Southern Con-Federacy

Southern Con-Federacy was a Starsky & Hutch fan con held in Troy, Alabama.
It was very, very small (perhaps 10-12 people) and was by invite only.
There were three of them, with the suggestion of a fourth one in 1986, three years later. This later suggested con did not occur. 
==Who Was Invited?==
Unlike most conventions, where high visibility and turnout was desired, Southern Con-Federacy was a closed con. 
===No Outsiders ===
The con organizers specifically asked that only fans themselves attend, no friends, spouses, children, or "creatures from outer space." "creatures from outer space" may refer to slash fans. Another example of fans using "aliens" to exclude was in the contemporary British letterzine, A.P.B.; in those instances, the term meant other fandoms/or fans of other shows. 
From a flyer for the first con (1981): 
From a flyer for the third con (1983): 
===No Slash Fans===
The con organizers were also very, very "S&H" and NOT "S/H" fans. The con organizers requested over and over again that slash fans either not attend, or if they did, to NOT talk about the premise.
From a flyer for the second con (1982): 
From a flyer for the third con (1983): 
==The Anti-Slash Insistence, and Some Context==
The nature of Starsky and Hutch's relationship was by far one of the biggest topic of discussions in this fandom. 
The topic: The gen-only fans believed that Starsky and Hutch very, very good friends who meant EVERYTHING to each other, would gladly sacrifice their life for the other, would never marry as no woman could come between them (nor deserved to), and were an intense bonded pair in an emotionally intimate way, but that this did not include sexual intimacy. 
The slash fans believed that Starsky and Hutch were all that, and more, that they were also physically and sexually active with each other. Many of the slash fans in the early 1980s (and beyond) were also insistent that the two characters were NOT gay (they did not identify as such, were not part of gay culture, and would never be with anyone other than the other man, aka a prevalent trope, We're Not Gay, We Just Love Each Other.)
Letterzines (and private correspondence) burned with fan comments, many of them extremely heated. Gen fans accused slash fans of distorting the characters, of wishful thinking, making the characters "weak," ruining a "good" gen friendship, and of trying to convert gen fans to slash. 
The slash fans accused the gen fans of having a lack of imagination, of having closed and bigoted minds, and and because of rules and requests of many zine editors to avoid the topic, of feeling censored in fan discussions.
==1981==
The first Southern Con-Federacy took place June 26-28, 1981.
The location was a fan's home in Troy, Alabama. 
The cost was $5.00 which covered a spaghetti supper, a taco supper, and snacks. Fans were encouraged to go to the grocery store to buy frozen pizzas or TV dinners and use the house's oven. The lodging was free, but fans were encouraged to bring a sleeping bag.
From a flyer for the first con: 
From a flyer for the first con: 
Some activities: 
The VCR reigned supreme and was a highlight for many: 
The planned gift book for Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul A similar fan creation was The Love Book. : 
 
Image:southernconfed1-1.jpg|flyer for 1981: "First
of all, this is NOT an open, 'come-one-come-all' con, but a gathering of a few old (and new) friends who want to talk S&H to all hours of the Day and Knight "Knight" is a reference to Kenneth Hutchinson as White Knight. . We ask, therefore, that you not pass along your invitation, but DO RSVP as soon as possible. Bringing along a friend, a child, a spouse or creatures from outer space is highly discouraged. Y'ALL CUM!!"
Image:southernconfed1-2.jpg|flyer for 1981
 
Image:southernconfed1-3.jpg|progress report for 1981
 
Image:southernconfed1-5.jpg|progress report for 1981
==1982==
Southern Con-Federacy took place June 25-27, 1982 at the same locale.
The cost was $10.00: "Stupid inflation!!"
The schedule: 
 
File:Southernconfed1-6.jpg|from a flyer for the second con
File:Southernconfed2-1.jpg|from a flyer for the second con: "DISCLAIMER: Once again, please remember that this is an "& con. Leave the "/" behind where it belongs ... in the desert ... the Falklands ... Arctic Circle ... garbage dump .... Love Canal..."
File:Southernconfed2-2.jpg|from a flyer for the second con
File:Southernconfed2-3.jpg|from a flyer for the second con
==1983==
Southern Con-Federacy 3 took place June 23-26, 1983 at the same locale.
"We regret that this is the last official con for the Southern Contingency, but watch for us in 1986!!! Or Else!"
From a flyer: 
From a flyer: 
From a flyer (which includes a tasteless joke): 
 
Image:confederacy3-1.jpg|flyer for the 1983 con
Image:confederacy3-2.jpg|flyer for the 1983 con: "LODGING: Many beds available, but due to the recent upsurge of KKK activities, you'll have to bring your own sheets. (Just kidding. Just kidding.)"
Image:confederacy3-3.jpg|flyer for the 1983 con, "DISCLAIMER: This is a Starsky AND Hutch con, not S/H. We recognize your right to enjoy this premise, however, neither of your hostesses (nor the majority attending) believe in it, so we ask that you leave the subject at home. This is strictly an & con, so contrary discussions are better left unspoken."
==References==
Category:Starsky & Hutch Conventions
Category:1980 Conventions
Category:1980s Conventions
Category:Conventions in United States