#swcc19

Panels

Pride Squadron Presents: Navigating Gender, Crossplay, and Trans Costuming in a Galaxy Far Far Away

Sat Apr 13, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM Fan Stage

Whether you are looking to make a costume for a Star Wars character whose gender differs from your own, or you’re looking to learn how to pass better in costume, our experts have tips and tricks for you. We’ll talk about makeup and contour, wigs, safe binding, and other topics related to the intersection of gender and Star Wars costuming. Pride Squadron is a LGBTQ+ group for members of the premier volunteer costume clubs, and our members are here to help you!

Pride Squadron: Creating a Space for Queer Fandom

Sun Apr 14, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM Galactic Senate Stage

Pride Squadron is the LGBTQ+ subgroup for the volunteer costume and droid building clubs that work under the guidance of Lucasfilm. We provide community to the LGBTQ+ members of these clubs around the world. We promote inclusion of our members, education about our community, and celebration of the canonically LGBTQ+ characters in Star Wars. Join us for conversation about the LGBTQ+ Star Wars costume community as we talk about costuming as canonically queer characters, costume modifications for Pride parades and other events, and more about who we are and what we do in the premier Star Wars costume and droid organizations.

#SWRepMatters: Celebrating Diversity in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Sun Apr 14, 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Fan Stage

#SWRepMatters is an online celebration and advocacy campaign for diversity and inclusion in the Star Wars universe. On this panel of diverse fans who started the hashtag, we will relay to the audience the story of the #SWRepMatters campaign. We will discuss how we sought to advocate for diversity and representation (in front of and behind the scenes), how well we think the Star Wars franchise has done on this issue, and what we hope to see in the future. There will also be book prizes featuring diverse characters!

Fan Table

Pride Squadron Table #1346

Pride Squadron is a space for LGBTQ+ members of the costume and droid builder clubs that work under the guidance of Lucasfilm (as well as future members of those clubs committed to finishing costumes/droids that are currently in progress), such as the Rebel Legion, 501st Legion, Saber Guild, Mandalorian Mercs, Dark Empire, and Droid Builders. This is a collaborative and social group to discuss issues specific to the LGBTQ+ experience in the realm of Star Wars costuming and droid building. It is our priority to be an intersectional resource for LGBTQ+ members in these costume and droid clubs to make the Star Wars costuming and droid building world a friendlier place for everyone. Here at Celebration our space is a community hub for all LGBTQ+ Star Wars fans and allies with special guests and events at our table throughout the convention. Stop by our table for a full schedule and some freebies!

EK Johnston will be stopping by for a Meet & Greet starting at 11 AM on Sunday.

Signings for Authors of Books with LGBTQ+ Characters

Del Rey Booth #3020

Claudia Grey: Thursday 4 PM, Friday 2 PM, Saturday 5:30, Monday 2 PM

From A Certain Point of View Group Signing: Sunday 5 PM

Anderson’s Bookshop Booth #3835 (Requires a Book Purchase) Note that the SWCC website lists different times for these signings than what Del Rey/EK Johnston put on their Twitters. I am more inclined to believe people’s Tweets than the official website since the organization of this con has been pretty chaotic.

EK Johnston: Thursday 6 - 8 PM 

Daniel José Older: Saturday 5 PM

Claudia Grey: Sunday 4 PM

Speed Dating (Queer Focus Times)

Sat Apr 13, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM & Sun, Apr 14, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM 

Speed Dating Room

Exclusives

It was such a blast, even though I had to miss out on Friday and Saturday because I unfortunately got sick (OF COURSE I would 😩 I even had to miss @perrydowning’s Reylo Reception, which looked so cool!)

And then it actually SNOWED ❄️ on Sunday, ew 😝 I apologize for the snow, I have no idea why it looked like January in the dead of Spring, but that’s Chicago for ya 😅

Nonetheless, I still had a lot of fun. It’s always such a joy to see so many Star Wars fans all congregated together. The energy is just so palpable. Also really felt a lot of love and positivity, which sometimes isn’t always the case in this fandom, but then you go to events like these and your faith in the fandom’s goodness gets restored ☺️

Anyhoo, here are some highlights of my time at Celebration!

I got to meet @ekjohnston and had her sign my book (isn’t the cover SO pretty?! 😍 Can’t wait to read this! Padme is definitely my favorite character in Star Wars 💕)

I also really loved ALL THE REYLO omg 😍❤️

And I got treated to a trailer and watched a bit of footage from the new Disney+ series, The Mandalorian! I’m really looking forward to this show guys! It’s done SO WELL and the cast is INCREDIBLE! I mean, how can you go wrong with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni at the helm?

Overall, I just had a really incredible time!

I think Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019 was a huge success ☺️

She said Reylo was toxic and she couldn't get behind it.

She said maybe there was redemption for Kylo, not that Reylo would happen if redemption happened.