Organizers cite points with Florida’s COVID insurance policies and aggression in the direction of LGBTQ+ people

Superior Video games Accomplished Fast can be again in 2023, to host one other speedrunning charity occasion. However not like the latest SGDQ, it gained’t be an in-person occasion.

Video games Accomplished Fast has confirmed that its 2023 AGDQ occasion can be hosted on-line, on January 8 by way of 15. Whereas organizers state they want to return to in-person, they’ve decided that “to offer a protected and welcoming occasion to all” it was greatest to maneuver away from its initially deliberate location in Florida.

In a thread detailing the choice, Video games Accomplished Fast cites the state’s “continued disregard” for COVID-19 risks, together with anti-mandate insurance policies. In addition they notice elevated aggression in the direction of LGBTQ+ people, together with the “Don’t Say Homosexual” legislation.

Given the state’s continued disregard for COVID-19’s risks (together with anti-mandate insurance policies) and an elevated aggression in the direction of LGBTQ+ people, together with the legislation colloquially often called “Do not Say Homosexual,” we don’t consider it’s a protected place for our neighborhood.

— Video games Accomplished Fast (@GamesDoneQuick) September 7, 2022

After the success of AGDQ in 2020, Video games Accomplished Fast secured a contract with a Florida venue to return in 2021. The worldwide pandemic postponed that call till it was deemed protected to return to in-person occasions.

Whereas the crew says it has explored a number of choices that might enable them to stay in-person by relocating to a brand new location, the fee required to cancel its present contract is simply too excessive to justify relocating whereas additionally paying the cancellation. In the end, with the contract unable to be delayed any longer, the crew has determined to maneuver the occasion on-line.

“Whereas the transfer to on-line will enable us to avoid wasting on bills, we nonetheless have appreciable prices to recuperate,” reads in the present day’s assertion. “We wish to recuperate it wherever potential, together with neighborhood help through Twitch subs. We thank the neighborhood for his or her help!”

Operating for trigger

The return of Summer season Video games Accomplished Fast to in-person occasions was met with a number of pleasure earlier this yr. Besides, if insurance policies are unable to be enforced and organizers don’t really feel it’s protected, transferring on-line looks as if the higher choice.

If you wish to help Video games Accomplished Fast, their Twitch channel is right here. Each Recreation and Volunteer submissions open on September 11 on the GDQ web site.