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Flame Con 2, the city's queer spin on New York Comic Con, takes over the Marriot Brooklyn Bridge for a full weekend of gender-bent cosplay, kinky merchandise, subversive panels and fan parties late into the night. Whether you're a cosplay fanatic or just looking for one of the best LGBT things to do this weekend, you're in for a colorful time. Here's our day-to-day rundown of the best events of the weekend.
Friday Night: Head to the Bell House for Firestarter, the official Flame Con 2 kick-off party, where cosplaying burlesque performers and drag queens will devour the stage from 8:30–11pm, followed by a sickening dance party from 11pm–3am.
Saturday: Join a conversation on Hollywood's antiquated gender notions of A.I. at "Gendering BB8" at 1pm, and discuss the queer legacy of NBC's delicious camp series at "Hannibal" at 5pm. You'll have the chance to meet your same-sex superhero soulmate at Speed Dating at 5pm, and serve gender-bent realness from your favorite superhero movies at the Cosplay Contest at 6pm. You can check out Saturday's full schedule here.
Saturday Night: For one night, Rockbar NYC will be the Xavier Mansion for the X-Men Swimsuit Edition party, where you'll have the option wear your skimpiest X-Men-themed swimwear and rejoice to mutant-themed performances by drag queens and burlesque stars like Dax ExclamationPoint, Ginger Rodger, Otter Chaos and more.
Sunday: Start the day with the Queercopia comics creator showcase at noon, then head to a panel on race and comics at "Supergirl's Not Black" at 1pm, followed by a discussion about the queer legacy of the X-men with legendary scribe Chris Claremont at "Pride and the X-Men" at 2pm. If you're still jonesing to work the runway, then show off your finest leather and spandex at the 3pm Cosplay Contest. You can read up on the full Sunday schedule here.
Creators and Exhibitors: The con floor will be packed all weekend with well-known LGBTQ creators, including Adventure Time's Kate Leth, Detective Comics' James Tynion IV, legendary artist Phil Jimenez and more. And be sure to buy goodies like flattering spandex from Booty and the Geek and crocheted superhero jock straps from Crochet Empire. Go here for the full signing and exhibitor schedule.