Headlines Pittsburgh is purr-fect place for Anthrocon — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
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ike the penguins who return annually to their same South American burrows, more than 7,000 anthropomorphically enthused participants migrated back to David L. Lawrence Convention Center last weekend for Anthrocon, “Pittsburgh’s premiere furry convention” for those who like to dress in anthropomorphic costume. Such gatherers, who flock from nearby areas and states as well as international locales, have descended on Pittsburgh for the past 13 years.
Joining the herd was Brian Harris, a Jewish Virginian who has been a part of Anthrocon since its start. “I’m one of a small group of people who helped put together Anthrocon back in 1997 when it started in Albany, N.Y., as the result of a house party that got too large for someone’s basement,” he said. “It moved to a hotel and has grown into what it is today, moving from Albany to outside Philadelphia to inside Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, which is currently its very beloved home at this point.” Harris serves as Anthrocon’s director of fundraising and charity work, a position that he has held “from the very beginning.” “I enjoy doing this because it’s such a fulfilling thing to do,” he noted.
p Attendees of all ages come to Anthrocon to attend workshops and seminars, buy and sell artwork, exhibit costumes and socialize.
p While they may be the most recognizable part of the convention, only 20 percent of Anthrocon’s attendees wear costumes. Photos by Karl “Xydexx” Jorgensen
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Over the years, through auctions, raffles and other methods, Anthrocon has raised more than $310,000 dollars for various charities, said Karl “Xydexx” Jorgensen, the organization’s overseer of publications. In years past, the convention has partnered with the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, the Western PA Humane Society and the National Aviary. This year, Anthrocon supported South Hills Pet Rescue, a largely volunteer run space committed to “rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs of all breeds, with all needs, since 2013.”
The charities are typically animal related “because that dovetails most appropriately with our event and what people are fans of here,” said Harris. Individuals unfamiliar with Anthrocon often mistake it as a congress of costume wearers, but it is actually a “sci-fi fantasy convention focusing on cartoon animals,” explained the director. Though these cartoons may not necessarily be the ones that appear on television, “it’s easier to say than anthropomorphic animals,” he added. Please see Anthrocon, page 17
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