Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, gay, lgbt, LGBTQ, north carolina, Raleigh

The "Straight" Comic Collectors Show Of Raleigh, North Carolina…

Last week, North Carolina state lawmakers enacted an anti-gay/transgender law that removes all local related anti-discrimination measures, and specifically targets transgender people from using public toilets or a gender other than what appears on their birth certificate. It was signed by Governor Pat McCrory on the same day.

This week, the Facebook page of the North Carolina Comicon and the Oak City Comic Con decided to make it clear where it stood, with a statement that read

The NORTH CAROLINA COMICON wants every fan of comic books, cosplay, cinema, and gaming to know that the NCC owners, organizers, and volunteers stand alongside our LGBTQIA family against any and all discrimination. As a locally run NC business that brings thousands of people together in our great state, we are disappointed by, and strongly oppose, the recent NC lawmakers' bigotry. As an event that cherishes our rights & the freedom to always be yourself in a non-discriminatory environment, NC COMICON welcomes everyone into our halls, and looks forward to seeing our beautifully diverse family again very soon.

Not everyone was keen. Leading artist Tommy Lee Edwards to add,

NCC is a community of love, creativity, and diversity. I would hope that every parent would teach their children to love and accept others, no matter how different they are. Instead, it's when people say shit like "perversions of man" that we realize how important it is for LGBT communities to not have their rights stripped.

Because Guy Rose, a dealer at a rival North Carolina show running a week before the Oak City Comic Con, posted,

The irony of using that Batman and Robin image shouldn't be lost on anyone. No reply from the Raleigh Comic Book Show yet…

UPDATE: One of the organisers of the show has now been in touch to confirm,

He is not a dealer of mine. Dealers are independent people that set up at shows. I did not know or authorize him to represent my show in any way. I don't know why he posted this. I have been running the Raleigh Comic Book Show since 1987. It has always had free admission. Anyone can come to & is welcome at the show. I have never been involved in any type of discrimination of dealers, fans, artists, or anyone coming to the show.

Thanks to Lars for the typo amend…

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