May 21, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

LGBTQ+ Representation in the Entertainment Industry

Continuing its commitment to lead the push for diversity, equality and inclusion of quality LGBTQ+ content in entertainment, ClexaCon is returning to Las Vegas for its fourth consecutive year.

Taking place April 16-19 at The Tropicana Hotel, ClexaCon – the largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ+ women, gender nonconforming individuals & allies – will celebrate the illustrious individuals who make the entertainment industry’s progressive and prolific LGBTQ+ community so powerful and diverse with a packed program of panels, meet and greets, celebrity autographs and photographs, and workshops from an elite community of LGBTQ+ gamechangers, industry tastemakers, media influencers and actors.

“LGBTQ+ representation continues to matter and more so now than ever before. This is why the Con continues to provide educational resources for the community to aid in the push for better and equal representation. Its goal is to teach and motivate more LGBTQ+ individuals to participate in creating the stories that actually reflect America’s evolving cultural landscape,” ClexaCon said in a media release.

According to GLAAD 2019 report LGBTQ representation in films is up, but less diverse.

ClexaCon is hoping to actively be a pioneer in the movement to challenge the tropes and champion lesbian, bisexual and queer women and gender nonconforming individuals behind and in front of the camera. The con hopes to drive the conversation on how to move into and adapt to a more inclusive entertainment future.

“We believe that it is vital to support and nurture LGBTQ+ women and non-binary creators so that they are able to write authentic stories and push for better representation in all aspects of the entertainment industry moving forward,” said Danielle Jablonski, one of ClexaCon’s co-directors and producers.

Leading by example, ClexaCon’s core team is made up of a diverse group of LGBTQ+ people including queer, lesbian, bisexual, trans and non-binary team members.

More than 50% of the featured guests and the vast majority of speakers at the convention identify as LGBTQ+.

Some of the key panels are zooming in on topics such as:

• LGBTQ+ actors playing LGBTQ+ roles
• transgender representation
• bisexual representation
• queer people of color representation
• improving representation in front of and behind the camera
• supporting LGBTQ+ content creators to tell our stories

ClexaCon 2020 has assembled one of its most eclectic, stellar and diverse roster including L Word icons from the original series and from The L Word: Generation Q, with a reunion of original cast members Kate Moennig (The L Word, Ray Donavon), Leisha Hailey (The L Word) and Sarah Shahi (The L Word, Person of Interest) for the first time at a U.S. convention. Other guests include Amy Acker (The Gifted, Person of Interest), Amber Benson (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Felicia Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, The Guild), Jaime Murray (Warehouse 13, Spartacus), Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow), Janet Varney (Legend of Korra), Lyrika Ocano (Marvel’s Runaways), among many others.

About half of these featured guests this year are attending ClexaCon for the first time, bringing fresh perspectives and experiences to the conversation about LGBTQ+ representation.

Also new this year is the addition of a music showcase with several featured LGBTQ+ musicians, a cabaret event featuring LGBTQ+ performers and Karaoke. These events join an already stacked schedule that includes a full film festival, a burlesque show, a pool party and late-night parties. ClexaCon will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the annual event, Cocktails for a Change, to LGBTQ non-profits The Victory Fund Alliance and Project Q, as well as WIRES Australia.

For more information go to: ww.ClexaCon.com

in NEWS
Related Posts

Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd Settle Labor Lawsuit with Former Pump Employees for $490K

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Judge Approves Final Class-Action Settlement in Long-Running Wage Dispute Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, have reached a final...

Michelin Three Star Institution Brings 20th Anniversary Culinary Experience to Beverly Hills

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Grant Achatz’s Alinea Heads to Beverly Hills for Summer Residency Renowned chef Grant Achatz and his team at Alinea, Chicago’s...

Deadline Approaches to Apply for GLAAD’s 2025 Black Queer Creative Summit

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Program Returns in September to Support Emerging Black LGBTQ Creatives The deadline to apply to the 2025 Black Queer Creative...

West Hollywood City Manager David Wilson to Retire After 26 Years of Public Service

May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Wilson to Retire After Guiding West Hollywood Through COVID and Beyond David Wilson, West Hollywood’s City Manager and a longtime...

L.A. County DA Files Over 1,000 Felony Theft Charges Under Prop 36 in Retail Crime Crackdown

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

DA Nathan Hochman Unveils Major Enforcement Effort Targeting Organized Retail Theft Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced...

LGBTQ+ Advocates Condemn Newsom Administration Over $17 Million Health Equity Cut

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

LGBT Center Calls State Funding Rollback a ‘Betrayal’ of Queer and Trans Communities LGBTQ+ advocates are sharply criticizing Governor Gavin...

Getty Villa Museum to Reopen After Months-Long Closure Due to Palisades Fire

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Limited Public Access Resumes With Major New Exhibition on Mycenaean Greece The Getty Villa Museum will reopen to the public...

Woman’s Car Stolen from UCLA Valet in Santa Monica While Visiting Husband in ICU

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Couple Left Without Vehicle During Cancer Treatment After Thief Stole Keys Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local Montessori school teacher, says she...

Celebrity-Owned Cannabis Dispensary The Woods WeHo Hit in Smash-and-Grab Burglary

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Shop Co-founded by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher, and John McEnroe Targeted The high-profile cannabis dispensary co-owned by actor Woody Harrelson,...

Pasjoli to Temporarily Close for Redesign, Unveil New Menu June 12

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica French Bistro Will Pause Service Starting June 1 Acclaimed French bistro Pasjoli will close temporarily starting on June...

Hollywood Man Charged in Deadly Attempted Robbery on 3rd Street Promenade

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Santa Monica Police Say Planned After-Hours Sale Turned Violent Hollywood resident Karen Melikyan, 41, has been arrested and charged in...

Del Rey Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Using Social Media Apps

May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

Man Used Apps to Contact and Coerce Children to Produce Explicit Images Mark David Wallin, 44, of the Del Rey...

Brentwood Man Convicted of Stalking New Jersey Judge with Threatening Emails

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Resident Found Guilty of Months-Long Campaign of Harassment Brentwood resident Jonathan Lipman, 36, was convicted Thursday of a federal felony...

Hollywood Park to Add Movie Studio and Olympic Broadcast Center in 2028

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Studio Will Serve as International Broadcast Center for LA28 Games Hollywood Park, the massive 300-acre mixed-use development led by Los...

Mega Producer Quincy Jones’ Custom-Built Bel Air Estate Lists for $59.995 Million

May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

Music Icon’s 25,000-Square-Foot Mansion, Inspired by a South African Palace The Bel Air estate of the late music legend Quincy...