In January 2018, WorldCon, the premier science fiction writers convention, openly discriminated against libertarians and conservatives in the field by banning Jon Del Arroz, a popular Hispanic science fiction writer, in an unprecedented move because he is outspoken political figure. Their claim was that Del Arroz "intended to violate their code of conduct." A reason was not specified via their email, but they told Del Arroz the decision was final and not appealable. No one reached out to him to try to discuss their issues. Worse, in November 2017, just two months prior, they did not even bother to respond to an email in which Del Arroz stated concerns of his safety and the safety of other libertarian-conservative authors at their convention.





Worldcon took to their website and social media and falsely labeled Del Arroz a racist bully, defaming him in addition to holding him to unstated, different standards than others for attendance at their convention. Just how unprecedented is this? Del Arroz is the first person pre-banned from WorldCon since 1964, where they banned Walter Breen -- not for the whole convention -- but for only one day. He was a convicted pedophile. Del Arroz has committed no crime, and he finds it more than insulting to be compared with such a lowlife. It's torpedoed Del Arroz’s career as a writer, and sent the industry into a spiral to call him names, defame him, and blacklist him. Worldcon has caused irreparable harm to his career with their defamatory actions.





Del Arroz is a civil rights activist in addition to a popular science fiction writer and journalist, fighting for equality in viewpoint diversity, and for libertarian-conservatives to be able to freely attend conventions without fear for their safety or being harassed. His attendance at Worldcon is very important for discourse, providing opportunity for conservative discussion, and the furthering of science fiction as a progressive genre.





Del Arroz attempted to reasonably resolve this by sending a letter requesting very little: a retraction of their defamatory comments, an apology, allowing his attendance, and having their officers attend sensitivity training over California laws against political discrimination.





At this time, WorldCon has not responded to his request. They are showing a distinct lack of consideration as to his civil rights to attend a gathering open to the public as an upstanding citizen of California. Conventions need to be a safe place for libertarian-conservatives as well as any other group, and we must take steps to ensure that conventions are open to all people in the future, and not segregated.





Pursuing his rights on his behalf and for others who may be discriminated against on similar grounds will be expensive. Filing the lawsuit will cost around $1,000 and if there are depositions, motions, or experts, it could cost more than $10,000. It’s a lot of money to be able to exercise rights to speak without fear of illegal retaliation and discrimination and to associate with other members of the science fiction community and writing peers, but it needs to be done so others in the future can speak safely.





Please help Jon Del Arroz in his fight for civil rights for libertarian-conservatives everywhere in these troubling times. As a thanks, everyone who donates will receive a free novella e-book as a thank you.

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