At my first Gamescom I went to - I was 23 and trying to wear professional clothes and high shoes for business meetings - the men we met with would constantly make sleazy comments on how tight my outfit was and how high my heels were and “what I was trying to say with that”.

I really didn’t know how to handle these at the time and was there to do business with them and was actually handling money and deals. It did not stop men from laughing off sleazy comments and saying how great my legs looked in heels.

At the time, I didn’t have a work phone so my actual mobile number was on my business cards.

At the collective after party, I would get calls from the people we had business meetings with to ask where I was and if I wanted to join their groups. All white men.

The comments and calls got more pushy as the night continued and people got more drunk.
I left at about 1 am to my hotel. I got a call from one of our business partners who asked if I left. I said yes. He started asking me where my hotel was and if he could come by.

I hung up on him. He kept calling me so I muted my phone.
He then somehow got my hotel room number from a collegue of mine and called through the hotel. I rejected him again and told him to leave me alone. I was terrified and locked my door that night.

It was a long time ago and I don’t remember the names of these people. The companies are long gone. I have nobody to call out but I’m sure they are still in this industry.

My colleagues did not only not protect me, they actively threw me to predators.

Men think this stuff is a game, a joke. Part of their amusement.

I ended up terrified of gamescom, which is honestly a hectic and scary event as it is with very few protections and help for minorities.
It’s been a long time. I just hope it has improved there.