About ifCON

A Brief History of ifCON

The International Friendship Conference (ifCON) is an annual social gathering hosted over the years by members of the International Friendship Alliance (IFA) and Long Yang Club (LYC).

IFCON started out in 1988 as a small, informal gathering of Asians and Friends from Washington, D.C., and New York to celebrate the D.C. group’s fourth anniversary. The following year, there was a reciprocal visit to New York. In 1990, members decided to invite other chapters to participate, and ever since, the simple gathering of friends has blossomed into an exciting, international, social and educational gathering every Labor Day weekend.

IFCON offers fun, camaraderie and support for gay, Asian men and their friends. Organizers plan local tours, educational workshops and social events that culminate in an extravagant gala complete with entertainment and pageantry. Each year, member chapters host IFCON in their cities, drawing participants from around the globe. It’s even been held on a cruise ship, twice!

Your participation builds the momentum for a supportive, safe and empowered brotherhood, one that has endured the challenges of language, self-esteem and self-respect. It’s a bond backed by rich ethnic histories, cultures and independence that underscores the journeys of every segment within the LGBTQ community.

IFW Host Cities (International Friendship Weekend)

  • Washington, DC – 1990
  • Chicago, IL – 1991
  • San Francisco, CA – 1992
  • Pittsburgh, PA – 1993
  • New York, NY – 1994
  • Dallas, TX – 1995
  • London, Eng – 1996
  • Los Angeles, CA – 1997
  • Cleveland, OH – 1998
  • Washington, DC – 1999
  • Chicago, IL – 2000
  • Houston, TX – 2001
  • Bahamas Cruise (Hosted by AF South Florida) – 2002
  • Pittsburgh, PA – 2003
  • Philadelphia, PA – 2004

iCON Host Cities (Independent Event until 2005)

  • London, Eng – 1999
  • Seattle, WA – 2000
  • No iCON Event(due to 9/11) – 2001
  • Montréal, CN – 2002
  • Paris, FR – 2003
  • Bangkok, TH – 2004

IFW / iCON Host Cities (Joint Hosted Events)

  • Toronto, CN – 2005
  • San Francisco, CA – 2006
  • Minneapolis, MN – 2007
  • Berlin, Germany – 2008

ifCON Host Cities (After Name Changed in 2009)

  • Atlanta, GA – 2009
  • Caribbean Cruise (Hosted by AF Chicago) – 2010
  • Houston, TX – 2011
  • Denver, CO – 2012
  • San Diego, CA – 2013
  • Washington, DC – 2014
  • New Orleans, LA (Hosted by AF Houston) – 2015
  • Chicago, IL – 2016
  • Montréal, CN – 2017
  • Puerto Vallarta, MX – 2018
  • Palm Springs, CA – 2019
  • No ifCON Event(due to COVID pandemic) -2020
  • Orlando, FL – 2021
  • Toronto, CN – 2022
  • Las Vegas, NV -2023
  • San Francisco – 2024

Upcoming

  • 2025 – Virgin Voyages Fire & Sunset Soirees, 4-night on Valiant Lady, Miami – Key West – Bimini, Sailing dates: Sep 3 – 7, 2025
  • 2026 – Taipei Taiwan