Twitch and TwitchCon Are Everything Inclusive Spaces Should Be

Photograph: Alyssa Mercante

I’m at the Glitch Theater at the San Diego Convention Center during TwitchCon 2024, watching a drag performer dressed as Silent HillPyramid Head lip-syncs to a nu-metal song on stage. The crowd consists of high-profile streamers like Central Committee and KaceyTron, smaller Twitch members and fans, all of whom to live for the third annual TwitchCon Drag Showcase. JuiceBoxx, one of this year’s streamers and hosts, has his face plastered all over the convention center. Ru Paul’s Drag Race superstar Trixie Mattel has a makeup area on the show floor where staff offer beauty tips and touch-ups, and at an off-site Capcom party, we see several drag queens milling around with their hair nearly grazing the bar’s ceiling. There are pronoun pins that attendees can display on their badges, and nonprofits like TransLifeline have booths at the show floor. —Alyssa Mercante