{"id":69556,"date":"2022-09-08T06:57:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T06:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/gdq-cancels-speedrun-event-in-florida-over-states-covid-anti-lgbtq-policies\/"},"modified":"2022-09-08T06:57:10","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T06:57:10","slug":"gdq-cancels-speedrun-event-in-florida-over-states-covid-anti-lgbtq-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/gdq-cancels-speedrun-event-in-florida-over-states-covid-anti-lgbtq-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"GDQ cancels speedrun event in Florida over state’s COVID, anti-LGBTQ policies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Games Done Quick, the organization that runs speedrunning marathons for charity, announced Wednesday that next year’s Awesome Games Done Quick will take place Jan. 8-15, 2023. But the wintertime event, previously scheduled to be held in Florida, will remain online-only, organizers say, citing that state’s approach to COVID-19 and \u201cincreased aggression\u201d toward LGBTQ people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we would love to return in-person, we’ve determined that to provide a safe and welcoming event to all it was best that we move away from our originally planned location in Florida,\u201d Games Done Quick organizers said in a statement posted to Twitter<\/a>. \u201cGiven the state’s continued disregard for COVID-19’s dangers (including anti-mandate policies) and an increased aggression towards LGBTQ+ individuals, including the law colloquially known as ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ we do not believe it is a safe place for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

In March, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill restricting the discussion that public school teachers can have around \u201csexual orientation or gender identity.\u201d The Don’t Say Gay bill is part of a greater conservative movement against LGBTQ Americans, which includes similar bills in three other primarily Republican states. The Don’t Say Gay bill has also been challenged on a constitutional level, with critics saying the bill both demonizes LGBTQ Americans and puts an undue burden on public school teachers. Florida has also enacted new rules that ban healthcare providers from using state Medicaid funds for gender-affirming medical treatment. GDQ has hosted multiple trans speedrunners at its events.<\/p>\n

DeSantis has also drawn criticism for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic after he banned mask mandates and described COVID as \u201ca very minor risk.\u201d Florida’s masking guidance \u201cadvises against wearing facial coverings in a community setting,\u201d saying that employees should not be forced to wear a mask while at work.<\/p>\n

Games Done Quick organizers say they had secured a contract with a Florida venue in 2021. While the organization had not held any in-person events due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GDQ had originally intended to use that venue. using an alternative venue would have incurred a contract cancellation fee; as such, Games Done Quick is hosting AGDQ 2023 online.<\/p>\n

Games Done Quick says its organization will still have \u201cconsiderable costs to recover\u201d and will be looking to \u201crecover it wherever possible, including community support via Twitch subs.\u201d Game and volunteer submissions for Awesome Games Done Quick open on Sept. 11 on the organization’s official website.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n