- That Thing No One Wants to Seem to Talk About - including myself sometimes -

[izodiea]

Hello Everyone, I am writing because while I enjoyed the vast majority of the Gala (Meeting most of you especially!) I left feeling sexually harassed, and honesty quite frustrated with the response I got when I complained about it to people at the Gala

Comments

[mutive]

Ugh, that is really obnoxious in both cases. I have the same problem - unfortunately some people really do seem to think that people in costumes are basically walking decorations and can be treated however you think would be funny/amusing/sexy. Costume College should have responded to that and I applaud you for reporting it. *hugs*

[izodiea]

I sent them an Email yesterday (while classes were still on going) so hopefully I will hear from them today or tomorrow.

[sewaddicted]

That's not right behaviour at all, and you're right to make a complaint. Costume =/= consent. I wish they had taken a more pro-active response for you (and future attendees).

[izodiea]

I sent an email to the Dean of CoCo, and have since talked to a few people I know who were volunteering. Apparently one of them (female) was also grabbed by the same lady, and her sister almost grabbed. That makes 3.5 people (all female) who were all touched without permission by the same woman that I know of.

[sewaddicted]

I'm glad they're taking appropriate steps to have something in place for the next one, and I hope that the info they make available has who to contact in this situation. It's one thing to have the statement etc, and another to know who to approach & where they are likely to be.

[smadaf]

That behavior is screwy.  I hope you succeed in bringing about this change.  Speak up every time.  I’m with you.

[izodiea]

Thank you :) I am confident the staff of CoCo will be creative in a solution to prevent something similar happening next year.

Yes, learning to speak up has been something it took me a while to have the confidence to do. Hopefully Other people will be more proactive in talking with their friends when they see them getting drunk and grabby.

[smadaf]

I am sharing online the article you linked to, "Costumes Are Not Consent: Combatting Cosplayer Harassment".  At one website, I did add this comment about the article I was sharing:
Glad people are speaking up with this and fighting against some hurtful behavior

[izodiea]

I'm pretty sure video taping anyone without their knowledge is illegal, at least here in Los Angeles, probably because of the entertainment industry. Photography is defiantly a gray area though, otherwise pretty much all Paparazzi would be in jail. I don't think anyone really likes paparazzi or similar people who take photos without consent, as it is by most people considered a violation

[rabid_bookwyrm]

But even if you've given your legal consent by attending the con, CoCo can still have a strong and explicit stance against harassment (photographic or physical). There's no excuse for it. That it's not a fan convention does not mean they can't hold themselves (or be held) to the same standards - fan conventions are going through a lot of growing pains around this specific area in the last few years, and it would be very easy (and is very important) for any other con to pay attention and follow suit.

[izodiea]

I totally agree, that is why I was especially happy to hear they were reaching out to other cons to collaborate on possible solutions. More minds x more awareness = better solution.

I'm honestly amazed they have gone so long without even a simple statement. They just celebrated their 20th anniversary. I guess that means they have just been lucky and not had a problem before, or that just no one has ever reported it.

[rose_bertin]

That is disgusting and you should make a complaint to the organizers and tell them to send an e-mail to everyone explaining that touching strangers is NOT OKAY.

[izodiea]

I sent the Dean an email yesterday (while classes were still on-going) so hopefully I will hear from them today or tomorrow.

I hate that it even has to happen, but probably putting some kind of anti-sexual harassment statement in the opening ceremonies/booklet would be great. Something that encourages people to be more proactive with themselves and their friends when they see it happening.