I'm already concerned with the some of the actions that have been taken, not just recently but in the past few years.
In fairness, in at least one of those cases there was a reason for heightened tensions which may have resulted in an overreaction; and some of the places you mention have obvious reasons to be tense now. But I would think twice about going to a convention which took an overt stance on, say, political interests – not because I necessarily share any of those interests, but because it says something about the kind of event they want to run, and how they run it.
Part of the point of a convention is to bring together people with different backgrounds but a common interest. Sometimes, especially in a fandom such as ours where our characters are so bound up with personal identity, those people want to express other aspects of themselves through those interests. Other attendees may not always be happy to learn of those aspects, but that doesn't necessarily mean there needs to be rules or policies against their expression – without malice (and I know that's hard to prove), there is no crime.
Some rules may be applicable across the length and breadth of a convention, but I think there also has to be a degree to which other potentially objectionable content and topics are allowed, along with a clearer delineation of the places, times and extents to which it is not – just as we have some topics which cannot be broadcast before a watershed, and conversely some times and channels set aside for children's programming. Otherwise, you're essentially leaving it up to individual staff to make decisions as and when they see fit.
Conventions (like cities) have managed this for "adult" content before, and I think they can do it again here. Most parties are amenable to compromise; and even with a sticking point in one area, it may be possible to make concessions in another to give everyone a fair deal.
But I understand this is hard to do when money, reputation, and an organization's relationships with its staff and venue are on the line, especially when the event in question accepts children and teenagers. (Some conventions might actually want to reconsider that last bit – being a "safe space for kids" has its costs, and there are starting to be enough conventions now to offer more of a variety in audience.)
I'm already concerned with the some of the actions that have been taken, not just recently but in the past few years.
In fairness, in at least one of those cases there was a reason for heightened tensions which may have resulted in an overreaction; and some of the places you mention have obvious reasons to be tense now. But I would think twice about going to a convention which took an overt stance on, say, political interests – not because I necessarily share any of those interests, but because it says something about the kind of event they want to run, and how they run it.
Part of the point of a convention is to bring together people with different backgrounds but a common interest. Sometimes, especially in a fandom such as ours where our characters are so bound up with personal identity, those people want to express other aspects of themselves through those interests. Other attendees may not always be happy to learn of those aspects, but that doesn't necessarily mean there needs to be rules or policies against their expression – without malice (and I know that's hard to prove), there is no crime.
Some rules may be applicable across the length and breadth of a convention, but I think there also has to be a degree to which other potentially objectionable content and topics are allowed, along with a clearer delineation of the places, times and extents to which it is not – just as we have some topics which cannot be broadcast before a watershed, and conversely some times and channels set aside for children's programming. Otherwise, you're essentially leaving it up to individual staff to make decisions as and when they see fit.
Conventions (like cities) have managed this for "adult" content before, and I think they can do it again here. Most parties are amenable to compromise; and even with a sticking point in one area, it may be possible to make concessions in another to give everyone a fair deal.
But I understand this is hard to do when money, reputation, and an organization's relationships with its staff and venue are on the line, especially when the event in question accepts children and teenagers. (Some conventions might actually want to reconsider that last bit – being a "safe space for kids" has its costs, and there are starting to be enough conventions now to offer more of a variety in audience.)