Convergence is an annual North American social gathering of gay men of size (chubs) and their admirers (chasers). The event is considered the longest running social gathering of its kind in North America and serves a particular community, also known as the Chubs and Chasers community; a vibrant sub-culture of the gay community at large. Convergence is held during the USA Labor Day holiday weekend. The event has a history that goes back to 1986, when the first Convergence was held in Seattle, Washington. Since then, the event has been hosted annually in different cities across North America.
Convergence is a "floating" event. The location for each year voted on by the Big Gay Mens Organization BGMO (formerly known as Affiliated Big Men's Clubs, or ABC) committee in response to proposals by member Girth and Mirth clubs.
Past Convergences have been held in:
1986 Seattle Mayflower Park Hotel August 28 - September 1, 19861987 Washington D.C. at the Vista September 3-7, 19871988 New York City at the Mackelow September 1-5, 19881989 Los Angeles Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel August 31 - September 4, 19891990 Chicago at the Holiday Inn August 30 - September 3, 19901991 Boston at the Swissotel August 29 - September 2, 19911992 San Francisco Cathedral Hill Hotel September 3-7, 19921993 Washington D.C. Embassy Suites September 2-6, 19931994 New York City at the Millennium September 1-5, 19941995 Seattle at the Westin August 31 - September 4, 19951996 San Diego Radisson Hotel Circle1997 Philadelphia at the Holiday Inn1998 Reno at the Sands1999 Denver at the Adam’s Mark Hotel2000 Montreal at the Holiday Inn2001 Dallas at the Sheraton2002 Minneapolis at the Millennium2003 Washington D.C. at the Grand Hyatt August 28 - September 1, 20032004 White Plains at the Crown Plaza2005 New Orleans - Cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina2006 Houston at the Marriott Medical Center2007 Minneapolis at the Hyatt Nicollet Mall2008 Washington D.C. at the Marriott Gateway August 28 - September 1,20082009 Las Vegas a.k.a. "BiggerVegas" at the Tuscany Suites and Casino2010 Orlando at the Doubletree (formerly International Plaza)2011 Boston at the CoCo Key Resort and Waterpark (North shore)2012 Chicago at the Renaissance Chicago, Northbrook2013 New Orleans at the InterContential2014 Scottsdale at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley-Scottsdale2015 Seattle at the DoubleTree Hilton Sea-Tac September 2–7, 2015 http://emeraldcityconvergence.com/#!/?page_id=132016 Orlando at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive August 30 – September 5, 2016 http://www.orlandoconvergence.com/