Open Letter to GalaxyCon re: Dean Cain

Dear GalaxyCon Team,

I am writing as a longtime attendee of GalaxyCon and NightmareCon in Richmond, VA, events I have supported and enjoyed for years.

I recently became aware of the public situation involving actor Dean Cain and the decision not to invite or allow him to appear at GalaxyCon, reportedly due to a mismatch in “values.” What concerns me is not disagreement itself, but the lack of clarity around what specific values are being cited as disqualifying.

Mr. Cain publicly and respectfully asked for clarification as to which of his views were incompatible with GalaxyCon’s values, yet no specific explanation appears to have been provided. Even after a civil, private conversation with GalaxyCon leadership, the decision remained unchanged. From the outside, this gives the appearance of ideological exclusion rather than a principled or transparent policy.

As a fan and repeat attendee, I find this troubling. GalaxyCon has always presented itself as an inclusive celebration of fandom, creativity, and community - spaces where people of many backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives can come together over shared interests. If certain lawful, peacefully held political or religious views now constitute grounds for exclusion, I believe attendees deserve to understand where those lines are drawn.

To be clear, this is not about demanding agreement with Mr. Cain’s views, nor about attacking staff members who communicate decisions. It is about transparency and trust. “Values” is a broad term, and when used without specificity, it can feel indistinguishable from censorship or blacklisting.

I respectfully ask:

• What specific values or behaviors were deemed incompatible in this case?

• Is GalaxyCon adopting a policy that excludes guests based on political or religious beliefs?

• How should longtime attendees reconcile GalaxyCon’s stated commitment to inclusivity with decisions that appear to exclude based on ideology?

I ask these questions because I care about these conventions and want to continue supporting them with confidence that fandom spaces remain open to respectful disagreement rather than ideological filtering.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope GalaxyCon will address these concerns openly.

Sincerely,
Ed Bell
Longtime GalaxyCon & NightmareCon Attendee
Richmond, VA