J. Yamil is a writer and TTRPG designer based in Durham, North Carolina. He lives with his partner and their trio of feline familiars. He has worked with Stiff Whiskers Press, Goodman Games and Newsarama, where he has showcased his versatility and creativity.

Up next on our 2026 guest list: SYRINX has walked across the stages of entertainment since 1996, from tribute bands and club nights to theater, film, conventions, and haunted attractions. His work can be found in the words you read, the songs you sing, and the pictures that give pleasure to your eye

Next up in guest announcements: Alexandra Higgins (aka the Platypus Princess) is a self-taught singer/songwriter whose folk-indie sound evokes the spirit of Joan Baez (direct quote heard randomly and unprompted at every performance!).

We at Ret-con are thrilled to begin our 2026 guest announcements with William C. Tracy! He is a North Carolina writer and publisher of queer science fiction and fantasy. Check out his publishing company here: www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com

Thank you to North Star LGBTQ+ Community Center and House of Cards in Winston Salem for having us at their event on Saturday!

hey #durhamnc! I’ll be vending at #Pride on Saturday, Sept. 28th. my little gold tent will be set up with many goodies in Durham Central Park from 12pm-4pm! come out and say hi, peep through some free stuff I’m bringing, and take home some 100% human-made art! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

🌈Join us in downtown Greensboro for Pride! We are right in front of Melrose on Church Street!

Our 2026 dealer and guest applications deadline has been extended! Do you or someone you know still need to apply? The time is now! www.ret-con.org/applications

Need a sweet treat in the Triad? Check out Uncle Cheesecake in High Point, NC! Owned by a former Chopped contestant, and they also offer classes! #blackbusinessmonth

Our Black and Bloody Kickstarter is LIVE and is 33% funded! Please help us reach our goal and get this nice vampire lady (who will only nibble on you a little bit she swears!) on a tote bag if we reach our stretch goal! Linked below! #BlackVampires #Blackcomics #anthology #comicanthology #sinners

Our 2026 dealer and guest applications deadline has been extended! Do you or someone you know still need to apply? The time is now! www.ret-con.org/applications

If you find yourself in Greensboro, check out Ben’s Boyz for delicious food, and local art and books! #blackbusinessmonth bensboyzfood.com/next-chapter...

Next up for #blackbusinessmonth shoutouts: author, martial artist, and rapper VVITCHBOY. Check out his new song OUR LADY UNDERGROUND! @mmagoth.bsky.social open.spotify.com/artist/373om...

Pre-registration for Ret-con 2026 weekend badges, as well as the special discounted room rate are now available on our website! We will return to the DoubleTree Hotel Raleigh-Durham AirPort at Research Triangle Park. Join us March 6-8th! www.ret-con.org

Next up for #blackbusinessmonth we have Win’s Books Publishing, owned by author Winnifred Tataw. Check out their books from diverse authors here: www.winsbookspublishing.com

The Boring Store specializes in bonnets, hair accessories, and clothing, all with cute, nerdy prints! #blackbusinessmonth @theboringstore.bsky.social boringlorina.com

We are continuing to highlight black-owned businesses for #blackbusinessmonth ! Next up is comic artist Q-Bii.

We are continuing to highlight black-owned businesses for #blackbusinessmonth ! Next up is comic artist Q-Bii. @artbyqbii.bsky.social

August is National Black Business Month, and we are highlighting some of our favorite black-owned businesses! Mocha Memoirs Press was founded by our previous Guest of Honor Nicole Givens Kurtz.

I got mad about AI so I made this comic about The Fucking Point of it all (1/7)

Don’t forget, guest and dealer applications are now open on our website! Applications close August 22nd. If you make awesome things or have niche knowledge that you want to share with your fellow nerds, we encourage you to apply!

For National Disability Awareness month we wanted to share the site caniplaythat.com. This site is dedicated to writing reviews and publishing news for all things related to video game accessibility. Keep up with what the industry is doing to keep their games accessible for the community!

Pre-registration for Ret-con 2026 weekend badges, as well as the special discounted room rate are now available on our website! We will return to the DoubleTree Hotel Raleigh-Durham AirPort at Research Triangle Park. Join us March 6-8th! www.ret-con.org

Come see us and our dear friends @noiseland at the Geeksboro Market @dragonshoardnc !

And this again (and as often as necessary) re: AI:

Behold! Ret-con will return March 6-8 2026 at the DoubleTree Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park. Let’s keep in touch! You can join our Discord or sign up for our email newsletter on our website.

An issue with attendee pre-registration checkout has been resolved. If you were previously unable to purchase your pre-registration for Ret-Con 2026, please try again. Looking forward to seeing you all at the convention!

Don’t forget, guest and dealer applications are now open on our website! Applications close August 22nd. If you make awesome things or have niche knowledge that you want to share with your fellow nerds, we encourage you to apply!

Happy Salisbury Pride!

We out here at Salisbury Pride! Come see us, we're across from the baby goats!

Clariel, the titular character in Garth Nix’s fantasy prequel, is both aromantic and asexual. This fact is established as an important aspect of her character. We hope you’ve enjoyed Pride facts from Ret-Con!

Jennifer English, the voice actor for Shadowheart and Aliona Baranova, one of Larian studios voice directors, started dating while working together on Baldur's Gate 3. In the game itself, the player can romance party member npcs, regardless of gender, allowing for same-sex couples.

Guest and dealer applications are now open on our website! If you make awesome things or have niche knowledge that you want to share with your fellow nerds, we encourage you to apply! www.ret-con.org/applications

Pre-registration for Ret-con 2026 weekend badges, as well as the special discounted room rate are now available on our website! We will return to the DoubleTree Hotel Raleigh-Durham AirPort at Research Triangle Park. Join us March 6-8th! www.ret-con.org

The first mainstream superhero same sex wedding was Midnighter and Apollo in The Authority #29 (2002). Originally under the publisher Wildstorm, both characters and their relationship have continued to this day under DC Comics.

We are thrilled announce our 2026 Guest of Honor: Natania Barron! Natania Barron believes in monsters and hopes you do, too. The award-winning fantasy author of Queen of None, Natania Barron is preoccupied with mythology, monsters, mayhem, and magic.

no cops at pride.

David Bowie was one of the first high profile pop stars to come out as bisexual. His onstage makeup and fashion often pushed far beyond contemporary gender norms. Bowie also starred in sci-fi and fantasy films like The Man Who Fell to Earth, typically portraying characters with an alien quality.

Behold! Ret-con will return March 6-8 2026 at the DoubleTree Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park. Keep an eye out for more announcements, like Guest of Honor, pre-reg, and hotel block! Let’s keep in touch! You can join our Discord or sign up for our email newsletter on our website.

Welcome back for more Pride facts! James Whale, the director of Universal monster movie classics Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Invisible Man (1933), lived openly as a gay man throughout his career in Hollywood and British theater.

Happy Pride from Ret-con! Rebecca Heineman was inducted into the International Video Game Hall of Fame in 2017. She is revered as one of the most successful trans women in the community, both as a player, and as a creator. She has worked on titles such as DOOM, Baldur's Gate 2, and Wolfenstein 3D.

The first canonically open transgender superhero in DC Comics was Coagula (Kate Godwin) in the 1993 run of Doom Patrol. She was created by Rachel Pollack, an openly trans woman. She created the character as a response to the terribly written trans characters that had existed thus far within comics.

Happy Pride from Ret-con! Did you know? The film Dracula's Daughter (1936) is both loosely based on Carmilla, an 1872 Gothic novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu known for its portrayal of lesbian relationships, and considered to have been the first to portray the lesbian vampire trope in film.

Happy Pride! Throw a brick!

We're here @concarolinas.bsky.social ! Come say hi, we'll be here all weekend!

Ret-con staff just arrived @concarolinas.bsky.social ! Come visit us at our table this weekend!

WE'RE FINE. WE PROMISE. STRESS? SORRY, WE DON'T KNOW HER. #dndhumor #dnd #funny #ttrpg

We're on our way! Catch us at Raven Con tomorrow through Sunday, and maybe play in a one-shot with us. Happy to be bringing The Kingdom of Keshanar to Virginia! #gamingconvention #dnd #ttrpg #fantasygaming

GO GO GO!!! Our Kickstarter is LIVE! Early bird specials abound! www.kickstarter.com/projects/kes... #kickstarter #dnd #ttrpg #dnd5e #fantasy

Wait--the Kingdom of Keshanar's Kickstarter launches TOMORROW??? Dang, I gotta round up some gold pieces from the last time I got lucky at Bes's Casino... #kickstarter #dnd