San Diego Comic-Con is Thursday, July 19 to Sunday, July 22, and we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to queer and geeky panels and events you won’t want to miss, so join us for another long weekend of Clif Bars, queues, and cosplay!
Thursday, July 19
Diversity and Comics: Why Inclusion and Visibility Matter
11:00 am–12:00 pm, Room 9
Kick off SDCC with a discussion of inclusivity in comics.
Entertainment is LGBTQ
12:00 pm–1:00 pm, Room 28DE
BOOM! Studios teams up with GLAAD for a panel on LGBTQ representation in popular media.
Closet SMASH! Presented by Geeks OUT and Skybound Entertainment
1:30 pm–4:30 pm, Harbor House Restaurant, 831 W Harbor Dr.
Drag kings, queer tabletop gaming, music, and day-drinking! Join Geeks OUT and Skybound Entertainment for an afternoon of LGBTQ geekiness. No SDCC badge required!
Queer Comics for Queer Kids
2:00 pm–3:00 pm, San Diego Central Library
Presenters discuss comics and manga and their importance to LGBTQ youth.
Spotlight on E. K. Johnston
3:00 pm–4:00 pm, 23ABC
The author of Star Wars: Ahsoka, the 2016 young adult novel that introduced a queer female youth of color to Star Wars canon, in conversation.
Black and Queer in Popular Media
5:00 pm–6:00 pm, Room 28DE
Panelists explore representation of Black LGBTQ creators and characters in pop culture.
Transformation Magic: Transgender Life in Comics from Street Level to the Stratosphere
6:00 pm–7:00 pm, Room 28DE
A discussion of trends and aspirations for transgender comics creators and stories.
What Rebellions Are Built On: Popular Culture, Radical Hope, and Politically Engaged Geeks
8:00 pm–9:00 pm, Room 32AB
Geeks OUT President Nicole Gitau joins a star-studded panel to discuss how we can be the spark that lights the fire that will restore the Republic.
Friday, July 20
Star Trek: Discovery
1:30–2:30 pm, Hall H
The newest Star Trek installment beams in to Hall H with its diverse and talented cast, including out actors Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber) and Anthony Rapp (Lt. Paul Stamets). In case you missed it, the first season involved Culber and Stamets heroically saving the entire multiverse with the power of their love. Panel moderated by Tig Notaro (One Mississippi), who joins the Discovery crew for season two.
LGBTQ Graphic Novels
4:00 pm–5:00 pm, San Diego Central Library
Creators of kids’ graphic novels discuss storytelling and community.
Diversity and Inclusivity from the Perspective of Libraries/Publishing/Authors in the Industry
5:30–6:30 pm, Room 8
An examination of literary representation of marginalized communities.
#METOO to #TIMESUP: An Action Summit for Comics
6:30 pm–7:30 pm, Room 8
Female and gender-nonconforming comics creators discuss opportunities to forge a more inclusive and diverse comics industry.
Queer Fear
7:00 pm–8:00 pm, Room 28DE
A discussion of the horror genre fit for a scream queen.
Saturday, July 21
The Most Dangerous Women at Comic-Con: One Token to Play
10:00 am–11:00 am, Grand 1 & 2 / Marriott Marquis Marina
When ensemble casts are dominated by male characters, female heroes have just token representation and opportunities for female characters of color and LGBTQ characters are marginalized. Highly dangerous women discuss tokenism and its solutions.
I Will Always Love You: A Panel Dedicated to Our OTPs
12:00 pm–1:00 pm, Grand 9 / Marriott Marquis Marina
We ship it! A discussion of imagined pairings of fictional characters, and in particular, the relevance and importance of shipping to LGBTQ fandoms.
Out in Comics 31: The Next Generation
6:00 pm–8:00 pm, Room 29AB
Out in Comics returns (newly minted with a more inclusive title!) for a comprehensive celebration of all things out and proud in comics, followed immediately by the Prism Comics Fan Mixer.
Radical Activism in Comics
8:00 pm–9:00 pm, Room 23ABC
Geeks OUT West Coast Coordinator Amber Garza and friends discuss their award-winning and Eisner-nominated projects and offer practical advice about using the comics medium for social justice organizing.
Prism Awards: Diversity and Recognition in Comics
8:00 pm–9:00 pm, Room 29AB
The Second Annual Prism Awards will recognize and celebrate excellence in queer comics.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
12:30 am–2:10 am, Marriott Grand Ballroom 8
Weirdos, queers, and other awesome people gather to do the Time Warp—yet again—at the annual midnight screening.
Sunday, July 22
Spotlight on Tillie Walden
11:00 am–12:00 pm, Room 4
The award-winning and Eisner-nominated creator behind the queer webcomic “On a Sunbeam” in conversation.
Lion Forge’s “Comics for Everyone” Fall 2018 Preview
11:30 am–12:30 pm, Room 8
The progressive publisher of inclusive comics promises reveals and a few surprises.
SuperheroIRL! Join the Real-Life Justice League
1:00 pm–2:00 pm, Room 25ABC
Learn about geek-focused strategies to combat bullying and support vulnerable youth and communities at school and at work.
Legion Discussion and Q&A
2:15 pm–3:15 pm, Hall H
The utterly bonkers FX Marvel Television show had a puzzling and unsettling second season, but we’re still here for Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal of Lenny, a lesbian sort-of-not-really villain.
Buffy Musical: “Once More with Feeling”
3:45 pm–5:00 pm, Room 6BCF
It’s a musical so it’s already pretty gay, but then you also get to sing-along with the a-dork-able lesbian love song-and-dance number “Under Your Spell,” plus the high melodrama of Tara discovering Willow’s use of dark magic to betray Tara’s trust! It’s the queerest way to say goodbye to SDCC, a tradition not to be missed.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed at SDCC with all the content that’s available for queer fans on top of the events that are of interest to your fandoms. Remember to stay hydrated, eat actual meals, and shower daily, and we’ll see you out and proud at the Con!