Before you commit your money, time, and trust to NaNoCon 2026, you have the right to know about a serious incident that occurred at NaNoCon 2025 — and the silence that followed.
On the night of July 25, 2025, during NaNoCon at The Lodge at Montgomery Bell in Burns, Tennessee, a female attendee was physically and sexually assaulted in a back stairwell by a man who was both a prominent content creator in the community and a coordinator of the convention itself.
The assault included being shoved down a flight of stairs, pinned, strangled, and subjected to non-consensual sexual aggression. The victim reported the attack on-site the following morning and filed a police report soon after. Her detailed public account is available here, and she stands by it.
Despite the seriousness of what took place — and despite the perpetrator's formal role within NaNoCon — the convention's leadership has not:
- Publicly acknowledged the incident
- Disclosed what actions, if any, they took after it was reported to their own security staff
- Clarified whether the coordinator in question faced any consequences, suspension, or removal from the event
- Communicated any policy changes to protect future attendees and vendors
- Responded in any meaningful way to the victim or to the community that supports this convention
"Silence protects institutions.
Transparency protects people."
We are not asking for speculation, gossip, or a rush to judgment. We are demanding a formal, public response from the NaNoCon 2026 planning committee. Specifically, we call on the organizers to:
- Acknowledge that a violent incident involving a member of their event staff occurred onsite during NaNoCon 2025.
- State clearly what actions were taken — or not taken — once the assault was reported to convention security and leadership.
- Explain whether the individual in question retains any role, platform, or access within NaNoCon 2026, and on what basis that decision was made.
- Outline what concrete steps have been implemented to ensure attendee and vendor safety going forward.
NaNoCon is made possible by its sponsors and community partners — organizations that lend their names and credibility to this event. Reach out directly and ask whether they are aware of this incident, and whether they intend to demand a public response before supporting NaNoCon 2026.
Polaris Financial Planning (Presenting Sponsor)
Secular‑friendly investment advisor and NaNoCon's presenting sponsor.
American Humanist Association
Advocating progressive values & equality for humanists, atheists, freethinkers.
American Atheists
Fighting to protect real religious freedom, nonstop since 1963.
Godless Engineer
Learn why Christians are wrong about religion, atheism, science, history, and politics.
Black Nonbelievers
"Walking by Sight, NOT Faith!" Empowering and supporting Blacks living free from faith.
Humanists of Tennessee
Helping humans grow, evolve, and shine without supernatural beliefs.
Atheist Community of Austin (ACA)
Promoting atheism, critical thinking, secular humanism, and separation of religion and government.
Secular Rising US (SeRiUS)
A secular support network & calendar of events for freethinkers in Tennessee and beyond.
Recovering from Religion
Organizers of the Secular Therapy Project, Helpline Project, and RfR Support Groups.
Secular Student Alliance
Empowering students to express identity, build communities, promote secular values, and lifelong activism.
The Clergy Project
Support, community, and hope for current & former religious professionals without supernatural beliefs.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State - Nashville
"Freedom without Favor, Equality without Exception"
Think Squared Media
Specializing in highly creative, top‑of‑the‑line videos for a variety of needs.
Stephen Barry, LMT, Massage Services
contactstephen@massage.com
Massage therapist in the Nashville area, relaxation and deep muscle work.
Think This Through (YouTube)
YouTube@ThinkThisThrough
Dedicated to critical thinking — but not the boring kind.
Suggested message — copy and adaptHi,
I'm reaching out because your organization is listed as a sponsor or partner of NaNoCon, and I believe you deserve to know about a serious unaddressed incident.
On July 25, 2025, a female attendee was physically and sexually assaulted at NaNoCon at The Lodge at Montgomery Bell in Burns, TN. The alleged perpetrator was both a prominent community content creator and a convention coordinator. The victim filed a police report. Her full written testimony is publicly available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZdtKkJIsH2QJT8DPgHcMJDqUAyGDFd_R/view
To date, NaNoCon leadership has issued no public acknowledgment, disclosed no actions taken, and has not clarified whether the individual retains any role in NaNoCon 2026.
I'm asking whether your organization is aware of this incident, and whether you intend to request a formal public response from NaNoCon's organizers before continuing your association with the event.
Thank you for your time.
The following speakers have been announced for NaNoCon 2026. Their participation gives the event visibility and legitimacy. Reach out directly — ask whether they are aware of the July 2025 assault, what they have been told by organizers, and whether they will demand a public accounting.
📹 YouTube & 🌐 websites are listed first. Email, TikTok, and other socials are secondary where available.
📹 YouTube & 🌐 websites are listed first. Email, TikTok, and other socials are secondary where available.
Matt Dillahunty
YouTubeThe Linewebsitemattdillahunty.comemailcontact@mattdillahunty.comTikTok@themattdillahuntyX@Matt_Dillahunty
Speaker, debater, host of The Line call‑in show, magic & mentalism performer, American Atheists board member.
Candace Gorham
President of American Humanist Association, author, counselor, The Clergy Project, Godless Gospel Choir singer.
Hemant Mehta
YouTubeFriendly Atheistwebsitefriendlyatheist.comemailhemant@friendlyatheist.comX@HemantMehtaInstagram@friendlyatheist
Writer, YouTuber, Friendly Atheist podcaster, author of The Young Atheist's Survival Guide, former Jeopardy! champion.
Promise Backlund
websitepromisebacklund.comemailhello@promisebacklund.comTikTok@eve_wasframedX@evewasframed_IG@eve_wasframedYouTube@evewasframed
Author, activist, content creator, new book "Gospel of Lies" out this May, musical artist in Caydus.
Monte Mader
YouTubeMonte Maderwebsitemontemader.comTikTok@montemaderX@montemaderIG@montemaderPatreonmontemaderSubstack@montemader
Former alt‑right Christian nationalist, content creator, culture critic, metal vocalist, podcaster, theologian.
Forrest Valkai
YouTubeRenegade Science Teacherwebsitevalkailabs.comemailforrest@valkailabs.comTikTok@renegadescienceteacherIG@renegadescienceteacher
Biologist, science communicator, content creator, call‑in show host, evolution educator, nature tour guide.
Krystina Celeste
websitelifebeyondbelief.orgemailhello@lifebeyondbelief.orgTikTok@krystinacelesteX@KrystinaCeleste_IG@krystinacelesteYouTube@krystinaceleste
Life Beyond Belief founder, fundamentalist Baptist pastor's kid, former worship leader, content creator on religious trauma.
Fish Stark
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/fishstarkemailfstark@americanhumanist.orgBluesky@fishstark.bsky.socialX@fishstark
American Humanist Association Executive Director, educator, activist, content producer, stand‑up comedian.
Sam McGuire
American Atheists Director of Grassroots & Advocacy, Reason Rally organizer, Camp Quest volunteer, humanist celebrant.
Wil Jeudy, M.D.
Secular Texas PAC founder, Church & State separation activist, community organizer, urgent care physician.
Glenda Jordan
Artist, model & entertainer in Las Vegas, deconstructed Southern Baptist, feminist, polyamory advocate.
Kevin Crowe
Content creator, writer, TN‑based, deconstruction & dealing with evangelists, humor. (No public email or active social found)
Vendors and ticket holders make this convention possible. Your participation is an endorsement of the event's values and its stewardship of community trust. When a convention that claims to champion reason and ethics meets a credible report of violence with silence, that trust is broken.
We urge you, before buying a ticket or signing a vendor agreement, to require an answer from NaNoCon's leadership. Make your own decision based on whether they choose accountability over continued silence.
Survivors deserve more than closed doors. Our community deserves better.
In the video below, Nancy shares her account of what happened at NaNoCon 2025 and explains why she stepped away from her platform. It offers critical context often missing from official narratives.
⚠️ Content warning: This video includes direct descriptions of physical and sexual violence and may be difficult to watch. Please take care of yourself and engage responsibly. The purpose is accountability, not harassment.
📹 Direct link to video — opens in new tab