SlutCon at a Berkeley AI-safety venue reignites debate over who feels welcome

Aella, whom SlutCon's official site lists as an organizer, replied that she was comfortable excluding people who were naturally alienated by an event for consenting adults. Designer Aimee Pepper called that response disappointing, arguing that sexual programming at a central AI-safety community space could make some people wary of professional events there.

The thread also contained a direct counterargument. Ari Zerner wrote that treating SlutCon as inherently bad for women ignored women whose experiences and preferences do not fit a narrower model of femininity.

One campus, very different events

Lighthaven describes itself as a campus for gatherings intended to improve humanity's long-term future. Its examples include the MATS AI-safety fellowship, AI conferences, writing residencies and other intellectual programs. The site also markets the Berkeley property as a general event venue.

SlutCon's organizers say all genders are welcome while acknowledging that many sessions focus on heterosexual dynamics. Its FAQ says the conference does not facilitate sex and prohibits penetration in public spaces, although opt-in workshops can include nudity, sexual demonstrations or clothed touching. Those rules explain the event's stated boundaries; they do not resolve the broader disagreement about whether the venue's different uses shape who feels comfortable at unrelated professional gatherings.