LGBT in Video Games

[IamLEAM1983]

The main problem with LGBT in video games is that in any case, their roles are written by hetero males who, more often than not, are happy with sticking to the "flamboyant" stereotype. Anyone remember Alexander Ashford? I think the intent with him was to evoke mental instability, but the end result looks far more like a flamingly annoying gay bishie.

Game devs just don't keep up with gender studies and sexology. Why should they, it's not the prime focus of their medium, after all! Games like Catherine are the rare diamonds in the rough and even then, it's not saying much. Catherine says practically nothing about same-sex or bisexual orientations, and paints Vincent as an immature man-child stuck in a relationship where he feels he has no place.

The only way anything will change is if someone comes up with a game concept where the fact that the main character is a CONVINCING and REALISTIC member of the LGBT community is pivotal to the storyline or game mechanics. Until then, I think it's safe to say we can expect hyper-burly men as a form of compensation or military fetishism, or ridiculously girly men as the quote-unquote "proof" that t3h gayness is a sexually transmissible disease that turns you into a sex-crazed and parti-colored masculine waif.

And of course, games like Bayonetta or the Dead or Alive series aren't helping. Let's sit down and figure why Japan actually needs all that boobage; then we'll sit down and figure out why idiots with necks as big as a sequoia tree or Ebonics-spouting USMC members that keep shouting "Oorah!" sell like hot cakes.

I figure THEN we'll be able to tackle the alternative community's many, many issues in the gaming world.

 

[Kanlic]

The problem with not understanding those who identify as trans* or as being attracted to more than one gender is that it doesn't fit neatly into what one would consider "normal". In general, people tend to see the penis-goes-into-vagina part and not understand how the rest works. However, if you don't understand that sexuality cannot be focused on one gender, and disregard it as "crazy", then there's a problem.

I'm not attacking you, and I hope this doesn't come off that way. I'm just trying to educate. Just because the men in your life have placed importance on the condition of their genitalia does not mean that no man has ever experienced disgust and dysphoria at his genitalia. Not to mention the fact that very few trans* women choose what is known as "bottom surgery" purely based on the fact that it is very costly, painful, and a lot more difficult to secure than being on hormones. The same goes for trans* guys (who generally do not receive surgery for male genitalia).

The fact remains that people who are not attracted to a singular gender or view themselves as a different gender (or no gender at all) aren't crazy, and they do know what they want out of life. You can argue that it's not how "it's supposed to be" but that dismisses the countless people who are very sure how they feel. How can someone deny the legitimacy of a queer, bisexual, or trans* person based on what you brought up? It seems more like you want things to fit neatly into a box, and neither gender nor sexuality work that way.

Certainly not, this argument is highly polite and I thank you for not charging at me with a spear in hand and a hunger for strait male blood.

When I talk about my confusion about transgendered people, it stems from the fact that they by definition do not concern the gender that they are attracted to. Transgendered people are more focused on their body and how much they feel like they were born the wrong gender or something along those lines. It inherently is about self-hate and dissatisfaction about who they are as a person, at least physically. Not once does it concern their sexual orientation, which is what I believe the LGBT community is banding as their rally cry for equality. The only correlation I can see is most male-to-female trans become women to sleep with other women, but that seems like a stretch to me because then you are talking about being a lesbian, not transgendered. To put it in perspective, I just think talking about transgendered people in the same breath as queers is like giving a dissertation about lions and then throwing in a fun fact about pumas. You can kind of see the thought process, but it seems out of place.

I do understand people think and feel that their gender isn't right for them or that they just like both men and women, but that doesn't make me think that it's all that normal. By normal, I don't mean the whole christian preaching of "dem queers is dancin' the devil's romance." Being bisexual is a naturally occurring phenomena, or else we wouldn't be talking about it. That doesn't excuse it from not being normal. I don't want to say any more than that, because I don't want to give you the idea that this preference is something to be treated by a doctor as if it is autism, that would be callous in its' ridiculousness. I am saying it just doesn't jive with the way nature wanted male humans to be. I guess that makes me ignorant, but that is something I am going to live with. I personally just don't understand it, and I don't think I ever will, but I'll acknowledge that it's out there, and I ain't going to stop people from doing their thing.

 

[lacktheknack]

I'm depressed to say that the best depiction of a normal gay person was in the freaking Phantasmagoria sequel. It didn't effect the character much beyond a couple conversation topics, and the game didn't make a big deal of it.

Yep... the least stereotyped and possibly most likable gay character I can think of comes from a schlocky point and click B grade FMV horror adventure game.

;_;

On another note, I'm rather disappointed in the straight community every time they declare lesbians to be awesome and gays to be disgusting. And by "rather disappointed" I mean "die inside from shame".

 

[McMarbles]

Pretty much anything is fair game for gaming (no pun intended), in my opinion.

I recently played Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, which has a bisexual PC. He was in my party for most of the endgame because his skills were so useful, but in-story he was mostly played for laughs and squick.

 

[Agow95]

Okay as long as there aren't any ridiculously LGBT characters, because that's taking the piss and can make for very bad characters

 

[viranimus]

Well the way I see it, Video games are a progressive media because they are attached to the nerves of the youth and its corresponding culture. Thats why you see LGBT representation at an highly disproportionate amount compared to other media to the point that could be seen as oversaturation.

 

[ultimateownage]

Gay people are great fun, bisexuals are cool too. I think that any gay or bisexual person who acts prejudiced or discriminatory in any way can shut their fucking mouth, but so should straight people. I don't see why we focus on sexuality when it's not that important of a subject unless you're planning to fuck them. I'm more concerned by Discrimination and Prejudice, and the hypocrisies that come with both of them, than the actual subject a lot of it is pointed at. That first sentence sums up everything I can really say about LGBT (Transgenders are pretty cool, too) but the actual topic of the opinions of and from those groups is the only thing that is interesting to talk about.

 

[Redweaver]

Gawds I am so sick to death of all the attention whores desperate to either tell me where they stick their bits or telling me where I shouldn't stick mine.

Why, exactly, should I care?

How about the radical idea that video games should just feature human beings?

 

[DRes82]

I'm confused as to how those four types are all lumped into one. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals...I'm fine with. I have friends.

But Transgender? is that the same? I'm sorry, they make me a little uncomfortable. Am I horrible for saying that? I probably wouldn't buy a game that featured a transgender prominently.

 

[Handbag1992]

Certainly not, this argument is highly polite and I thank you for not charging at me with a spear in hand and a hunger for strait male blood.

When I talk about my confusion about transgendered people, it stems from the fact that they by definition do not concern the gender that they are attracted to. Transgendered people are more focused on their body and how much they feel like they were born the wrong gender or something along those lines. It inherently is about self-hate and dissatisfaction about who they are as a person, at least physically. Not once does it concern their sexual orientation, which is what I believe the LGBT community is banding as their rally cry for equality. The only correlation I can see is most male-to-female trans become women to sleep with other women, but that seems like a stretch to me because then you are talking about being a lesbian, not transgendered. To put it in perspective, I just think talking about transgendered people in the same breath as queers is like giving a dissertation about lions and then throwing in a fun fact about pumas. You can kind of see the thought process, but it seems out of place.

I'm confused as to how those four types are all lumped into one. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals...I'm fine with. I have friends.

But Transgender? is that the same? I'm sorry, they make me a little uncomfortable. Am I horrible for saying that? I probably wouldn't buy a game that featured a transgender prominently.

Behold, Zinnia Jones!


Otherwise, at least your prejudice isn't interfering in the lives of others.

 

[poleboy]

The Metal Gear series has quite a lot of both suggested and explicit gay content, as well as straight stuff. I guess it just has a lot of sex in general (it's a spy game after all ):

I couldn't find a picture of the cutscene where Volgin grabs Snake's crotch for reasons that never became clear to me, so here is a real-life version instead:

 

[Stu35]

My opinion on the subject of LGBT... is that too many people have strong opinions about Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transexuals.

Why the fuck can't we all just get along and treat each other the same?

But Transgender? is that the same? I'm sorry, they make me a little uncomfortable. Am I horrible for saying that? I probably wouldn't buy a game that featured a transgender prominently.

A lot of people would probably tell you it's horrible of you for feeling that way, but ultimately as long as you tolerate their right to live life as they choose, you don't have to like them, or buy products containing them.

It's when you start saying you'd try to interfere with, or mistreat them for being that way that you become a bad person.

Remember, it's called tolerance, not acceptance.


Also:

Gawds I am so sick to death of all the attention whores desperate to either tell me where they stick their bits or telling me where I shouldn't stick mine.

Why, exactly, should I care?

How about the radical idea that video games should just feature human beings?

This.

 

[Dismal purple]

I'm confused as to how those four types are all lumped into one. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals...I'm fine with. I have friends.

But Transgender? is that the same? I'm sorry, they make me a little uncomfortable. Am I horrible for saying that? I probably wouldn't buy a game that featured a transgender prominently.

Transgender is part of LGBT because they are treated with the same prejudice as gay people, if not more.

 

[Discord]

Is it wrong that I don't care either way?

I mean with all that's going on in the world and in my life I really don't have time to worry about other people's choices or wiether or not LGBT stuff is in games or real life. Now the common confusion is "I don't care" Means "I have Hate". NO far from the truth, I just care enough to have respect for people and there personal lives, I wouldn't want someone on my case about choices I make.

Maybe I'm an oddball but I hope for a world where we don't need LGBT groups or even pro-Racial groups because everyone is living and loveing equally. But that world is far from excistance,

I feel this is relveant and sums up what I think.

 

[Kanlic]

...This is all coming from anecdotal evidence...

There's your problem.

How snarky of you. Let me ask you this though. What a person thinks or acts upon is based off his or her own experience with the world, right? We rely on what we learn from experience to make the best most accurate judgments on society and life, you'd be a fool not to. The truth of the matter is that whenever I read something on this matter, the basic message always seems to "you can't prove anything, so accept it." Which is a crock of lies, because their is plenty of behaviorist evidence supporting the contrary. I am just not satisfied with people saying everyone is the same so just deal with it. Differences do exist, and if we don't acknowledge them then we will never advance as a society.

Um, I'm a girl whose been with the same guy for five years. I'm happy in our sex life, and I want to have his children and spend the rest of my life with him. In short, I'm in love with him. But, that doesn't mean that I don't get really turned on by other girls sometimes, and I have fooled around with girls before. I can assure you I'm not "resisting the knowledge that I'm queer." And, let's be frank here, queer just means odd. I know I'm odd. I revel in my oddity. I'm also mostly straight. I don't think I could have a long term relationship with a woman, because that's not what I want out of life. But if I feel this way, I have NO DOUBT that there are true bisexuals out there. Just because you yourself have never considered yourself attracted to another member of your sex doesn't mean the rest of the world can't.

Well I gave an explanation earlier in this thread (look for it, it'll only take a second), so read that if you want a clearer understanding. The gist of it is women have a different biology than men, so them fooling around with other women is alright because the chemistry that makes them female ain't the same as males.

 

[DaMullet]

Personally, I think homosexuality is at least one of God's answers to over population.

A same sex couple, especially guys, want to have a family, the easiest route would be to adopt! Which is good for everyone since they're not adding to the global population, they are taking care and raising the children that are already here!

Heck, if there were numorus male-male couples looking to adopt, then abortion rates might even go down.

LGBT needs to be normalized so its no big deal.

 

[Felstaff]

How about the radical idea that video games should just feature human beings?

I think that's exactly what the LGBT community are pushing for? After all, LGBT people are human beings, yet are surprisingly absent from video games in general. Much like... women without gravity-defying chests, men whose arms aren't as big as my legs, anime characters that are anything but that creamy shade of white...

Anyway.

Heterosexuality is constantly mashed in our faces in video games in general. We get it, Mario; you are attracted to Daisy! (or Peach? ...Both?) I just wish Nintendo wouldn't keep harping on about it. I mean, I like straight people. Some of my best friends are straight people. I just wish they'd stop rubbing my face in it! You're straight, all right! I get it!! Stop kissing in front of me! I don't wanna see that!

I think there needs to be more Freedom of Relationships in role-playing games. Dragon Effect and Mass Age had the right idea, and that needs expanding upon. Final Fantasy series are known for their whiny emo teenage boy protagonists who end up choosing between their two female bestest best bff friends forever, which one to fall in love with. (I... I may just be thinking of Cloud Strife, here, but I'd wager that the mentality stretches across great swathes of JRPGs)

If there were more games where you have "Main_Character (who is, incidentally, gay)" rather than "Gay Main Character! He's Defined By His Gayness! He Will Charm You With His Spell of Lvl1 Flamboyancy Rainbow Ray", the overall perception of LGB's in the gaming community would be far more positive. (As I can't help but think that gay people have quite the, uh, negative image on the collective international consciousness. Can't for the life of me think why. I mean, it's only been, what, 2000(ish) years of oppression?)

 

[Sporky111]

Well I think the "core demographic", being the 13-25 year olds who rush out to get the latest Call of Duty game, tend to be the ones by which most gaming culture is judged. And on that note, you'd think that gamers are wholly intolerant by the constant stream of slurs thrown around in online shooter games.

Now, I think that aside from some folks in the industry way too focused on that demographic (Look at the thing about Blizzard and Cannibal Corpse recently) that the gaming community doesn't really view LGBT folks all that differently. There certainly isn't a surplus of gay characters out there. Everyone seems to cite RPGs for this type of discussion, but I'd only say that's partially true. Yes, the player has the option to have romance that is either hetero or gay, but it's not like the game is fully committed to it. Imagine if in Mass Effect, Shepard was exclusively gay. FemShep would only have her female options, and MaleShep would have nobody until ME3 came around.

I'd love to see a game with a gay main character. And I really don't think it would go over as negatively as some people imagine. Look at Japanese imports, for example; the male leads in their games are largely androgynous-looking, or outright feminine men. And not only that, but I frequently see them playing male characters together in a way that could hint at sexual tension, or simply something more significant than friendship. Look at Kingdom Hearts: either Riku or Kairi could very easily be interpreted as Sora's love interest, and they could quite easily be just his closest friends.

 

[Callate]

I don't generally have a problem with any portion of the LGBT community; I fully support the right of those who so identify to live fulfilling lives with the partners of their choosing, employed in any job to which they're qualified without discrimination, to adopt, to marry, and to have all legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals and to not be threatened by violence.

I'm somewhat concerned when games trivialize sexual elements. I don't feel games are particularly enriched by having characters who are, for example, bisexual just so players have a wider slate of romance options. I'm fine with a character being LGBT and simply not making a particularly big deal about it, but there is a subtle difference between a character making that choice and a character who simply had their sexuality stapled on at the eleventh hour as a game feature with no particular correspondence to existing plot or character. And I think it would be far more interesting to consider how a character who was LGBT had adapted to a culture that wasn't necessarily accepting; macho military cultures or pushed-to-the-edge survivalists who don't bat an eye at LGBT people warrant an explanation if they're not to be greeted with a degree of eye-rolling.

To be clear, I don't think most games trivialize sexuality only in how they present LGBT people; I think there's plenty of room to grow in how they present heterosexual relationships as well. I think it's to be hoped that the medium will continue to grow and expand in how it presents stories and characters.

 

[dex-dex]

It is bothersome that they use extreme stereotypes.
not every gay man is super flamboyant!
and other sections of the LGBT community have never seen a character who is like them. such as bisexuals or transgenders.
This go the same for film and television. right wing conservatives think that all gays, lesbians and bisexuals are recruiting kids to try the other side of the fence. which is bullshit
I mean kids are weird and scary!