Gaming Reviews, News, Tips and More.
We may earn a commission from links on this page

Was PAX East's Diversity Lounge A Success? I Asked People Who Went

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Ubiquitous webcomic Penny Arcade's taken some rather poor stances on diversity in the past, leading some people (myself included) to avoid PAX altogether for the time being. However, PA is at least attempting to clean up its act, starting with a "Diversity Lounge" that debuted at PAX East. But did it help? Or did it only pay lip service to a much larger issue?

The Diversity Lounge itself was placed just outside PAX's well-trafficked "Badger" theater and near the convention's front lobby. It wasn't really staffed by many video game developers, but its 14 tables brimmed with members of inclusive groups like Toronto Gaymers, Bent Con, Queer Geek, PressXY, disability-centric group and charity AbleGamers, card game Advent Saga, webcomic Capitol Hillbillies, and roving Magic The Gathering cabal The Lady Planeswalkers Society. There were also beanbag chairs for the con-exhausted masses who just wanted to get off their feet for a little while and hang out.

Reactions coming out of the show have been mixed. The Diversity Lounge itself, many I've spoken to claimed, was a safe, inviting space full of helpful, passionate people. However, it wasn't particularly well-publicized, which left some feeling like the lounge had been tossed out in the cold, forced to fend for itself.

Advertisement

"I want to start off by saying that I went in to the Diversity Lounge not knowing what to expect because of all of the negative backlash on the internet when it was announced," author and cosplayer Ger Tysk told me. "I was more than pleasantly surprised the whole weekend. The lounge was, contrary to what a lot of people were saying, not a place where people were pushed into a corner and held up to be 'different' than other people. The lounge really felt like just another facet of the convention."

Advertisement

"The PAX Enforcers at the door were extremely personable, and not only watched the room, but actively participated in the educational process of the visitors with smiles and hugs," added Trans Against Insanity panelist and member of trans-centric gaming group PressXY Lexi Richardson. "Honestly, it was a great time. I personally witnessed cisgender men and women come into the lounge with questions, and they got answers. A few people actually told me that the room and panel had changed their minds and taught them that trans people aren’t all that strange after all. It was immensely personally rewarding to explain something about life as a transsexual woman, and have them excitedly shake my hand and thank me."

Advertisement

"The Diversity Lounge was a safe space."


"Not only that, but the general feeling of the room was that of safety. Diversity is about everyone. White, black, Cis, Trans, Male, Female, Gender Queer, and everything in between. If somebody was feeling overwhelmed by the immense crowds on the show floor, then they could come to the Diversity Lounge and relax on a bean bag, or talk with the exhibitors. It was a safe space."

Unfortunately there weren't really scheduled events to draw people to the lounge, but Penny Arcade artist Mike "Gabe" Krahulik stopped by for a couple hours to demo his tabletop game, Thornwatch, and interact with attendees. While not the biggest possible helping hand from on high, this moment was especially significant given Krahulik's previous wars of words with openly trans individuals. One might read that as a half-baked attempt at making amends, but Diversity Lounge attendees came away pretty pleased.

Advertisement

"Mike carried himself perfectly," opined Interplay (Wasteland, Bard's Tale III) co-founder, former PlayStation engineer, and current Olde Skuul CEO Rebecca Heineman. "He wasn't there to 'make a showing.' He was there to try out his game and gather feedback, and where else better to enlist a gender inclusive group to join together and battle against the monsters on the play field? We were there to play a game, and play we did. He listened to all of our feedback and was taking notes like a madman, including comments about adding female characters to his game and minor rule changes since we did break his game by unorthodox play."

Others were less effusive in their praise, but it sounds like Krahulik hosted a solid session overall. "Both [PA writer] Jerry Holkins and Mike made appearances in the Diversity Lounge," said AbleGamers editor-in-chief Steve Spohn. "Given how much they are in demand around the entire conference, I think they did well appearing when they could."

Advertisement

Although only a few video game developers presented at the Diversity Lounge, a handful apparently came through to ask questions and seek valuable consultation for their games. "I had a few devs drop by with ethics-related questions," said De Montfort University computer ethics academic Catherine Flick. "It was really good to see them. Many more boardgame writers than video game writers, but hey, I'm not picky. Some Microsoft people dropped by as well, along with people from 2K. Lots of indie writers too."

The Diversity Lounge's first run, however, was less of a silver bullet for Penny Arcade's recent troubles and more of a late-firing starting gun. It was an important first effort, but it still has a long way to go.

Advertisement

The first big issue? Advertising and publicity. While the Diversity Lounge was decently located all things considered, it was still off the beaten path, removed from the hustle and bustle of the Expo Floor, and—most damningly—not given prominent placement on PAX's website or promo materials, nor were there any sponsors from major gaming companies. It was more of a pleasant surprise, nestled away from the general populace unless they put in the legwork to seek it out. There were official "Roll for Diversity" lanyards and panel schedules (panels were separate from the lounge itself) for those who wanted them, but it's like I always say: if you want to hide your deepest, darkest secrets where nobody will ever find them, put them on a convention lanyard.

"There's no mention of the lounge on PAX's website," said Toronto-based indie developer and Queer Geek booth volunteer Royel Edwards. "What's the point of announcing a safe initiative only to brush it to the side online and in the convention? I want to see people learning more about diversity and it felt like PAX itself wasn't pushing its own product enough to let people know that it's a thing you can be a part of."

Advertisement

"If PAX wants a Diversity Lounge, attendees HAVE to know about it. The lounge had no presence on the show floor, and chances are people only found the lounge because they didn't know what was happening in the room and just wanted to check it out."


"If PAX wants a Diversity Lounge, attendees HAVE to know about it."


The effects of this were especially pronounced on PAX East's first day, when someone made the mystifying decision to keep the lounge's doors closed by default, resulting in less-than-encouraging numbers. Once things opened up on Saturday, however, significantly more people began to wander in.

Advertisement

Others argued that while some sort of show floor presence is definitely needed, the Diversity Lounge's main base of operations should remain away from the ever-churning pit of (very loud) madness that is the Expo Floor. Such a cacophonous, crowded location, they explained, simply isn't conducive to discussion and explanation, the Diversity Lounge's key goals.

"I personally am glad we were in a big room off a main arterial hallway, and not in the middle of the Expo Floor," said a PressXY member who wished to remain anonymous. "If we were we'd be swallowed up by the masses. The expo hall is huge, full of people who might be antagonistic, and it reeks of Axe body spray and desperation. Being in a big open room off of a main hallway, people who didn't like us could avoid us and the people who wanted to be there could be. I think it worked well."

Advertisement

Another problem was the Diversity Lounge's relative lack of, er, diversity. It certainly provided a safe space for members of the gaming community who are often pushed to the outer margins, but it was somewhat narrowly focused in terms of representation. Advertising focused mainly on LGBTQ imagery, and activist groups made up the bulk of its booths.

"The space felt open and comfortable, but I think that it could grow to be more diverse," explained ex-Ensemble (Age of Empires) and CCP (EVE Online, World of Darkness) designer/current Olde Skuul CEO Jennell Jaquays. "[The lounge's organizers] definitely need to reach out as early as possible to local diversity groups involved in gaming—not just activist groups. Our group, PressXY is essentially a national organization, but we were also the only group actively representing transgender issues. What was missing were groups dealing with gamers of other ethnicities and special groups focused on women gamers, regardless of gender or sexual orientation."

Advertisement

The biggest hurdle Penny Arcade's diversity initiative still needs to overcome, however, is what it represents. PAX East's Diversity Lounge ended up being a good, safe space, but it carried with it a sticky mess of potentially problematic implications.

"It's tough to say whether the lounge is on the right track or not," lamented Edwards. "Especially since in a perfect world they wouldn't need it in the first place. But for those who care enough to inquire about what the booths have to offer, it serves its purpose—getting the word out about community and acceptance for all people."

Advertisement

"I don't want them to think that using the lounge as a band-aid is going to help make PAX a better place."


"I felt like the lounge was a double-edged sword. Yes, people can be excited for the fact that PAX is pushing for diversity, but on the other hand we have people asking why [PAX and the notion of diversity] seem to be two different things when they should be one in the same. [Penny Arcade] has said hurtful things. Things that made both attendees and developers not even bat an eye at PAX. I don't want them to think that using the lounge as a band-aid is going to help make PAX a better place."

Advertisement

Lines in the sand—whether drawn intentionally or not—exclude. And when the whole point of an initiative is equality and inclusivity, that perception is a big problem. The Diversity Lounge was meant to be open to all, but not everyone understood that. Some assumed it was a space only for underrepresented groups. A place where straight white men weren't welcome. Others were afraid to approach or admit that they didn't fully understand.

"One guy talked to me and he was really interested in the PAX Prime Pink Party, and he asked me if he was allowed to come because he was straight," exclaimed Edwards. "I wanted to hug him forever. That proves that people think that just because they see the word 'queer' or 'trans' or 'gay' or whatever, they feel like it's exclusive to those sort of people when it's not."

Advertisement

It's a tough perception to avoid when separation is the default state of things, but overcoming it is not impossible. The next step, then, is to make the Diversity Lounge's open armed stance even more, er, open.

"A space for 'other' inevitably becomes a default safe space for 'other' instead of an education space for the 'not other,'" explained a PressXY member who wished to remain anonymous. "Our value proposition should not be 'come and learn who we are!' but rather, 'what can you gain by learning who we are?'"

Advertisement

Even then, it's a particularly precarious tightrope to walk. If you push too hard, you only end up pushing people who are on the fence right off it. Pushing them away. The lounge, many I spoke to agreed, should be a safe space not only for those it represents, but also for learning. And if people don't want to learn? Well, that's on them, and trying to forcefully convince them otherwise harms more than it helps.

"One can never know how many people scoffed at the idea of diversity nor how many people were turned off by the idea," noted AbleGamers editor-in-chief Steve Spohn. "I'm sure there were 'dudebros' who had no interest in seeing anything other than the latest videogame on display at the show floor, but that's fine."

Advertisement

"I'm sure there were 'dudebros' who had no interest in seeing anything other than the latest videogame on display at the show floor, but that's fine."


"The idea of diversity is to make people aware of minorities, raise the behavior levels when dealing with said minorities, and to elicit support for those minorities when necessary or appropriate. It is not the purpose of these kind of situations to force anyone to 'deal with' minorities. It's uncomfortable, and I daresay it's not even right, but some people will never be comfortable or wish to be around those that are different from themselves. So whether it's someone from the LGBT community, the disability community, or any other minority, some people will just not be comfortable. And that's okay. The diversity lounge was available for those who wished to learn."

Advertisement

PAX East's Diversity Lounge, then, was a learning experience for all involved. It was in many ways a positive first step, but there's tremendous room for improvement both in and around it. Lounges, as it turns out, take hard work to run. Here's hoping everyone is ready to roll up their sleeves.

TMI is a branch of Kotaku dedicated to telling you everything about my adventures in the gaming industry. And I do mean everything, thus the name. It's an experiment in disclosure, storytelling, interviewing, and more. The gaming industry is weird. People are weird. I am weird. You are weird. Why hide that? Let's explore it.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top