Gen Con organizers ‘deeply troubled’ over Indiana’s abortion ban

Gen Con, the nation’s largest tabletop gaming convention, celebrated its 55th year last Wednesday. Attendance at “the best four days in gaming” topped 50,000, effectively returning the event to pre-pandemic levels. The event has been held annually in Indianapolis for 19 years. But, a Seattle-based company indicated recently that it may be considering moving. What is the reason for this? Indiana’s near-total ban on abortions, which was passed into law on Aug. 5.

“We at Gen Con believe in the right to autonomy over our bodies and the right to choose,” the company said in a statement on Aug. 3 — two days before the abortion ban was passed. “Reproductive rights are human rights. We are angry, frustrated, and hurt by recent events. This includes the advancement of SB1 in Indiana by the Indiana General Assembly. These actions have a direct impact on our team and our community, and we are committed to fighting for safety, tolerance, and justice in all places we operate.”

Gen Con was not alone in its condemnation of the state’s conservative legislature. There was at least one publisher canceled its boothSeveral others also made protest statements at the event.

“We are heartbroken and furious at this latest decision which will rob those who can become pregnant of their bodily autonomy,” wrote Lone Shark Games in a statement on social media. “Lone Shark Games and its staff are not comfortable supporting the state of Indiana with our presence, so we have made the decision not to attend this year’s Gen Con.”

Coyote & Crow Games, a role-playing game publisher that did not have a booth at this year’s Gen Con, also came out strongly against Indiana’s decision. In a statement on Twitter, founder Connor Alexander said his company would no longer “participate in events in states where abortion is illegal.”

Image: Amelie Hutt/Coyote & Crow

“There are those that believe that what happens away from the table should stay separate from gamers and their hobby,” Alexander told Polygon in an email. “But that is a position of privilege. An essential part of the mission of Coyote & Crow Games is making clear what we believe in and why we believe it is important. Most days that’s about Indigenous representation in hobby gaming. We also believe strongly in bodily autonomy, and freedom of reproduction.

“We cannot in good conscience participate in direct sales at conventions where our taxes at those shows would go toward blocking essential reproductive healthcare,” he continued. “Coyote & Crow Games is committed to not having a booth or booth sales at any gaming convention where access to abortion is illegal. We will also use any event or panel appearances made in these states to express our opposition to the laws and to support their repeal in whatever way possible. We may not have the power to directly influence change in these states but we won’t contribute to any further harm. Reproductive rights are human rights and we stand firmly behind all of our sisters and brothers in Indiana who are having to face difficult days ahead.”

This is not the first time that Gen Con has been at odds with Indiana over the state’s history of conservative legislation. In 2015, the convention threatened to leave over a controversial “religious freedom bill.” The thinly-veiled attack on LGBTQ+ people was championed by then-governor Mike Pence; the bill would have allowed business owners to refuse service to same-sex couples. After being threatened by losing revenue, Gen Con was significantly modified. Nevertheless, the affair enhanced Pence’s standing with conservative voters, catapulting him into the vice presidency.

Gen Con is a convention that has been taking place in Indiana every year since 2003. Both the event and Indianapolis are now thriving together. The event is currently the Indianapolis Convention Center’s (ICC) largest annual convention, and the ICC has invested heavily in expansions and improvements to cater to the marquee event. Gen Con attendees would experience significant disruption if Gen Con was moved to a different location. This could lead to an increase in out-of pocket costs for attendees. Indiana’s depressed service economy makes it an inexpensive travel destination compared to other locations in the U.S., while its central location makes travel more affordable no matter which coast attendees happen to be traveling from.

Image from Visit Indy

How big a loss would Gen Con’s departure represent? Visit Indy, the for-profit tourism company that bills itself as “the official host of Indianapolis,” tracks data on conventions in Indiana. It measures the relative size and value of those conventions based on their “economic impact” for the state, which it defines as income for restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses. According to Visit Indy’s internal data, Gen Con was the largest city-wide event in 2019. It had an economic impact of $74.6 million. Visit Indy’s data also shows that Gen Con has ranked in the top three slots for economic impact for each of the last 19 years — or since the convention moved there from its previous home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Visit Indy projects that $779 million was earned by the city from its 660 events during 2019. These figures show that Gen Con would have a 10% decrease in economic impact on the state if it were to leave Indianapolis.

Gen Con follows the example of other businesses in expressing its support for reproductive rights. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, says that voice is more powerful — and more important — than ever before.

“Right now, businesses large and small play a pivotal role in the protection of reproductive rights and access,” McGill Johnson said in a statement to Polygon. “Employees, consumers, and communities care about business’ stances on abortion rights and the benefits and policies they provide. It is possible that people will not choose to work where they are denied access to reproductive and sexual health care. These health care deserts may be difficult for companies to recruit workers. Some businesses may also not wish to host events or do business in states where the rights to reproductive health are restricted. This unprecedented time in human history is not a one-size fits all situation. But at a minimum, companies should support their workers’ health; speak to and understand the needs of their workforce; and act quickly to reflect corporate commitments to equitable health care and human rights. If corporate brands and business leaders speak up and exercise their power, they can stop a state from enacting an abortion ban, like the one recently passed in Indiana.”

Lone Shark Games

The complexity is made worse by the fact that Indianapolis is hosting fewer conventions and fierce competition among cities. Reporting by Indianapolis Business Journal indicates that though annual events like Gen Con generate more economic impact than they have in years past, “the number of actual events is still short of what has been […] normal” for the city. Gen Con has also made clear that it needs more room — in the form of both convention space and hotel space — for its continued health and growth.

“They are locked in through 2026,” Mickey Shuey, a reporter for Indianapolis Business Journal, told Polygon on Tuesday. “Whether they can get out of that I genuinely don’t know. [However,] their commitment to Indianapolis is such that it’s also contingent on the city bringing a new 800-room hotel downtown, right across from the existing convention center, along with a 120,000 square-foot expansion [to the convention center itself].”

Shuey stated that although the city had agreed to expand, it is uncertain when. Conventions typically lock in venues years in advance, and Gen Con is no exception, but if the planned expansion isn’t going to happen until after 2026, Gen Con has a clause in their contract that would allow them to move to another location.

Polygon reached both the Indiana governor Eric Holcomb as well as Indianapolis’ mayor Joe Hogsett but they did not respond in time to be published.