YOU KNOW YOU’VE MADE IT WHEN…
We have created this page to assure everyone that any rumors, or wild allegations you’ve heard about the integrity of GaaaysInSpaaace or our founder, Dan Deevy, are false.
A small group of disgruntled former associates have become obsessed with ruining our organization for their own petty reasons.
Countless members of our community, & our Celebrity guests, were overjoyed by the incredible success of the first Annual ‘Galactic Diversity & Inclusion Convention’ in 2023.
Unfortunately, that success also stoked a shocking amount of jealousy and envy from this small group.
Their dedication to trying to destroy what so many people love is truly sad.
So, to put everyone’s minds at ease, we have disproven their specific claims below. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email them to us at: info@gaaaysinspaaace.org
In contrast to the heinous claims made by these few, we’ve also included 70 incredibly loving, & inspiring quotes from D&I CON attendees at the bottom of the page, along with some photos as well.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy steals money from the organization to fund his life.
Dan Deevy has NEVER stolen money from GIS or from any of its programs or events.
The simple fact is there is NO REASON for him to do that.
Dan is legally entitled to be paid a salary for his full-time work. Salaries for similar positions in NYC range from $150K - $190K. So, if he wanted money, he would get it by taking a salary.
The accusation that he crafted some illegal, nefarious scheme instead, makes absolutely NO SENSE. (side note: in 8 years, Dan has NEVER BEEN PAID. Not a dime.)
*Allegation: GIS has “STOLEN MONEY FROM CHILDREN.”
This is the most offensive and damaging lie they’ve told. This ludicrous allegation insists that GIS stole money that was intended to pay for kids to go to space camp from the ‘Inclusive Space Academy Scholarship’ program that we’ve been working to create.
We need to be 100% Clear on this point.
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the ISA Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
Here’s what happened with the scholarship.
The ISA scholarship was a program that never successfully came together. It was created by our scholarship director, JANE JORGENSEN, and it was her responsibility to both build and run it. She failed to do so.
Jane pledged (BUT NEVER ACTUALLY GAVE) GIS $20K to make it happen. At NO point did Dan Deevy, or GIS, have access to that money.
And NO Additional Funds were raised for the scholarship.
GIS was awarded a $25K grant from the NSS which was NOT Given to us to Pay for Any Kids to go to Space Camp.
We are once again sharing the grant application below, which clearly shows the breakdown of the budget which was APPROVED by the NSS. The budget shows that the NSS gave us those funds to cover some of the costs of the first D&I Con.
The NSS has repeatedly confirmed that they were Happy with how the Funds were Spent and have NEVER had any issues or concerns with that, GIS, or Dan Deevy personally.
The ONLY people who took issue with it, were those looking for another way to damage our reputation. Those people manufactured phony concerns to create the appearance of improper behavior to further malign and discredit us.
Now, when it became clear that we had bitten off more than we could chew with the scholarship program, we shut it down. BUT…
Absolutely NO MONEY was gained or lost by ANYONE when that happened.
JANE JORGENSEN kept the $20K she had pledged, and NO additional funds were raised for it.
This is extremely important so we’re going to reiterate it for a third time, so there is NO CONFUSION on this point:
GIS made ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY from the Scholarship.
ZERO DOLLARS.
NO MONEY was Stolen from CHILDREN!!!
The truth is, we tried to do a good thing by trying to create this scholarship and we FAILED at making it a success. We are far, FAR from perfect. So sometimes we try things that end up not working out. There is NOTHING Unethical or Illegal about that.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy & GIS “Need Money” is proof of malfeasance.
The assertion that ANY nonprofit organization is NOT in need of “more money,” is preposterous. The primary sources of funding for nonprofits are private grants and donations. Year-round fundraising is critical to EVERY nonprofit’s survival.
To claim our ongoing efforts to raise money is a sign of poor leadership and indicative of underlying illegal behavior is absurd.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy & GIS exploit & extort money from their followers.
All money spent by our followers is always in exchange for something. Ticketed events, merchandise, or is a legal donation for which they receive a tax deduction, etc. NO ONE is being exploited, conned, or scammed into just giving us their money.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy illegally used GIS funds to pay his rent.
The portion of Dan’s rent that was paid with funds from GIS was done in accordance with nonprofit law, which allows an organization to pay monthly rent for an office space.
If that office is a home office, then a percentage of that rent, which is determined by the amount of square footage being used in the home for the company’s operations, can be included in the organization’s operating budget. Floorplan & Square Footage below.
*Allegation: D&I CON Attendees Paid for Dan Deevy’s Wedding.
D&I Con was the first major sci-fi convention to host a gay wedding. It was officiated by a beloved sci-fi celebrity, attended by the majority of the weekend’s special guests, and was part of the conventions programming, at NO ADDITIONAL COST. It was an on-stage event like any other.
It was held in a space that was ALREADY PAID FOR and BEING USED FOR OTHER EVENTS & PROGRAMMING. Trekkie Feud, for example, was also hosted on that same stage.
Having the wedding there did NOT Add ANY Additional Costs to the convention.
Further, the reception that followed was our separately ticketed, Saturday Night Gala. EVERYTHING that was promised in exchange for the price of the ticket to the Gala was delivered in spades!
We promised live music, food, drinks, and mix and mingle with celebrity guests. ALL of that happened.
The fact that it also doubled as a Gay Wedding Reception changed nothing. Other than adding yet another, groundbreaking unique element to our programming.
*Allegation: Dan Deevy chose Philadelphia as the location for D&I CON to Save his Family Members Money on Travel
Philadelphia was chosen as the ANNUAL location for D&I Con for the following reasons:
We wanted it to be in a major city in the northeast.
Of the potential cities, Philadelphia was the most affordable.
Philadelphia was the most convenient for folks to travel to; by train, bus & plane.
Philadelphia showed the most interest in hosting a convention of our type.
Philadelphia was also willing to give us discounts on costs wherever possible.
And again, the choice of city was made not just for the first year, it was made for ALL Subsequent Years. To suggest that it was chosen to accommodate a handful of relatives for just ONE of those years is absurd.
*Allegation: GIS behaved improperly on STAR TREK: THE CRUISE leading to a ban on other groups hosting events.
STAR TREK: THE CRUISE did NOT change their policy about groups hosting events on board because of anything that GIS did. In fact, our events became more and more successful and well attended each year. Everyone, including the company that runs the cruises, loved what we were doing and wanted more.
The Cruise made that change because the malcontents were so desperate to convince the world that we were evil, they bombarded them with an unending number of hateful emails filled with their lies about us. THAT’S why they changed their policy.
Understandably so, they didn’t want to be a part of the drama that those emails and social media attacks created. And although we NEVER responded to any of those messages or emails, or engaged with them in any way, they managed to continue their one-sided feud, all on their own. They obviously have never cared about the members of our community they’ve been hurting in the process.
THIS WAS THE CROWD AT OUR LAST TREKKIE FEUD ON STAR TREK: THE CRUISE V - PEOPLE LOVED WHAT WE WERE DOING
*Allegation: GIS is a “SCAM” or a “GRIFT”
GIS is NOT a SCAM!!!
A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act where someone tries to get you to part with your money. GIS operates transparently and only generates revenue in the following ways:
1. **Ticket Sales**: Our events are held as scheduled, with attendees consistently reporting satisfaction and value.
2. **Merchandise Sales**: Purchasers receive their products either at events or through mail for online orders.
3. **Donations**: All donations, unless specifically designated otherwise by the donor, are used exclusively to fund GIS events.
4. **Grants/Sponsorships**: The entirety of these funds are also used solely in support of our events.
For the past 8 years, we’ve done our best to create things that bring joy into people’s lives. We don’t always succeed. But given the sheer volume of the things we’ve done for the community, some were bound to not be homeruns.
Since our founding in 2016, GIS has produced 200+ Events across the country, we’ve launched our own annual weekend long convention, the ‘GALACTIC DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CON,’ we’ve also been welcomed by other events including, SAN DIEGO COMIC CON, NEW YORK COMIC CON, WONDERCON, STLV, STAR TREK: THE CRUISE, NEW WORLD’S SPACE CONFERENCE, THE NATIONAL SPACE CONFERENCE, just to name a few.
Dan Deevy was also given the honor of addressing the UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY on the need for universal equality as humankind takes its first steps toward becoming an interplanetary civilization.
GIS accomplished all of the above (and so much more), despite having only a single person working full time, not having any outside financial backing, and all the while having to divert time and resources to fight off these relentless attacks and attempts to ruin everything.
As we said earlier, we are FAR from perfect. But we’re doing our best to fulfill our mission and to learn from our mistakes so we can improve and accomplish even more with our future events.
*Allegation: GIS is not an actual 501(c)(3) nonprofit
GIS 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT STATUS
Finally, (and hopefully for the very last time), GAAAYS IN SPAAACE IS a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Confirmation documentation below. ALL funds that are raised by the organization go to fund the operational costs of OUR organization.
We do NOT use the funds we raise to fund other nonprofits, charities or programs. WE are the nonprofit that those funds benefit. It’s how we continue to operate. That’s how nonprofits run.
Our accusers, however, believe this is somehow improper.
IRS Determination Letter for our Federal filings, the California Secretary of State & the California Attorney General, New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (registered out-of-state charity) Pennsylvania Secretary of State (registered out-of-state nonprofit) NSS Grant Application w/ APPROVED Budgetary Breakdown.
70 QUOTES FROM D&I CON ATTENDEES
“Seriously the best con I’ve been a part of in years.”
“The BEST Weekend!!!”
“Epic does not even begin to describe this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“I feel inspired, rejuvenated, and ready to spread diversity and love… TO THE JOURNEY!!”
“BRAVO!!!”
“Shoutout to a wonderful person who cares about making a difference in the world. Dan Deevy!!!!”
“Beyond my Wildest Expectations!”
“Dan Deevy runs a heck of a show.”
“This is turning out to be a powerhouse event.”
“Easily the most relaxed and welcoming convention I have ever been to.”
“Such a dream come true!”
“Dan Deevy’s convention is something special. We had such a wonderful time, made great friends. I have not been to one quite like it and can’t wait to attend this year!”
“D&I Con was the BEST Trek Con I’ve ever been to! It fulfilled IDIC in every way possible.”
“It was an amazing experience!”
“The memories and connections made at this con are truly unforgettable.”
“Gaaaysinspaaace such a positive experience. Thank you! keep growing, we expect great things.”
“This was FABULOUS! I will be talking about this show for a long time.”
“I had a blast! It is such a safe space. I am honored to have volunteered this year and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
“We are already planning for next year!”
“I felt like we were friends with everyone by the end of Saturday. Love you all so much!!!”
“This weekend was just perfect. It was good for my soul.”
“Thank you SO MUCH for such an amazing experience!!!”
“This was a great convention! I can’t wait til next year, sign me up!”
“This was our first time but definitely not our last. Such a great time.”
“This was an all-encompassing celebration of inclusion!”
“Thanks for the great job. I love the way you did this. See you next year.”
“Thank you all so much for making such amazing events! We will see you again next year for sure!”
“It was another fantastic weekend. I look forward to seeing you next year!”
“A weekend of love, understanding and acceptance. I cannot wait until next year’s convention.”
“Forever grateful for the friends made and the opportunities given.”
“You guys always do so much. Thank you!”
“Your event was awesome, and you were so incredibly kind! Will definitely be back next year! My husband and I had a blast. It was great meeting you friend!”
“Already planning for next year!”
“It was such an incredible weekend. Thank you to everyone involved!”
“The whole event was great!”
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
“This convention was even better than I expected. Not only did it include actors from our favorite sci-fi shows who spoke about their experiences on their shows, but they delved even deeper into discussions about mental health, diversity, bullying and so many other important topics. It was a wonderful weekend of fun, entertainment and discussion. Thank you Dan Deevy and everyone in Gaaaysinspaaace!”
“Had such an amazing time at DNICON.”
“See you all again next year!”
“Certainly appreciate how much time you put into these events”
“This year was so wonderful, and after last year, that’s saying something. I can’t wait until NEXT year!”
“Congrats on an amazing weekend!”
“I’m so glad we got to spend the day with Admiral Janeway!”
“I had a fantastic time! Thank you!”
“Flying a drone against Robbie was SO COOL!!”
“The lineup is always amazing!”
“The memories and connections made at this con are truly unforgettable.”
“Thank you GIS for the wonderful camaraderie and warm atmosphere at Galactic D&I Con.”
“We barely have time to be sad that the Galactic Diversity and Inclusion Con ended because we’re already planning for the next one!”
“We had the BEST WEEKEND EVER at the Gaaaysinspaaace D&I Con 2024!!!”
“Was at Galactic D&I Con today and picked up a ton of new autographs for the Trek poster. This was a great show - @gaaaysinspaaace did a fantastic job and put together a really well-organized convention with a killer guest list.”
“Penny Johnson Jerald was the first to ever sign this (a Star Trek print) for me last year. I was a little overwhelmed and Star struck. She saw this (she saw me), got up from her table and gave me a hug which helped me collect myself. I retell this story so much because no one talks about that side of conventions much.”
“My husband was on a mobility scooter, and people couldn't have been more accommodating or helpful!”
“It was loads of fun, educational, supportive, and safe. I wasn't scared to be myself there. I could be my lgbtqia+ self.”
“Dining and partying with the honorable Lady Sirella of the House of Martok was definitely a dream come true that I didn’t even know I had?!”
“You've put on, once again another AMAZING, A+ convention that I can not stop talking about. You've made so many peoples weekend, and maybe year. I honestly can say I've never had more fun. I will savor the moment and excitedly wait for next (hopfully!) Years! Thanks again for making this weird little Trekkies dreams come true.”
“There definitely is no party like a Gays in Space KLINGON PARTY!!
Completely unreal to debut my first Klingon cosplay, have dinner WITH Gowron and Lady Sirella, and celebrating the weekend with blood wine!!”
” Such an incredible first day and there’s still the rest of the weekend!!! QAPLA!!!”
“Amazing experience! It was truly a safe space for everyone and we loved being able to interact with the guests in such a relaxed and friendly environment. Looking forward to next year!”
“My daughter is a teenager and nonbinary. Coming here made me appreciate and understand her a whole lot more. My eyes were opened!”
“Coming back here fills me with so much excitement and joy, making new friends, reconnecting with old. Meeting idols. It’s like coming home! 🥰❤ can't wait the rest of the weekend!”
“I can't even begin to explain how exciting it was. Thanks gaaaysinspaaace for making yet ANOTHER dream come true!”
“A big thank-you to Gaaaysinspaaace for organizing a second Galactic Diversity & Inclusion Convention ( Dnicon ) in Philadelphia. It was great to see all kinds of fans assembled, LGBTQ+, straight, in wheelchairs, with sight challenges, with hearing challenges, tall, short, thin, wide, and of many ethnic backgrounds. All just humans getting together based on a love of Star Trek and other science fiction. I appreciate the time and effort that it takes to organize something like this, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Thanks for the great job. Being able to get “up close and personal” with all the stars and chat with them at their tables was really great and wonderful. I’ve been to Trek conventions since the early nineties, including security at a time when the local clubs WERE the security, and I love the way you did this. See you next year. Keep the Sheraton as the “base camp”.”
“I soooo wanted to make it there this year! Next year for sure!”
“Can't wait for next year 🖖🏻💜”
“So sad we missed D&I con this year”
“I’ve been to both years, and meeting the actors has been very pleasant, quiet, and not rushed.“
“I just learned about this a few months ago! I wasn't able to attend this year 😭 but I'm making it a priority to plan for next year 🤗🖖🏽”
“Honestly aside from the great fun, my favorite part of DNI is how relaxed and happy the guests seem to be there. Not "con" happy, but genuinely like they're having fun too.”