on Saturday, a Flame Con T-shirt, a VIP dinner and more. To purchase tickets please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flame-con-2017-tickets-27283216836.
For more information on Flame Con, please visit www.flamecon.org and for more information on Geeks OUT, please visit www.geeksout.org.
