Tag: LGBTQIA+

Very uunfortunate

The Ohio state legislature recently passed a bill requiring people to use the restroom that coincides with their assigned gender at birth, casually called a “trans bathroom ban.” In Ohio, the statehouse is controlled by the same party as the governor, and the bill is expected to be signed into law without a veto.

As such, we’ve updated our LGBT State Status page accordingly. Access to public restrooms is, of course, a major factor as to whether LGBTQ+ con attendees can feel safe at the events they attend, so this single act has placed Ohio, our own home state, on the Caution list.

Once we are able to read the full text of the bill/law to confirm aspects, we will be able to better inform our desicions on which conventions we can reach out to and ensure the people who attend our events can feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

 

Moving forward

To our fans, friends, sponsors, and invaluable partner conventions:

It’s been just over a week since the 2024 election in the US, and my heart is still a whirlwind of emotions: profound sadness, burning anger, an unsettling fear for the future of our communities, and an even stronger determination about my place in the monumental journey that lies ahead—our mission until January 2029 is clear: to survive and to uplift each other in this struggle.

Those of you who know me well understand that I may not be the one at the forefront of protests, fighting bravely for change. Stepping into that role would put both my communities and myself in jeopardy—an unacceptable risk that I cannot take.

Instead, through Anime Game Show Party Studios, I will channel my energy into nurturing our community’s spirit to keep us engaged and inspired. I want to be a refuge for all those who need to escape the turmoil, for those who are overwhelmed by the chaos of our times—both now and in the days to come. I pledge to deliver professional, high-quality, entertaining, and enlightening game shows, panels, and live events at conventions across the US. I am re-committing myself to enriching our shared experiences through my Twitch channel, where laughter and connection will abound.

Those on the front lines of this battle can’t fight forever; they deserve moments of rest. None of us can navigate the relentless tide of information—and misinformation—along with the upcoming increases of harassment and bullying alone.

Both the Twitch channel and the convention spaces I perform in will be safe havens where everyone is encouraged to express their true selves and revel in the joy I strive to provide. Hate, in any form, will be met with swift, decisive action: removal from an event and connection with convention staff for potential violations, or, in the realm of Twitch, an immediate ban from the channel accompanied by a formal report.

I want to assure you that none of these ideas for the upcoming months are new; they’re the values I have always held dear and a vision of what I want Anime Game Show Party Studios to embody.

In the spirit of transparency, I will be sharing the full written Guiding Principles document on our website for anyone to peruse. Please look for it in the coming days.

Though the world feels overwhelmingly uncertain right now, remember that none of us stand alone. Together, we will navigate this storm—and ultimately, we will rise and thrive.

Please take care of yourselves, and tell the folks you love that you love them.

Sincerely,
Dustin “Dusty” Riley
Founder/Producer, Anime Game Show Party Studios

New Appearance! Citrus Con 2023!

We’re over the moon to announce that we will be appearing at Citrus Con, a new online BL convention, this August! Details are on the Appearances page.

This will be a busy weekend. We have four shows to share with BL fans:

  • Fujin Family Feud
  • BL Wheel of Fortune
  • BL Against Humanity
  • Let’s Play LIVE!: The Jackbox Party Pack

The best part? Registration for the con is FREE! You can register for access to all the fun here.

Please remember! Citrus Con is an 18+ event. If you’re under 18, sit tight, we’ll be coming to many more cons in the coming months and years!

Supporting all of fandom: Update #2

Today we are updating our LGBT State Status page. We have found a new source of information to factor into our decision that allows us to put additional weight on state laws that greatly affect how conventions run (such as bathroom bans or banning wearing clothes that do not match your birth gender).

This is still an imperfect method, as it doesn’t yet take into account laws that are not officially on the books but that are being discussed. For example: although only one state has officially passed an “anti-drag” bill, many statehouses across the country are debating the issue.

We welcome your suggestions on how to refine and perfect our methods, including data sources we may have not discovered yet. Leave a comment below or use the Contact form.

An image of the "progressive pride flag" - on the left side is a white triangle, surrounded by chevrons of pink, light blue, brown, and black. This takes up roughly a third of the flag. The remainder of the flag is covered with six horizontal strips, each a color of the "traditional" pride flag (from top to bottom: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).

Supporting all of fandom: An update

Sorry for the long radio silence. It turns out the surgery I had is known for being one of the most challenging to recover from. However, I am moving closer and closer to being able to return to full daily normal life in early June!

As I’m working to get back on my feet, I have been continuing to keep track of events unfolding regarding the slew of bills in various U.S. state legislatures limiting or banning basic rights for LGBTQIA+ people, especially our trans community

This means the states in which I will not be performing, attending, or staffing conventions in has grown dramatically. I am making a new page to keep track of states currently on the list, and hopefully celebrate when these laws are repealed.

URL for the current list is at: http://www.animegameshowparty.com/lgbt/

I am not doing this to punish cons for just being in a state with lawmakers who support these laws. I am doing this to tell conventions to raise up the voices that are most affected by these new policies. Conventions, no matter their size,  have a giant social media reach. Many put on annual charity events and can direct the donations to organizations who support trans and other LGBTQIA+ people and their fight to simply exist.

LGBTQIA+ folks are literally in the fight of their lives — especially trans people. We as a community, regardless of how we identify, have to work together to make it crystal clear that this is NOT the America that America wants,

Supporting ALL of fandom

In the past month, many state legislatures in the United States have begun debating bills that criminalize being transgender. There are several different versions of these laws, but the goal is the same. If passed, it would be illegal to present yourself in a manner that doesn’t match the gender you were given at birth.

Anime Game Show Party Studios will NOT support these laws in any manner.

We will NOT participate in any convention hosted in a state that signs these bills into law.

Conventions are supposed to be a place where everyone can be themselves. They’re made up of different groups that are bullied, ridiculed, and attacked in the greater population. Conventions are a place where they can be safe to be their true selves.

If a state will not allow that at its conventions, we cannot support that. Period.