The Gaylactic Network is a North American

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term i ...

science fiction fandom Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or fandom of people interested in science fiction in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization (although ...

organization. It has several affiliate chapters across the United States and Canada, with a membership of LGBT ( lesbian,

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...

bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, wh ...

, and

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through ...

) people and friends, sharing an interest in

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama ...

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction **Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction ** Korean horror, Korean horror fiction *Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing on ...

, comics and

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

s. The Gaylactic Network oversees Gaylaxicon, an irregularly-held

science fiction convention Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of the speculative fiction genre, science fiction. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expr ...

in various states. It also originated the

Gaylactic Spectrum Awards The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) topics in a positive way. Established in 1998, the awards were initially presented by the Gaylact ...

, given annually for outstanding LGBT content in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genre publications. The Network is registered as a

nonprofit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

. Organizational records for the period 1986-2005 (bulk 1987-1991) are held by Brown University, and other universities mention it as a course resource

Purpose

The Gaylactic Network state on their website that their goals includes: * The promotion of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and other related genres, across all media, with particular attention to works of interest to LGBT people. * To provide forums for LGBT people and their friends to share their interest in SF/F/H. * Highlighting the presence of LGBT elements within SF/F/H and within fandom. * Generarating interest in SF/F/H within the LGBT communities. This is done via their affiliate chapters on a local scale, and nationally with the organisation of Gaylaxicon and (in the past) the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards and by online activities such as E-mail lists.

History and Affiliates

The Network sprang from the Boston-based Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society, an organization founded by Franklin Hummel (see Necronomicon: Providence) and assisted by John R Dumas began in 1986; Hummel was the group's first president. In 1987 Hummel then founded the Gaylactic Network (later called Gaylaxians International) as an umbrella organization for the many gay fandom clubs like the Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society that were forming locally in the United States and abroad. The organization changed from an affiliate-based membership structure to an individual-based membership structure in 2000. The Board consists of a Speaker, Listener, Treasurer, Secretary, and four Board Members. As the original group The Gaylaxian Science Fiction Society (GSFS) is the

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian province ...

-based chapter of the Network, which organized the original convention and continues to be a driving force behind many of the Gaylaxicons. The Network is also registered as a non-profit organization. Brown University maintains archives of the organization's old records, and other universities mentions it as a course resource Since 1986, the Network has had up to 12 affiliate clubs. The affiliates are locally oriented, regionally based, autonomous clubs with their own leadership and membership. As of 2008, there are 9 affiliate chapters: * Gaylactic Outpost Atlanta, Atlanta, GA * Gaylactic Toronto Alliance, Toronto, ONT * Golden Gate Gaylaxians, San Francisco, CA * Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians, Washington, DC * Niagara Falls Gaylactic Colonizers, Niagara Falls, NY * North Country Gaylaxians, Minneapolis, MN * Planet LAmbda, Los Angeles, CA * San Diego Queer Sci-Fi: The San Diego Gaylaxians, San Diego, CA There have been past affiliates in cities such as Philadelphia, but they have since folded or given up their affiliate status. Several organizations, including ones outside of North America, are considered "friends of the Network."

Gaylaxicon

Gaylaxicon is an irregularly-held convention in the United States, often on the East Coast. The focus of the convention is science fiction, fantasy, and horror for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals. transgender people, and their friends. The first Gaylaxicon was held in 1998 in Provincetown, Massachusetts; another in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2009, and one Atlanta, Georgia in 2011. The 2016 is to be held again in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Attendance at the convention has varied from 90 attendees in its first year to almost 400 people in later years. Each year one or more Guests of Honour is invited, in most years this includes a science fiction author and an artist. In addition to being the usual venue for the presentation of the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards, in the past the

James Tiptree, Jr. Award The Otherwise Award, formerly known as the James Tiptree Jr. Award, is an American annual literary prize for works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore one's understanding of gender. It was initiated in February 1991 by science f ...

has been given out at Gaylaxicon.

Gaylactic Spectrum Awards

The

are given to works of

and

which explore

(

, lesbian,

) topics in a positive way. They were founded in 1998, first presented by the Gaylactic Network in 1999, and in 2002 they were given their own organization, the ''Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Foundation''. Each award currently consists of an etched image on

lucite Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) belongs to a group of materials called engineering plastics. It is a transparent thermoplastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite ...

on a stand, using a spiral galaxy in a triangle logo, based on the logo the Gaylactic Network. The award winner's name, work title, award year and award category are etched on a small plaque on the base or on the plexiglass itself. A small cash stipend is also awarded to winners in the Best Novel and Short Fiction categories. The cost of the awards is met through individual donations and fundraising events. Since their inception, awards have been given in categories for novels and best other work. Other categories have also been added and removed in intervening years, including categories for short fiction (since the second year) and comic books for one year. The award for best novel is the only one to have been handed out every year since the awards began. The categories are open to submission of works released during the prior calendar year in North America that includes "significant positive GLBT content". Works produced prior to the inception of the awards are eligible to be inducted into the "Hall of Fame". The results are decided by a panel of judges from the list of submitted nominees; the long list of nominees is reduced to a short list of finalists, and the results are generally announced and presented at Gaylaxicon.

References

External links

Gaylactic Network HomepageGaylaxicon HomepageSpectrum Awards
{{LGBT fiction Gaylactic Network Gaylactic Network Gaylactic Network