As in past years, C2E2 hosted a plethora of interesting panels for attendees to choose from while at the convention. One such panel that I attended was “A Guide to DEI in the Cosplay Community,” hosted by Crying But Capable, a plus-size, disabled, POC, and LGBTQ cosplay community that aims to spread their message of positivity and inclusiveness.
Here is the description of the panel from the C2E2’s guide:
Come join us, cosplay group Crying But Capable, as we discuss navigating the cosplay community as cosplayers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds! We’ll be sharing our experiences from the beginning of our journeys as Plus Sized, Disabled, POC, and LGBTQ cosplayers to now, issues we’ve faced with diversity and inclusion, along with a Q&A session, where you can ask new and veteran cosplayers about your journey.
The panelists spoke about the different aspects through which they’ve had encounters in the cosplay community, heard from audience members about how C2E2 itself rates in being inclusive, and how the convention (as well as other comic cons) could do better. Below are some of the points that they shared with attendees.
Check out our other C2E2 2025 Articles and Photos:
Friday Photos
– Pt. 1
– Pt. 2
– Pt. 3
Saturday Photos
– Pt. 1
– Pt. 2
– Pt. 3
– Pt. 4
– Pt. 5Sunday Photos
– Pt. 1
– Pt. 2
– Pt. 3Check out our coverage in Previous years – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
As someone who does not fit into any of these categories, it was highly educational for me. It helped me learn about how those different than me have experienced the cosplay community and showed how we can be better advocates and allies for our fellow cosplayers.
Being a POC, Plus Size, or LGBTQ Cosplayer
Problem: Often a POC cosplayer will hear that they are a “great [insert ethnicity] version” of the character they are cosplaying.
Problem: Being overweight contributes to similar struggles because there will primarily be comments about only your weight, no matter how accurate your cosplay is. They will occasionally be told they are “the fat version” of the character they are cosplaying.
What can be done: Don’t use qualifiers when referring to cosplayers that are a different size/race/etc. than the character they are playing. They *are* that character, full stop. Additionally, don’t be afraid to compliment other cosplayers, whether in person or online. By doing so, you can help the positives outweigh the negatives, helping others find their community and those who appreciate them for who they are.
Problem: LGBTQ cosplayers can feel marginalized or like everything they do is oversexualized.
What can be done: If you are LGBTQ, don’t feel ashamed to take up space or be who you are, whatever form that takes. You deserve to take up space and be visible just as much as anyone else. If you are not LGBTQ, talk with your friends who are and ask how you can best support them.
Cosplaying with a Disability
Problem: Not all disabilities can be seen with the eyes. Just like in society in general, many cosplayers have need of accessibility services because their disabilities are invisible but still impact their lives. The problem is that often they are judged for making use of these services, such as wheelchairs, being allowed into VIP lines for autographs and photo ops, etc. and might be called out as being lazy or trying to circumvent long lines.
What can be done: If you don’t have a disability, the best thing you can do is not judge others on just their appearance – you can never truly know someone’s story or experiences just by looking at them.
If you have a disability, it’s okay to be open about it if you’re comfortable with sharing your story. If that’s not something you’re comfortable with, don’t feel like you’re required to – you don’t owe everyone your life story and are free to keep things you might consider highly personal to yourself.
Some cosplayers may choose to hide their mobility aids (cane/crutch/etc.) because they’re embarrassed. Others will jazz them up to make them more visible and add a little bit of extra something to their cosplay.
Some advice the panelists had for other cosplayers with disabilities included learning how to adapt your cosplay to whatever you are doing such as knowing what types of materials and cuts of clothing work best for you (Do you have issues with textures? Do you not do well with form fitting clothing?) and adapting your accessories, such as decorating your mobility aids to coordinate with your cosplay (give your wizard a staff, have Lucius Malfoy’s cane, give your fairy a flower-covered staff, etc.)
The panelists detailed some of the struggles cosplayers with disabilities often have to combat, such as:
- Backed up elevators because there aren’t enough or the ones the center has are difficult to find/too far away from everything.
- Small walkways
- Inaccessible bathrooms (only one handicapped stall and all the others are tiny)
- Lines with no exits
- Lack of quiet rooms for when attendees get overwhelmed/overstimulated.
Attendee observations of accessibility at C2E2
C2E2 has made improvements to be more accessible compared to years past but still has room for improvement. Here are some of the observations about the convention by those who attended the panel – the good as well as areas with room for improvement:
- Artist Alley feels extremely claustrophobic. (In my opinion this is a view shared by just about anyone who tries to navigate that particular section of the show floor.)
- Other attendees stepping in front of wheelchairs. (A major etiquette breach)
- Disabled persons were allowed to go through VIP lines for autographs and photo ops. (They can’t necessarily stand in long lines like other attendees, so this was definitely the right move made by the organizers.)
- Elevators in the convention center are awkwardly placed and it’s not always obvious where they are/what floors they go to.
- It’s hard to get away quickly when the show floor gets overwhelming/overstimulating. (C2E2 has had a quiet room in years past, but it often took significant time to get there from the show floor and the convention did not appear to have one this year.)
- No captioning provided in any panels.
- There was an ASL interpreter in some panels. (ASL interpreters could be requested by emailing ReedPop up to two weeks prior to the convention.)
- A loud high striker game was situated in the middle of The Yard (a large, open area of the show floor) that some commented was very unsettling every time it went off.
How to promote DEI in cosplay
Finally, the panelists (along with input from attendees) ended by sharing how anyone can help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cosplay community:
- Create safe spaces online and in-person – don’t be afraid to stand up for others if you see them being bullied or discriminated against, and let it be known if you are an ally.
- Create boundaries – let others know what is and is not considered an acceptable way to treat their fellow cosplayers.
- Take up space in the community – if you are POC, disabled, or LGBTQ, don’t be afraid to be who you are.
- Keep spaces and panels accessible by not being afraid to ask for any assistance you may need at conventions.
- Share your joy with other people and advocate for yourself.
- Only cosplay characters because *you* want to, and not necessarily because you “look like” them.
- When attending a convention, try to be aware of those around you and make sure to give extra space to those using mobility aids, even if that means having a bit of patience and slowing down.
- Conventions often have a feedback panel toward the end of the final day. If you know of ways the convention could improve its accessibility, be sure to attend and voice your concerns with the staff.
As I stated earlier, this panel was highly enjoyable and very educational. I hope that C2E2 continues to have panels that further such conversations about important issues in the cosplay community like this.
Images from @cbccosplay
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