Black engineers and fans of the popular TV series “Game of Thrones” have recently decided to cancel their events in Orlando due to concerns regarding Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s political climate. The National Society of Black Engineers, in particular, had planned to hold its 50th conference at the Orange County Convention Center in 2024, expecting up to 15,000 attendees and generating significant economic impact. However, CEO Janeen Uzzell announced that the conference will now be relocated to a different city, with the official announcement coming next week.
Similarly, the Con of Thrones event, which typically attracts 3,000 to 4,000 fans of the “Game of Thrones” books and TV shows, also declared the cancellation of its gathering scheduled for August 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Organizers cited the presence of “increasingly anti-humanitarian legislation” in the state as their reason.
Melissa Anelli, the CEO of Mischief Management, the company behind the event, expressed her concerns about Florida becoming an unwelcoming place for marginalized groups, emphasizing the absurdity of laws prohibiting discussion of homosexuality in schools. Several other groups have followed suit and moved their events elsewhere. For example, AnitaB.org, an organization representing female and nonbinary tech workers, announced that it will no longer hold events in Orlando after this year’s conference in September. The American Education Research Association, which typically attracts up to 15,000 attendees, also decided to relocate its 2025 annual meeting to Denver instead of Orlando due to the state’s “anti-trans laws.” Additionally, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses canceled its 2027 surgical conference and expo, citing political concerns.
The National Society of Black Engineers expressed their concerns about Governor DeSantis’ targeting of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools, as it would negatively impact their student members. They emphasized that their event was meant to be a celebration of their achievements, and they didn’t want political and social issues to overshadow their success. The event was initially planned for February 28 to March 3 at the convention center.
The groups canceling their events have pointed to various laws as reasons for their decisions, including restrictions on abortions after six weeks, permitless concealed carry of weapons, crackdowns on illegal immigration, and discriminatory measures against transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals. When asked about the cancellations, Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for Governor DeSantis, did not respond.
Multiple organizations, such as the NAACP, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and Equality Florida, have issued travel warnings for Florida. However, Governor DeSantis has dismissed these advisories as political stunts and has highlighted the strong tourism numbers in the state, with over 74 million visitors to the Orlando area in 2022, a 25% increase from the previous year and nearly reaching pre-pandemic levels.
The decision to cancel the Con of Thrones event received support on social media, although some individuals expressed skepticism regarding the provided explanation. Terry George-Waterfield, a regular attendee from North Carolina, believed that factors like slow ticket sales, poor planning, and the intense summer climate of Orlando were more influential in the cancellation. Moreover, a larger convention, Dragon Con, was scheduled to take place in Atlanta the following week.
The abrupt cancellation caused inconveniences for those who had already booked air travel and made arrangements for theme park visits. Although slower ticket sales were acknowledged by Anelli, she attributed them to Florida’s political climate, which she claimed made it difficult to secure vendors, actors, and other participants. Refunds will be provided to ticket holders.
Anelli also noted that attendees expressed their reluctance to visit the state due to the changing political climate, a sentiment not present in previous years.