Photo Gallery: Comic cons, cosplay and harassment

Billie Scholz, 19, of Nanuet, New York said she cosplayed as “The Little Mermaid” once and a group of men cornered her and tried to get her to come with them. She said she almost called the police. Scholz is shown here attending San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday.

Michelle Everett, 23, of Edmonton, Canada, dressed as Princess Bubblegum from “Adventure Time” Thursday at San Diego Comic-Con, said she has been verbally harassed at conventions. “I haven’t really had people grab me, but I’ve had people say pretty lewd things to me, like asking me if I have sex in my costumes,” she said.

Kelly Thomas, 24, of Merced said she has not been harassed at conventions but refuses to post her pictures online. “I’m afraid of negative comments online more than getting grabbed at a convention,” she said Thursday at San Diego Comic-Con. “I’m a big girl, though, so I think the guys are afraid of me. I would take them down.”

Maya Gutierrez, 22, of Temecula, dressed as Morrigan from “Dragon Age” at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, said she attends about five conventions each year and has been harassed before. “The worst time was when a guy put his arm around me for a photo and tried to stick his hand down the back of my pants,” she said. “I love cosplaying, but this makes me re-think a lot of my costumes before I wear them in public.”