I have been away from home (and civilization) for days so I have not been able to adequately respond to all the attention this topic has been receiving. Frankly, I didn't think such a broad "talk about anything" kind of thread was an interesting platform for a discussion until it became an apparent hot button with some of the trollier members. Anyway, this is obviously something we need to talk about more often so let's take another shot at this free speech thing we all selectively love so much.

As I recall, some members don't directly associate their sexual orientations (or lack thereof) with their gaming hobbies. That is perfectly reasonable. Personally, I don't mind playing as a straight character or a character of any sexual orientation, for that matter. With that said, I feel there is a bona fide need for minority representation. (Preëmptively; that is not to be read as "shoehorned in.") So is it important to you? Do you mind playing as or with straight characters? Do you mind playing as or with LGBT(TQQ2SUCIPOSGLMSMA) characters?

One of the more interesting things (to me, anyway) to come out of the previous discussion was the beginnings of a list (which I have attempted to recreate in addition to a few other titles I am aware of.) When I began making the following list, I was sure it would be quite short. To my surprise, the people of Wikipedia had already compiled a fairly lengthy list so I will yoink that one:

Wikipedia's entry on LGBT characters in video games


And I only have these games (and a HL2 mod) involving LGBT characters and themes not mentioned on Wikipedia:

Half Life 2: Episode 2: Handle With Care (Mod)
Mini Gay Boyfriend
Robot Unicorn Attack
Stonewall Brawl

Discuss!

Please, not with this again. :)

/care if you're straight or gay... or if the character I'm playing is straight or gay. As long as he/she fits the story, and is greatly developed, I won't mind him/her (which I can say for both straight or gay characters).

To a degree I understand and agree with this... but the problem is "it doesn't matter if a character is straight or gay" ends up with every character being straight. It's an issue with minorities in gaming in general. If a character doesn't have a "reason" to be black, female, gay, etc. then they're a Straight White Male by default and while there's nothing wrong with straight white guys in games, it's a shame that they're considered "normal" and everything else is a deviation from the template, rather than all character types being given equal weight and respect.

It doesn't just apply to gaming, by the way. It's just worse in gaming than in most other media because game writing is worse than writing in most other media in general.

What the hell has a game about unicorns smashing stars got to do with being LGBT?

Oh boy! Here we go again!

:P

Persona 4 had 1 gay male and one female that I'm not sure if she felt like a male in a woman's body or was just lesbian, or if it was something else entirely. Extra Credits did a segment on it a month or two ago.

The rainbows in the game are the same colours as the pride flag. Also the music is by Erasure. I felt it was a significant addition to the list because it is not sexual although it is iconic of the LGBT community.

Please, eliminate this thread.

Thanks orcish, I did manage to save your link from the previous thread and it was on my list until I noticed it on Wikipedia's list. The video was good so I'll post that:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2520-Sexual-Diversity

I wasn't aware there was more than one set of colour for rainbows...

Have you ever seen footage of Erasure playing live? I've never seen so many pink tutus and fairy outfits (meaning literal fairy costumes, not the old slang term). They were well known for their crazy live shows back in the day and it may have put some pride parades to shame with their sheer flamboyancy.

+1

The spectral rainbow as a variable number of colours actually.
ideally it has all the nuances but no separate colours.

I'm reminded of the amazing story of Kraven's Last Hunt, from the Spider-Man comic.

The relationship between one character and another can be a powerful thing to draw on and show depth to a character.