United States Pirate Party members will meet virtually for their 2023 annual national conference in late Spring. The event, a multi-day affair accessible on the popular social messaging program Discord, will take place from May 29 to June 4.
The conference theme, chosen by members of the Pirate National Committee at their February meeting, is titled “Piratey McPirateface,” a pun at the expense of structures of wealth and great power. The pun in question refers to “Boaty McBoatface,” a £200-million polar British research vessel that received the name after its parent company allowed the internet to select a name via polling.
For Pirates and their supporters, the six-day conference will include numerous opportunities to get involved. According to a recent press release issued by party leadership, the conference will have presentations by community members, debates between active candidates, discussions about Pirate politics, and the election of new Pirate National Committee officers.
While specific details are still underway, potential speakers proposed by members of the Pirate National Committee at their February meeting include Matt Albers, the host of the Pirate History Podcast, and the suggestion of several speakers from the international Pirate Party movement. The Pirate Party is also actively seeking help organizing the conference and recently made a request for volunteers on their official website.
The United States Pirate Party has a virtual presence nationwide and organized affiliates in six states—Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, California, and Ohio. It is aligned with the international Pirate movement and supports reform of copyright laws, transparency in government, and the protection of civil liberties and privacy. While there is a Kentucky Pirate Party, it is no longer associated with the Pirate Party of the United States as of early this year.