New York Comic Con’s Pride Lounge is a Curated Respite for Cosplay’s OG Tribe

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | From gluing on glitter, to conquering the cold with one of the many bedazzled capes from your closet, to accessorizing with futuristic, military, or medieval gear just because–queers have been working the cosplay look into our Everyday Wear arsenal long before there was a word for it. And certainly, long before the comic and manga-loving masses could be seen trekking toward the Javits Center dressed like their favorites from the worlds of film, gaming, and comics. 

That cultural ritual happens again October 8-11, as New York Comic Con (NYCC) comes to town, this year marking its second decade of delivering a destination where countless communities within the Tribe of Fandom can gather to geek out.

And what thanks do we, the OG cosplay tribe, get? Where’s our parade? At NYCC, the Pride Lounge is where LGBTQIA+ people will find a safe space within the larger (but, historically, not always queer-affirming) safe space of NYCC. Located in Room 1C01-02 of the Javits, the Pride Lounge is open Thursday, Oct. 8 from 10am to 7pm; Friday/Saturday, October 9/10 from 10am to 6pm; and Sunday, October 11, from 10am to 3pm.

Created and curated by showbiz promo company SpinCycleNYC and SPI Marketing, Pride Lounge is an “affirming space where queer individuals can see themselves represented, celebrated, and supported,”… a physical expression of NYCC’s contemporary commitment to foster “inclusion, visibility, and understanding, to help break down stereotypes and to build stronger, more empathetic communities for our fans.”

In addition to being a comfy confine where one can unwind and recharge, Pride Lounge distinguishes itself as a destination for events that investigate and celebrate hyperspecific aspects of its fab demographic. See the below for some of the offerings we’re looking forward to…

All We Need is Queer Love  / Thursday, October 8, 3pm-4pm / Everyone’s got at least one good book in them, goes the conventional wisdom. But why stop there? Arrive with your bestselling trilogy in mind, and learn about what it takes”to write queer stories that feel real, inclusive, and resonant.” Panel participant authors include adult and young adult horror writer Taylor Grothe, librarian Sam Scala, and author/musician Jennie Wood.

Kings of the CON / Sat. Oct. 10, 1:45pm-2:30pm / With all due respect to drag queens—and they are due a Mother Lode of it—there’s something uniquely nuanced, complex, and flip-fuck fascinating about a drag king’s take on gender, sex, power, and perspective. That said, there’s no telling what kind of explosive Big Dick Energy will be flowing through the Pride Lounge, when top dog Murray Hill moderates a panel of fellow drag kings. The multigenerational lineup, including Mo B. Dick and Henlo Bullfrog, will engage with Murray for a lively conversion about performance, visibility, masculinity, and the evolution of drag king culture.  

Showbiz! Murray Hill in Conversation with Peppermint Saturday, October 10, 12pm to 1:30pm | This free-flowing dialogue between two titans finds the pioneering Mr. Hill in conversation with the equally trailblazing Peppermint (the first out trans contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and first trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway, in Head Over Heels). “Come for the book. Stay for the banter” is the invite and promises, with the hard copy paper tome a reference to the release of Hill’s memoir (Showbiz!). Expect from the two old friends “stories, laughs, a little harmless troublemaking, and a chance to get your book signed by Murray himself.”

Drag Story Hour with Yuhua Hamasak/ Sunday, October 11, 11am-12pm | Comic Con has put out an open call for all “tiny superheroes, magical misfits, and future legends” to assemble in the Pride Lounge for what promises to be a “Drag Story Hour” living its most fabulously authentic life, as far away from your local library as Oz is from Kansas! The far-out cred of this sassy Story Hour comes largely from the queen who’ll be doing the (literal and figurative) reading. Yes, the little ones will find themselves under the storytelling spell of Season 10 RuPaul’s Drag Race and Season 1 Drag Race Philippines contestant Yuhua Hamasaki. Able to exude warmth or throw shade as the situation requires, kids will immediately pick up on the supportive “favorite aunt” vibe Hamasaki radiates, along with a tangible sense that mischief could break out at any moment. That appealing mix will have your Story Hour tyke transfixed for a full sixty minutes!

Off-Site Bonus Content

The Kings in New York / Saturday, October 10, 7pm / At The Cutting Room (44 E. 32nd St. NYC) / Tickets are $23 for general admission; $53 for general admission seating with a book and a meet-and-greet/signing; $75 for Gold Circle VIP tickets that include reserved seating in the first two rows plus expedited book signing. There is an additional $25 food/drink minimum. Tickets available at www.SpinCycleNYC.com

The very busy Murray Hill hosts a Hill-curated lineup of drag kings, gathered to celebrate his debut memoir via a series of “wild, steamy, shocking, and hilarious gender-defying performances.” The lineup features Brooklyn Nightlife Award’s Drag King of the Year 2016 K. James; the legendary Mo B. Dick (John Waters’ Pecker), former Mr. Bushwig Myster E Mel Kiki, and 2021 Entertainer of the Year at the Silver Tusk Burlesque Awards, Uncle Freak. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for tunes and tracks spun by your news crush, DJ Half ‘N Half (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Murray Hill).

MEET THE MEMOIR | In his powerful debut memoir, SHOWBIZ! MY LIFE AS A MIDDLE-AGED MAN, beloved comedian Murray Hill (Somebody Somewhere) opens up for the first time about how a painful past led to an unwavering commitment to spread joy—one rimshot at a time. Warm, fearless, and laugh-out-loud funny, Showbiz! is Murray Hill’s story of survival, reinvention, and finding joy against the odds. Because when life hands you trauma, you turn it into a tight five. That’s Showbiz!

—END—

LGBTQCommunityNews.nyc is an independent, free source of queer-centric news, arts, info, and opinion content. Our website, podcast, and quarterly newspaper are funded by advertising revenue and reader donations. To support this project, click here for the GoFundMe campaign. Questions? Comments? Click here to contact us. To join the subscriber list of our free ENewsletter, click here.