** Tentative Topic list — subject to change without notice **

GLB001  Gay Fandom 101

Learn about all the resources in fandom with a focus on GLBTIQQ fans. GLBTIQQ fans and writers have an increasing number of resources within fandom.  Come and learn about the Outer Alliance, the Gaylactic Network, Gaylaxicon, Outlantacon, the Spectrum Awards, and more.

GLB002  What’s New In Queer SF?

Find out what’s new in genre literature with a queer bent. Queer characters are becoming increasingly common in SF & F literature from all presses, as well as from specialty presses like Lethe.  We’ll talk about what’s new in the last year or so of interest to GLBT readers.

GLB003  History Of Queer SF/F/H

Trace the history of queer genre fiction, movies, and TV. We’ll discuss important works that have introduced GLBT content to genre readers, both in print and on screen.

GLB004  The Straight Pill

If there were a pill to change sexual preference, would you take it? Sometime in the future, it may be possible to take a pill to make you straight, gay, or other. What are the moral and ethical ramifications of such a development? Would you take it? Would parents give the “straight” pill to their children?

GLB005  Queer YA

The difficulties and successes in publishing YA books with GLBT content. GLBT characters are increasingly common in adult genre books, but what about YA? Will parents let their kids read it? Will libraries and schools make it available? Will publishers publish it?

GLB006  Writing The Other

What are the challenges for straight authors of writing gay characters? Or vice versa? Writing about aliens is one thing, but what about writing about characters with different sexual orientations that oneself?  What are the challenges for a straight woman in writing a gay male character?  Or any other combination?

GLB007  Slash!

An overview of the world where all those m/m and f/f pairings we want to happen DO happen. From Star Trek to Harry Potter, there are lots of characters out there that ought to have been gay and gotten together, and in the world of slash, they can. We’ll talk about the history of slash, where to find it, highlights, and how slash fits into the genre community.

GLB008  Is The Mainstream Ready For GLBT?

What will it take for GLBT characters to break through in mainstream genre fiction? Right now, most of the genre fiction with GLBTIQQ characters still comes from the small presses like Lethe, Circlet, and Torquere. What’s keeping it out of the major publishers? And after Brokeback Mountain and Captain Jack, why aren’t there more queer characters on TV and in the movies?

GLB009  The Rest Of The Acronym

Where are the bisexuals, transsexuals, intersexed, and others in SF? While there are increasing numbers of gay and lesbian characters in genre literature, bisexual, transsexual, intersexed and other characters are all still very rare. Why are these characters still missing from genre literature? Are there authors working to include them? What are the challenges of publishing books inclusive of these identities?