Matt Conn, the founder of the LGBTQIA gaming conference GX (formerly GaymerX), recently tweeted about his run-in during the Game Developers’ Conference with a straight douchebag representing the virtual reality hardware developer Oculus (not the guy pictured above).
(Full-disclosure: Unicorn Booty was a media sponsor of GX3)
According to Conn, this unknown representative swooped into the 10th Annual Gay Gaming Professionals Celebration five minutes before it ended, threw his company’s name around to get free drinks, called gay spaces unnecessary, compared trans issues to kink and then denied his own prejudice by pointing out that he attends the Burning Man festival. That last one is especially hilarious as tons of douchebags attend Burning Man — his claim is no better than saying you’re a nice person because you’re Christian.
Conn tweeted all about his run-in with the representative and has since talked with Oculus founder Palmer Luckey. We’re currently interviewing Conn and have reached out to Luckey for a statement. We’ll update this story as more details come in.
Dear @oculus guy who crashed the gaming's gay professional party/gaymerx party to explain why it's dumb and unnecessary: fuck you and oculus
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
I will never take an oculus sponsorship for gaymerx..this guy was out of line and got super handsy w/ female attendees
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Companies like oculus who hire and support tech bro people like that deserve their irrelevance
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Think about how many parties and companies I complian about …I keep my mouth shut generally
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
So yeah. And other stuff. And obviously not a representative of every person of the company but telling of the culture they foster
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
The oculus guy came in and demanded a free drink and I was like…no I don't know you..and he just points to his shirt…oculus
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
OK sure here's a drink coupon whatever but …that sets the stage. White cis straight dev dude crashes gay party to demand free booze
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
High paid dev for @oculus crashes queer dev party at GDC to get free drinks and mansplain how we are "beyond safe spaces" ….comical scene
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Party was amazing otherwise
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Great drinks and great music and great people and the largest crowd we've ever had 🙂
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Apologies for the rant! Sorry for getting upset…it truly was a great party and a great day
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Easy to get caught up in a 20 minute uncomfortable situation when everything else came together so so well
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
OK I really don't wanna make that thing a big deal because I don't have time for negative energy but had to get it off my chest
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Plus I was gonna get a Playstation VR anyways 🙄
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 17, 2016
Oh so the @oculus guy said they support Trans stuff because they work with https://t.co/jDhT4PBL9c
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
He also said he couldn't be prejudice because he's a burner and pointed to his burner necklace
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
The nice thing about all this oculus drama is he did it in front of the D&I executives for Microsoft who were SHOCKED. Helped prove a point
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
I'm gonna get the guys name and face before end of day but I also kinda wanna have said my piece and move on
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
Oh – also someone else ran into that guy too 😮 pic.twitter.com/SSWY30MXiJ
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
I also want to apologize for my attitude over the last few days…I should be focused on solution based conversation 🎀
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016
I also appreciate @PalmerLuckey opening up a direct line of dialogue and taking my concern seriously. ☺
— ~- Matt Conn -~ (@mattconn) March 18, 2016