Ooops, I missed PC-CON!
The (St. Paul, MN) Pioneer Press' Angela Macias makes the senses reel with Sci-fi fans seek diversity:

Forget images of science-fiction conventions filled with fans in outlandish costumes debating their favorite "X-Files" episode - this past weekend's Diversicon conference in St. Paul took on a more serious tone.

For 10 years, Diversicon has been gathering panelists and participants in the Twin Cities to talk about the way race, gender and sexual preference are represented in science fiction books.

...

Among the panel discussions offered at this year's conference were some devoted to how gay and lesbian characters are portrayed in science fiction and others on the treatment of women, African-Americans, the elderly, the environment, teen-age girls, Hispanics and Muslims.

What organizers struggle with is attracting people of color to the event, Heideman said. Most of the estimated 125 people in attendance this past weekend were white.

Author Steven Barnes, who was honored at the convention along with his wife, Tananarive Due, said the lack of authors of color discourages interest among minority readers.

...

But Due, author of "The Black Rose" and a daughter of civil-rights activists, said the culture is shifting.

"The world I live in is very different from the one my parents lived in," she said. "As long as people remain aware, the future is brighter for everyone."

...

Anna Waltz, author of "Swedish Lutheran Vampires of Brainerd," said her interest in Japanese animation has brought her a deeper appreciation for Eastern culture, even encouraging her to learn Japanese.

...

Anime movies and cartoons, especially the "shoujo" genre, consistently show women taking on men and beating them without losing sight of their gender, she said.

One of the best examples of this is the popular cartoon heroine "Sailor Moon," she said.

"Her femininity is the source of her power," Waltz said. "She doesn't defeat the bad guy by being like a guy."

When the writing gets encumbered by PC claptrap, the readers start snoozing. Sounds like a real Z fest. Of course, Stephen Barnes could explain it as the lack of authors of one's own race. I had hopes for Swedish Lutheran Vampires of Brainerd, but 14 pages is too long for me. I'll just have to stick with Six Nuns and a Shotgun.