Labor Day Weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for Atlanta, with several events occurring simultaneously throughout the city. For the geeks among us, the most significant event just might be Dragon*Con, the largest sci-fi/fantasy convention in the Southeast. Picking up from our look at Dragon*Con in July, we have more specific looks at what to attend at this year’s event, along with some costume ideas you might want to avoid.

LGBT Events

Dragon*Con offers an enormous amount of options for sessions over its four days. While there are plenty of LGBT-friendly options, here are some sessions that specifically deal with LGBT themes and issues.

Please note: all sessions listed below have been finalized, according to Dragon*Con’s official guide for the weekend. Still, keep an eye out for any date, time, or room changes, or for any cancellations.

Friday

Gay Themes in ‘Doctor Who’ – Doctor Who has blurred lines between sexual orientations during its run. This session will examine several of the themes presented in the series. 10 pm, Crystal Ballroom (Hilton). British Sci-Fi Media Track.

GLBT Writer’s Session – 11:30 pm, Embassy D-F (Hyatt). Writer’s Track.

Saturday

Feature Screening: ‘Strange Frame: Love & Sax’ – The film featured in this screening is an animated sci-fi musical with lesbians. Yes, it’s definitely Dragon*Con material. Featured performers in the film include Claudia Black, Tim Curry and George Takei. 4 pm, International Ballroom South (Hyatt). Film Festival Track.

Rainbow Flag Party – OutlantaCon, Atlanta’s annual LGBT sci-fi convention, presents their annual Dragon*Con party in collaboration with the Costuming Track. 9 pm, Atlanta Ballroom (Sheraton). Costuming Track.

Sex in Videogames – This session will address issues of sex, sexism, gay romance and inclusiveness in games and gaming culture. 10 pm, Rooms 209-211 (Hilton). Video Gaming Track.

Sunday

LGBT on Pern – Amongst fans of the long-running Dragonriders of Pern series, controversy has grown about the inclusion of LGBT themes. Co-author Todd McCaffrey will be weighing in on the themes in this session. 11:30 am, Vinings (Hyatt). Anne McCaffrey’s World Track.

LGBTQ in YA – In this audience participation-based session, attendees will discuss whether or not representations of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and questioning teens are realistic in young adult literature. 4 pm, A707 (Mariott). Young Adult Literature Track.

Top Four Outfits/Items to Avoid

Spartan Soldier from ‘300’ – Obviously, if you have the body for it, I won’t stop you. Let’s face it, though: 300 was a hit back in 2007. Right now, it’s the frat boy’s answer to a Dragon*Con costume idea. If you really want to show off your sexy, muscular body, find something that’s either a little more current or classic.

Any Character from ‘Chuck’ / ‘Community’ / ‘The Big Bang Theory’ – Not everyone who goes to Dragon*Con has to go in costume. If you’re not going to go big, though, don’t try to cover for it by going the lazy route with characters from any geeky show set in today’s times. You can look like Sheldon or Leonard any other day of the year and get away with it. Don’t try it here.

Corsets and Heels – This one is less of an “avoid” and more of a “carefully consider.” There are plenty of girls (and some guys) who will be wearing corsets and/or heels at Dragon*Con. That’s fine, but there are a few things to keep in mind. One, don’t make either of these items the end of your outfit. It’s easy to just throw on a corset (okay, it’s not, but you get what I’m saying…); it’s more interesting to come up with a full-fledged costume that includes a corset. Two, remember that you’ll likely be wearing this all around Dragon*Con. Do you really want to run around the convention in heels? At least be sure to bring a pair of backup flats.

Generic Halloween Costumes – I shouldn’t have to say this, but just to make the point clear: people who come to Dragon*Con in costume spend months, if not years, on their costumes. Nobody – and I mean nobody – wants to see you in a generic superhero costume you bought online from a company that sells the bulk of their product at Halloween. The only exception to this is if you’re a kid. Once you hit the teenage years, though, making your own costumes is important for conventions like Dragon*Con.