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Geeks OUT
Type of site
Not-for-profit
Entertainment
Queer geekdom
Available inEnglish
URLgeeksout.org
CommercialNo
RegistrationNot required to access; required to comment
LaunchedOctober 2010; 14 years ago (2010-10)
Current statusActive
Written inEnglish

Geeks OUT (also known as GeeksOUT!) is a New York City-based organization whose mission is to rally, empower, and promote the queer geek community. In 2013, Geeks OUT was designated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization by the IRS. The content on its website often focuses on gaming, video gaming culture, comics, superheroes, science fiction, television, film, and other "geek" media, through a queer lens. Geeks OUT has left a "solid impact on geek culture."[2] Geeks OUT came to international attention when it started a Skip Ender's Game movement in 2013. The movement, often promoted with the #SkipEndersGame hashtag, called for a boycott of the film Ender's Game, based on the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Purpose

The stated purpose of Geeks OUT's is: "We seek to rally, empower and promote the queer geek community. Ours is a diverse and growing culture made up of enthusiastic fans of all ages, colors, genders, sizes, and nationalities. Through regular events and a dynamic social media and online presence, Geeks OUT seeks to facilitate interaction locally, globally, and virtually, both to celebrate our shared geekiness and to focus and promote our own unique LGBT voice within that community."[3]

Skip Enders Game

The Skip Enders Game movement raised Geeks OUT's profile and brought attention to Orson Scott Card's views on homosexuality. Geeks OUT posited that since Card was a board member of the National Organization for Marriage and holds anti-gay views, people should not financially support his projects.[4][5][6] Their message: "Skip Ender’s Game is a call to action. Do NOT see this movie! Do not buy a ticket at the theater, do not purchase the DVD, do not watch it on-demand. Ignore all merchandise and toys. However much you may have admired his books, keep your money out of Orson Scott Card’s pockets."[7]

Geeks OUT members were interviewed by Michelangelo Signorile on his radio XM show to talk about the boycott.[8] The movement received coverage from Towleroad,[9] Mother Jones,[10] The Huffington Post,[11] and other mainstream media with discussions about artistic works and if the artist's personal beliefs effect them.

In response, Card issued a statement saying, "Ender’s Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognized by any other state."[12] The movement also received criticism, including criticism from Diane Anderson-Minshall, editor-at-large of The Advocate. She stated, "In a world where ethical consumerism is sometimes the best way to get our point across, art is a murky zone... Our mouths say boycott, but our TV remotes don’t always back that up."[13]

Members

Founding members (alphabetized by last name):[14]

  • Jono Jarrett
  • Matthew Levine
  • Keith Marran
  • Josh Siegel
  • Joey Stern (president)[15]

Active members and writers as of early 2015 (alphabetized by last name):

Events

Geeks OUT holds events in New York City, where the organization originally started, and eventually expanded to other venues around the United States as well. Geeks OUT often is present at comic conventions, sometimes called "comic cons", either tabling, hosting discussion panels, or having a booth. In 2013, they partnered with the New York Times for a discussion panel called New York Times OUT and Geeks Out present LGBT and Allies in Comics, which was held at the New York Comic Con. The panel included Dan Parent, Marjorie Liu, Greg Pak, Jude Biersdorf, Dan Ketchum, and Rich Bernatovech, among others.[28]

In November 2014, the group started a fundraising campaign to start New York City's first queer comic convention. Called Flame Con, the convention fundraiser met its $15,000 goal on December 4, 2014. The project eventually received close to $20,000 in fundraising support on Kickstarter. Flame Con has a tentative schedule date of June 13, 2015.[29][30][31] The fundraising was endorsed by OUT Magazine,[32] BUST Magazine,[33] NewNowNext,[34] and others.

Another event included 'McKellen Me Softly', a celebration of Ian McKellen with all original artwork featuring the actor for sale. The proceeds from the event went to fund the nonprofit. Jono Jarrett, a founding member of Geeks OUT, stated, "Geeks OUT could not be more proud to honor the unparalleled creative achievements and beloved personality of Sir Ian McKellen as this year's queer geek icon. We're inspired by his courage, his talent, and his fabulous joie de vivre -- whether he's leading a band of Hobbits across Middle Earth, or Sir Patrick Stewart across the Brooklyn Bridge. By tragedy or trial we grow stronger, but our community must never neglect to celebrate our success stories. Sir Ian McKellen is the happy hero we need."[35]

References

  1. ^ "How popular is geeksout.org?". Alexa. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  2. ^ Greenman, Rachel (10 Nov 2014). "Flame (C)on!". Word of the Nerd. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Comics & Cocktails with GeeksOUT". Washington DC Gay Cities. 26 Jan 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. ^ Yacco, Patrick (1 Nov 2013). "Op-ed: Why I'm Skipping Ender's Game". The Advocate. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  5. ^ Child, Ben (9 July 2013). "Activists call for Ender's Game boycott over author's anti-gay views". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ Holpuch, Amanda (1 Nov 2013). "US gay rights groups urge viewers to skip Ender's Game film". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  7. ^ Poladian, Charles (8 July 2013). "Geeks Out Sets Up 'Ender's Game' Boycott Over Orson Scott Card's Anti-Gay Beliefs". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Today on the Signorile Show". Michelangelo Signorile. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  9. ^ Aguiar, RJ (8 July 2013). "GEEKS OUT CALLS FOR LGBT RIGHTS SUPPORTERS TO 'SKIP ENDER'S GAME'". Towleroad. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  10. ^ Suebsaeng, Asawin (1 Nov 2013). ""Ender's Game" Author Really, Really Hates Gay People. Studio Really, Really Doesn't Want You To Care". Mother Jones. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Orson Scott Card's Anti-Gay Views Prompt 'Ender's Game' Movie Protest". Huffington Post. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  12. ^ McNary, Dave. "'Ender's Game' Author Rejects Gay Geek Boycott of Film". Variety. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  13. ^ Anderson-Minshall, Diane (1 Nov 2013). "Op-ed: Why I'm Going to See Ender's Game". The Advocate. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Geeks OUT Hosts Panel @ NYCC "It Gets Better (With Comics!)"". Geeks OUT. 1 Oct 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Joey". Geeks OUT. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Aria Baci". Geeks OUT. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Ep 102 – Mike E Winfield Stops By and Kevin Gilligan Returns - "The Brotherhood of Evil Geeks"". "The Brotherhood of Evil Geeks". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  18. ^ "Wall-E Screening/Game Night - Robots - Hosts Kevin Gilligan and Adam Lash". Geeks OUT!. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Pros of the Cons". nextmagazine.com. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  20. ^ Greeman, Rachel (20 Jan 2015). "Queerness Comes to The 100". Geeks OUT. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Guest Author/Artist". Indie It Press. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Game Review: Digital: A Love Story". Geeks OUT!. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  23. ^ Juengling, Konrad (29 Jan 2015). "Terminator Genisys Teaser Trailer". Geeks OUT. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  24. ^ "justin.lockwood". Geeks OUT!. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  25. ^ "Backwards and in Heels". Geeks OUT!. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  26. ^ Noworyta, Shaun F. (9 Jan 2015). "2014: The Year in X". Geeks OUT. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  27. ^ Geek On:Geeks OUT: The Avengers of LGBT Geek Orgs
  28. ^ Helvie, Forrest (10 Oct 2013). "NYCC 2013: 'NY Times OUT and Geeks Out LGBT & Allies in Comics' Panel". Newsarama. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Flame Con - NYC's First LGBTQ Comic Con!". Kickstarter. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  30. ^ Cox, Carolyn (4 Nov 2014). "Geeks OUT Announces Kickstarter For Flame Con, NYC's First LBGTQ Comic-Con!". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  31. ^ Calhoun, Jordan (10 Nov 2014). "FLAME CON: THE NEW LGBTQ CONVENTION YOU SHOULD BE SUPPORTING". Black Nerd Problems. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  32. ^ Ehrhardt, Michelle (5 Nov 2014). "Fund This: A Comic Con for LGBT Fans". OUT. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  33. ^ Cerchiara, Audrey (6 Nov 2014). "5 Reasons To Kickstart Flame Con: NYC's First LGBTQ Comic Con". BUST Magazine. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  34. ^ Avery, Dan (9 Nov 2014). "Help Queer Geeks Ignite "Flame Con," The First LGBT Comic Con In New York". LOGO TV. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  35. ^ Nichols, James (24 May 2014). "'McKellen Me Softly,' Produced By Geeks OUT, Honors Ian McKellen". Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
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