Every year, San Diego holds the biggest comic convention in the U.S.: Comic-Con. This is the grounds where over 100,000 nerds come together to celebrate the shows, movies, comics, and books they love. There are endless amounts of events for fans to celebrate what they love-- from panels to cosplay competitions, and there is the exhibition floor. All together the event draws in people from all walks of life to embrace the one thing they all have in common, being a nerd.
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go to Comic-Con this year in San Diego, which has been my dream for years. I was in heaven for three days because I was in the place where everyone spoke my language. I could mention Avatar and no one would assume I meant the movie about blue people, they all knew I meant Avatar: The Last Airbender. I was finally in a place surrounded by people just like me, and it felt amazing.
I felt accepted for who I was. It didn't matter whether I was pansexual or overweight, all that mattered was the love I had for my favorite shows, books, and movies. Everyone there was different in a thousand ways, and that was completely okay. Once you set foot in the convention center, you enter a world where everyone loves the same things and doesn't judge you for what interests you. You can openly love the things you want without people looking down at you.
I've always had nerd friends, but even then there has always been people in my life who judge me on the things I indulge in, like gay literature. I actively seek it out because I love reading gay love stories, but a lot of people still don't agree with my reading choices. I can handle having different tastes and opinions, but it does suck to always feel different than the people I sit with everyday in class. That's why going to Comic-Con meant so much to me. I felt understood, and I finally found a place where I fit in. It was like finding a home, everything just felt right.
Comic-Con was like pride for me, I found people who are like me and don't judge me just because I have a different identity than them. I also got to meet some of the people who are a part of the creative process to bring me the things I love, and that alone was amazing. I am so thankful for my Comic-Con experience and I think any nerd should try and go at least once. There's nothing like it, and it's truly the most accepting place I've ever been.
