I wasn't at the event, but I bashed my head against the wall too. I even called the author out on one point (about congratulating non-Anglophone speakers).

I feel that making big foamy ranty posts about gender/race/whatever 'fail' at conventions does seem to have become this year's equivalent of accusing Russell T Davies of being racist, misogynistic or homophobic. I suspect some of them are trying to build their online profile more than they're trying to bring justice to the world.

I was at some of the SFX Weekender panels that attracted online hysteria earlier this year, but I barely recognised it as the same event, frankly.

I've read great things about Eastercon elsewhere and hope to go next year.