"I arrived at school to find my locker vandalized with the word “freak” written all over it in lipstick."
"I tried to escape him but he was aggressively stalking me all day long."
"When I was walking into the con a random person on the street punched my breast."
"I was expecting to get some negative comments back; yet, I wasn’t prepared for being called a “dike” and “freak"."
Here at Cosplayers Unite, we understand the struggles women face in trying to avoid harassment, which is so rampant, in the cosplay community. We hope that our fellow females cosplayers can come together and fight the forces of the sex-craved individuals who do not understand that cosplay is not consent. We will not allow our mighty cosplay community to be left unheard. If you or someone you know has been harassed due to their passion of cosplay, please feel free to share your story with us in the forum below. If you are not ready to come forward about your experience, consider reading some of the empowering stories below or accessing our information on how to receive help if you or someone you know in the cosplay community is being harassed. Remember: your name and personal information will be left completely anonymous if you decide to share your story with us!
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Full Cosplayers Anonymous Stories
“In September I attended a huge convention in Florida. I was so thrilled to return to school and show my friend all of the bracelets I got at the convention. The bracelets had pictures of my idol cosplayer, the beautiful YaYa Hans. When I was showing off my bracelets to my friend, this mean preppy girl started laughing at me. I just brushed off the girl laughing at me and continued my day. Then, the next day I arrived at school to find my locker vandalized with the word “freak” written all over it in lipstick. I was so humiliated. I ran straight to the principal’s office. The only advice the principal had to give to me was, “Shake it off and move forward.” How could I shake off the fact that this girl was harassing me for no reason?! My principal refused to do anything so I researched help for cosplayers being harassed, on the internet. I am so blessed that I came across the harassment help links on the Cosplayers Unite website. I also subscribed to their newsletter. The newsletter is a friendly reminder to me of why I love cosplay so much.”
“I experience so much hatred being a cross player. I feel so expressive when I dress up as a superman even though I am a female. I posted a photo on my Facebook dressed in my superman costume that I had so much pride in because it was my first personally hand-stitched cosplay costume. I was expecting to get some negative comments back; yet, I wasn’t prepared for being called a “dike” and “freak”. I can’t believe how hurtful some people can be. I cried for weeks about these comments until I realized these low-life, judgmental people’s opinions don’t matter. I am so glad I came across the Cosplayers Unite website so that I can openly express my feelings without getting judged. It has since been a month since I received those hurtful comments on my Facebook page. Screw those judgmental people. I know that I am doing superman right by pursuing my true passion and standing up for my fellow cosplayers.”
"Last year I was at a convention and I was dressed as Sheryl Nome. As many of you probably know Sheryl is a spunky pop star with pink hair. She tends to dress in cute short skirts and tops that appear to be corsets. She is my idol and I was so excited to be her for the day. I don’t quite have the same body type as Sheryl Nome; so, I wore spanks to flatten my stomach, and a push-up bra to perk up by boobs. I wanted to make sure I looked exactly like Sheryl, no matter how much effort it would take. When I was walking into the con a random person on the street punched my breast. This random guy kept punching my breasts and saying that I was a horrible person for wearing a padded bra. He even went as far as calling me a “fat whore”. I was devastated with the comments I had received from that guy on the street. When I got home that night I realized that this guy was harassing me. I am so thankful that I reached out to the individuals who work at Cosplayers Unite. They were able to help me realize that the random guy on the street did not understand my intense love for cosplay. I will never let some random onlooker bring me down again. Cosplayers Unite, thank you so much for all of your great help and resources.”
“I experience so much hatred being a cosplayer. I feel so expressive when I dress up as a superman even though I am a female. I posted a photo on my Facebook dressed in my superman costume that I had so much pride in because it was my first personally hand-stitched cosplay costume. I was expecting to get some negative comments back; yet, I wasn’t prepared for being called a “dike” and “freak”. I can’t believe how hurtful some people can be. I cried for weeks about these comments until I realized these low-life, judgmental people’s opinions don’t matter. I am so glad I came across the Cosplayers Unite website so that I can openly express my feelings without getting judged. It has since been a month since I received those hurtful comments on my Facebook page. Screw those judgmental people. I know that I am doing superman right by pursuing my true passion and standing up for my fellow cosplayers.”
Share your story here! Your name will remain completely anonymous!
According to Liz Suess, author of "Numbers Don't Lie: Comic Con Sexual Harrasment is a Huge Problem," when surveyed, 59 percent of the respondents agreed that harrasment of cosplayplayers was a serious issue. 25 percent of the respondents said they had been harrassed at conventions. Of the offences,13 percent were of a sexual nature. Perhaps there is a correlation with the way people dress and the amount of unwanted interactions they encounter. Cosplayers are known for sparking attention, as they do not "fit in" by any standards, specifically because of the way they dress. Does this mean that any harrassment they face is their own fault? Aboslutely not! When cosplayers, female or male, dress up, it is mainly for their own pleasure. They do it because they enjoy it. Cosplayers are passionate people who love the feeling of being their hero and emulating a character. Many people mistake this for wanting attention, as if the individual were "asking for it." This is a destrustive and wrong way of thinking, and I believe it is the mindset many offenders have. If only people minded their own business and did not have the arrogance to assume that they know the motives of others, then the world woud be a much better place.