Cosplay Competition

[Nimue]

To the Cosplay Manager and Kumoricon staff,

My name is Maura Lydon and I've been attending Kumoricon since 2004. In addition, I've performed in the cosplay competition for the past two years and I've always enjoyed being able to participate in the contest. I've put in nearly 20 hours of volunteer work for this year's convention and I'm writing this email because I really care about the convention and enjoy being a part of it.

I noticed recently that in the rules for this year's cosplay competition yaoi, yuri and hentai have been banned. As the bullet was placed beneath the rule regarding keeping all content PG-13, I'd like to know if this means yaoi/yuri can be discussed within PG-13 restrictions, or if the rule means that it can't be mentioned at all.

Personally I find the rule to be really offensive. As a lesbian, one of the things that I've always appreciated about the convention and the anime community is how open-minded and accepting most people are. I feel that by completely censoring all mention of yaoi and yuri you are sending out a message to the community that is homophobic and oppressive.

I write cosplay skits for my group, the Shoujo Mafia, and I have always taken care to keep all content "family friendly" - in other words, PG-13. Whenever a same-sex relationship has been mentioned in the past in our skits, it has never been any more or less explicit than a heterosexual relationship. I'd like to ask that you reconsider this rule so that all romantic relationships mentioned in cosplay skits are treated equally, regardless of the genders involved. Whether it is straight or gay, it should be kept PG-13. But banning something simply because it is gay or lesbian is an act of homophobia.

I realize that the competition is less than a week away, but I feel that this is an extremely important issue, and therefore I urge you to please reconsider this rule.

Thanks for your time,

Maura
Shoujo Mafia

[guspasho]

*sigh*

Read this thread, where we've already had this discussion. The executive summary is that last year it was nothing but "yaoi yaoi yaoi!" and not in an affirmative way, but in a crass dick and fart joke kind of way, and naturally the complete saturation of yaoiness drew a lot of complaints, and the rules are a response to that.

As the bullet was placed beneath the rule regarding keeping all content PG-13, I'd like to know if this means yaoi/yuri can be discussed within PG-13 restrictions, or if the rule means that it can't be mentioned at all.

It's the former. That's why it was bulleted under PG-13. Why is this so difficult to understand? And if you aren't sure, check the specific content with the cosplay manager.

And finally, the rule says "No yaoi, yuri, or hentai." To draw the conclusion that we are discriminating against homosexuals by selectively ignoring the reference to hetero porn, is patently dishonest. So do not even go there.

[Nimue]

Thanks for the clarification. I was unaware that there was a thread already posted on the subject.

I think it would be helpful if the rule was restated in a way that didn't make it sound as though all same-sex relationships were being lumped together with erotica. Something more explicit would be helpful.

[guspasho]

Thanks for the clarification. I was unaware that there was a thread already posted on the subject.

I think it would be helpful if the rule was restated in a way that didn't make it sound as though all same-sex relationships were being lumped together with erotica. Something more explicit would be helpful.

And specific to lewdness rather than sexuality, I think, too. It's something we can try to change for next year.