A lot of the debate around worldcon venue bids is pretty uncomfortable to watch, from every angle tbh.

Rant Time.

For one: No place where attendees are at risk for their gender, dress or sexual orientation should ever be on the ballot. Saudi Arabia is a nonstarter.

BUT 1/ https://twitter.com/TJaneBerry/status/1288852971757817858

Those aren't the only questions.

The first WC I tried to attend, I was rejected at visa application. Indians don't come here just to attend cons, they said. What's SFF to do with you? Surely you will never leave the US. Ok I figured. Fandom isnt it . WC is for writers.2/

The 2nd time I tried to attend the US govt now wanted letters from every person I'd ever met swearing I was not a terrorist( slight exaggeration) 5 yrs bank statements, employment proof, hotel bookings, return tickets, letter from family there, letter from voucher here. 3/

The first WC I attended was KC. Got questioned 8 times by cops in 3 days inc. a lovely sniffer dog experience. Was asked some 25 times about my English. One old dude spent an hour wanting to know my caste 'cause "you don't have Brahmin aura".OK I thought. WC is for finalists. 4/

The 2nd one I attended, I was actually a finalist for. This one. Except that the con forgot I was a finalist, forgot to ask if I wanted programming, then said they were unable to reach out for legal reasons(but had managed fine when they wanted ad sales leads). 5/

Won't name names, but bless you, Awesome Person who actually sent me a link to attend the ceremony as a finalist or I wouldnt have known. Also want to give max props to those from the con who worked tirelessly to fight for inclusion initatives, inc for finalists. You are SFF 6/

Before that I was asked for the phonetic pronunciation of my name. Now, idc if you fuck up my name, but don't waste my time writing out phonetics for you that you then don't use because that pisses me off. And you damn well have no excuse for being unable to say "Fiyah". 6/

So as we enter the celebrations for Chicago,maybe it's worth asking what was won. The right for (some)white people to attend without fear? Ok, good start.

The larger question though is-and its one I hope will be asked(or answered) more is this:

Who is Worldcon actually for?