ClexaCon 2019 reminded fans and the industry why we #FightForWynonna

The #FightForWynonna battle cry was heard round the world at ClexaCon 2019. The cast hasn’t given up hope, and neither have us, the fans.

I sat in the third row for the Wynonna Earp panel at ClexaCon this year. (Being there as press definitely had its perks.) I was nonchalantly scrolling through my Twitter feed when I heard someone say the words, “standing room only.”

I turned around and my jaw dropped.

Every single seat was taken; the walls had been scattered with Earpers, Nicole Haught cosplayers, and fans that were all waiting for Katherine Barrell (Officer Nicole Haught), Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Waverly Earp), and Emily Andras (showrunner) to take stage.

The tagline that fans know far too well was being amplified through the room. “Fight. For. Wynonna.”

This was 20 minutes before the panel even began, and I was immediately overcome with community.

WYNONNA EARP — “War Paint” Episode 312 — Pictured: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Wynonna Earp, Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Waverly Earp — (Photo by: Michelle Faye/Wynonna Earp Productions, Inc./Syfy)

It’s no surprise to anyone that Wynonna Earp has built not only a fandom, but also a family over the three years it’s been airing. It came at a time of lost hope and broken promises on television; after a powerful, resilient, and strong queer leader was ripped from a fandom on The CW’s The 100. Although Lexa lost her fight on television that night, the queer community’s fight for better representation was only just beginning.

So it just goes to show you that the fans of Wynonna Earp are no strangers to a fight.

And Andras isn’t giving up that easy either. Moderator extraordinaire Dana Piccoli asked what the current situation is.

With teary eyes and a crackling voice, Andras replied with “hopeful.” She’s unbelievably thankful for everything Earpers have done so far in regards to the #FightForWynonna. “We have every intension of continuing their beautiful story,” she replied.

The cast is very aware of what WayHaught has meant to viewers. Barrell puts it in her own words:

"“The magic of WayHaught was one of the first examples on pop cultures of how powerful a fandom can be when they finally see themselves on screen. […] When you take a community of people that don’t feel represented in a way that makes their hearts happy and makes them feel loved and included and accepted and celebrated, but when you do that, you can create things like this. You can move mountains.”"

WYNONNA EARP — “I Fall To Pieces” Episode 307 — Pictured: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Wynonna Earp, Katherine Barrell as Officer Nicole Haught — (Photo by: Michelle Faye/Wynonna Earp Productions, Inc./Syfy)

Wynonna Earp was the first television show to bury the trope of burying your gays, and Andras made that very clear this past weekend. “We’re not going to f—ng put up with it anymore,” she shouted into the audience.

Andras spoke of seeking advice for when showrunners want to write in characters with stories and backgrounds that the writers aren’t familiar with.

"“Ask for some advice. I would love to write a trans character, for example. But I cannot imagine living that experience or writing that character without speaking to people in the trans community. I’m really good at a lot of stuff, and really bad at a lot of stuff, but I have no problem anymore reaching out to someone who has more experience, and to hear what they would want in that story and character.”"

Television writers, creators, and executives have robbed this community of their stories for far too long. But they won’t rob us from this one.

Season 4 of Wynonna Earp is in jeopardy, and although Andras and the cast are doing whatever it takes to deliver on what was promised, fans can’t help but to get involved. They’ve buried our gays but they can’t bury our shows.

WayHaught, afterall, is bulletproof. And so is Wynonna Earp.

And so, the fight continues.

Watch ClexaCon’s full “Magic Behind Wayhaught” panel here:

You can watch recent seasons of Wynonna Earp on Netflix.