Wow, Y/CON was so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone who can get to Paris for the event. First of all, everyone was so charming and enthusiastic, from Y/CON staff to every one who listened to our panels or came to get a book and chatted with me.

I did a presentation on the history of Yuri fandom, and had roundtables with author Rutile and Louis-Baptiste Huchez of Taifu Comics, in which we talked about Yuri internationally and with Dr Pralinus, about BL and Yuri and queer joy.  We of course did not have not have time, but our conversations were really interesting. I have so many people to thank I know I won’t remember everyone, so if I miss you, please remind me!

 Thanks to Alex, who was a wonderful driver, Shaby, Shane and Paul in the green room who helped us find the bathroom down the dark corridor of nothing and made us feel so welcome. Olivia, Elisa, Valentine for arranging everything, Lou for being a fantastic moderator and Julie for doing an outstanding job a translating my insistence on being aggressively, joyfully, queer as a form of political resistance. 

This last kept coming up over and over as we are seeing a resurgence of fascism globally. Dr Pralinus and I agreed on many things, but as they spoke of how queer people have always been here and we will always be here, even if we have to hide, I suddenly was hit with an epiphany that hiding is not the way. We have never been safer for hiding. As we see with protestors dancing and singing in costume, joyful resistance makes the oppressors look even MORE ridiculous. My message was that they are the weirdo minority, not us. So enjoy your BL, Yuri, trans manga and be loud about it. 

It was exciting to see Akata Editions, Hana and Taifu at the event, I’m jealous of French Yuri fans that they have schwinn’s Hana Monogatari available to them.

Before I wrap up I want to wave hi to Mang’Albine and Resuri, it was so amazing to meet you both in person and I will see you online!

I hope to return to Y/CON one day soon.