Visible Gays post on Gameful.org

I started a group on Gameful.org; this is the start of one of our discussions:

• There are a good number of queer folks, but many times they are invisible. How can we encourage or aid video game companies in representing us. I don’t necessarily mean a lesbian as a protagonist, but possibilities in roleplaying games, a gay couple holding hands on the street, NPC’s who are gay and not just comic relief. Games are a very personal experience and as gamers we often play as avatars that aren’t ourselves and that can be helpful and deep if done correctly- it can be a learning experience, a walk in their shoes. Also, showing gay characters in the game world makes them more viable and more acceptable in the real one. Is there a way we can show that to countries and people who are much less accepting or outright violent to gay folks (or those perceived to be gay).

  Also, is there a way games could make gays more visible to their communities, encourage coming out, make the space safer, something to help the community out of their personal hurt and shame, make gay heroic? Connect us.

  Thoughts?

• Nobumatsuku Team said 1 day, 2 hours ago:

  …Actually, that’s kind of funny. I was working on a game with a lesbian protagonist. xD

  But yeah, I totally agree. C: Subtlety is indeed an effective strategy for tolerance, because without realizing it, people will get used to us. They’ll adapt, as all humans do.

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• Dean said 5 hours, 55 minutes ago:

  What do you think the barriers are to having this happen? Is it not even thought? Is there fear of controversy?

  I feel sure there re queer people in the industry; I’m surprised there aren’t little bits of gay shoved in the cracks and crevices of a game.

  I’m glad someone is doing a game with a lesbian protagonist, that itself would be a challenge for me. I’m not sure how a lesbian protagonist is different than a protagonist. Perhaps that is why there are stereotypes in media; the “We need to make sure they know this character is queer” mentality. I also think people think they need to write gay characters in some way that is different than straight characters. Gay characters do not view their love or desires as being strange, and I feel like media feels the need to EXPLAIN it or show how beautiful and perfect it is to make it some sort of shining example. I don’t need declarations of love or sex scenes, but little intimate moments between human characters, brushing back a hair, a look of worry, smile, preparing a meal. I guess what games really need is better writing. I don’t know. I mean it is fantasy. I would just really like it if we didn’t always go under the assumption that every character is straight and that it must be PROVEN how straight everyone is. Does sexuality even need to be mentioned in games so much? If I’m killing aliens or saving the kingdom does it matter who I’m sleeping with?