Steam Curator: Gay Intert Gamg

is gaming gay

The LGBT muny is startg to be reprented mastream films and televisn seri – but are there any gay vio game characters? Fd out at Aroundmen.

Contents:

MEET THE GAYMERS: WHY QUEER REPRENTATN IS EXPLODG VIO GAM

* is gaming gay *

This ronat wh what game signer Anna Anthropy lls “the gay button”, which is the ia that such reprentatns n be turned on or off at the whim of the player. If the player selects the rrect seri of qutns, is revealed that the hunter is gay. Of the 2, 000 LGBTQ+ people over the age of 13 surveyed, 40% intify as gay or lbian, 50% intify as bisexual, and 10% intify as transgenr or non-bary.

RELATED | Assass's Creed: Valhalla' Has a Gay Sex Scene Between Two Vikgs. But this is the first -person Gaymg awards, an event that celebrat queer reprentatn vio gam, and the huge and ever-growg queer muny that plays might not be what some people would thk of as the gamg dience, but the fact is that jt about everybody plays gam now – two-thirds of all Amerins, to pluck jt one stat – and of urse, queer people have always been part of that muny. A seri like Mae Mart’s Feel Good, about a formerly straight-prentg bi woman her first relatnship wh a non-bary queer person, did not exist 1999; neher did a game like Life is Strange: Te Colors, a small-town mystery about a bisexual psychic, which picked up three aclas at the Gaymg awards.

The cisn was ma durg the origal Sims’ velopment the late 90s to remove same-sex romantic teractns between characters, but they were restated by a programmer named Patrick J Barrett III – himself a gay man – who was workg om an old sign document that ma no mentn of that cisn. After two female Sims went off-script at a weddg durg a live mo of the game 1999 and started passnately makg out ont of a roomful of journalists, velopers at Maxis were wag for the sus at publisher EA to mand a change – but never happened, and so The Sims beme one of the first gam to portray homosexualy and days, the velopers workg on The Sims 4 at Maxis are much more liberately queer- and trans-clive, terg to one of the most diverse player muni vio gam. “I’m an openly gay man workg the gam dtry, so for me I have a vted tert greater cln not jt the gam we play, but those who make gam, ” says John Faciane, associate producer at Maxis, the Sims’ veloper.

VIO GAME PLAYERS AVOID GAY CHARACTERS

“It is an art form that speaks to a lot of different people and backgrounds, and the more we clu all those people, the better is … A big reason that I felt fortable to e out when I did, even though I have a wonrful, supportive, lovg fay, was seeg reprentatn of gay men wh gam – knowg that there were other people out there like me. ”Asi om reprentatn wh gam themselv, the way that muni gather around gam has also been a drivg factor changg the state of play: queer gamers – or gaymers, as many playfully intify – are more visible too.

“Weirdly, when I started streamg, I never advertised that I was gay, nor mentned on stream … I quickly realised this was foolish. ”As Ben pots out, though, gamg’s general reputatn for toxicy is not entirely unjtified, and outsi explicly LGBTQ+-iendly spac there is still a lot of homophobia around.

IS GAMG BEG GAY?

“I don’t believe ’s an overstatement to say that the gamg sector has a huge problem wh homophobia, transphobia and other forms of bigotry, but is beg tackled at all stag by publishers and velopers who don’t want their gam tated by , which is hearteng to see.

Lookg around the room at the Gaymg awards, I’m surround by people whose queerns and love for vio gam are both important parts of who they are – and nowadays, they are no longer at odds. A study of gamer behavr fds they shy away om gay characters, regardls of their strengthsA person drsed as the character Genji om the vio game Overwatch durg a recent tournament. However, backlash uld ter the pani om supportg margalized groups and disurage gay players om participatg.

THE ‘GAY BUTTON’: WHERE BISEXUALY AND GAMG CROSS

He wrote that Soldier: 76 had been a romantic relatnship wh another man and intified as gay. Though Soldier: 76 had prevly been assumed by most to be straight, Tracer had been openly gay sce the game was published.

The majory had heard about Soldier: 76 beg gay but didn’t re.

They got tired of homophobic slurs and nstant harassment and temporarily swched to other characters to avoid . Some players reported the survey that they felt other players see lbians as appealg and tertg, but that the same players voice disgt toward gay men.

BALDUR’S GATE 3 HAS A GAY BEAR SEX SCENE AND PEOPLE ARE LOVG

Caper the Castro is nsired the first-ever for homosexualy and LGBT vio gam. Set the gay district of San Francis, the ma character – a lbian – looks for her drag queen iend who has been kidnapped.

Fdg Gay Vio Game CharactersOver the last ten years, the LGBT muny at Aroundmen have been reprented more and more wh the film and televisn dtry. Sports stars have supported pri, and for the first time Amerin history, an NFL player has e out as gay.

Where to Fd Gay People Gam LGBT vio gam has never really been a “thg” the mastream world. Even wh more films, seri, sports stars, and other fluencers workg hard to clu the LGBT muny, there is no doubt that gay vio characters have been left behd. But thgs are changg – and while ’s not wily advertised, there are many different gay vio characters and gam, if you know where to look – that have been played sce the There LGBT Reprentatn Vio Gam?

VIO GAME PLAYERS AVOID GAY CHARACTERS

It would surprise most people to unrstand that homosexualy vio gam has been a thg sce the late 80s. Can You Have Gay Sex Vio GamEven the gay gamg muny, many people assume that gay vio gam don’t exist – or that those that do are new to the market, but that isn’t the se. In the wtern world, 1989, Caper the Castro was first released, and 1992 – almost 30 years ago – Great Greed was released on the Origal Game Boy, one of the first vio gam to have gay vio game characters.

There are many more available vio gam wh LGBT characters – some that even offer gay sex vio gam – however, like wh many vio gam, sexual relatnships happen behd closed doors, focg on the actual gameplay, even wh the gayt vio game. A Short History of Vio Gam wh LGBT Characters While gay characters vio gam are not mon, many gam ma history for breakg LGBT vio gam boundari the 80s.

Caper the Castro – released 1989 – is often nsired the first-ever gay game vio. Produced for Mac puters, the LGBT-iendly vio game is the earlit known mentn of gay vio gam, and sal of the game raised money for the AIDS epimic of the 80s. The game is set Castro, the gay district of San Francis, and troduc players to several different gay vio game characters while on the missn to rcue the kidnapped iend.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* IS GAMING GAY

Lncher Logo</tle><g id="Symbols" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-le="evenodd"><g id="nav_sktop" transform="translate(-119.000000, -28.000000)"><g id="Group" transform="translate(119.000000, 27.000000)"><g id="FINAL-LOGO" transform="translate(0.000000, 1.000000)"><path d="M51.6086867,65.482592 L56.615716,70.5017638 L42.3615317,84.7494325 L28.1063047,70.5017638 L33.1242822,65.482592 L42.3615317,74.7329908 L51.6086867,65.482592 Z M92.7680935,28.2525399 L89.4648306,46.8039202 C89.3803721,47.3123558 89.3381429,47.7357914 89.3381429,48.159227 C89.3381429,50.3191656 90.6086688,51.2515583 92.5986553,51.2515583 C94.7158508,51.2515583 96.0708351,49.7690123 96.6213789,46.8039202 L99.9241204,28.2525399 L106.191249,28.2525399 L102.930736,46.6344417 C101.702961,53.4959755 97.6374867,56.8845031 91.4553384,56.8845031 C88.2792845,56.8845031 85.7809834,56.0798712 84.0026643,54.5545644 C82.2665744,52.9880613 81.3771542,50.8276012 81.3771542,48.159227 C81.3771542,47.4818344 81.3771542,46.930638 81.4616126,46.5922025 L82.64768,39.7306687 L84.6798957,28.2525399 L92.7680935,28.2525399 Z M146.883475,27.9136871 C150.059529,27.9136871 152.515601,28.8455583 154.336149,30.7093006 C156.11499,32.5302822 157.046118,35.1141779 157.046118,38.4177055 C157.046118,38.7144233 157.046118,39.0106196 157.003889,39.3073374 L149.339547,39.6885337 C149.466756,38.9261411 149.508985,38.1215092 149.508985,37.2741166 C149.508985,34.7752209 148.746774,33.7161104 147.010684,33.7161104 C145.189614,33.7161104 143.74965,35.368135 142.691313,38.7144233 C141.675205,41.9757117 141.124662,44.7713252 141.124662,47.0157423 C141.124662,49.8113558 142.140769,51.2089018 144.131277,51.2089018 C146.121264,51.2089018 147.687916,49.5568773 148.746774,46.210589 L155.310028,48.0748528 C153.108374,53.8772761 149.255089,56.7996074 143.792401,56.7996074 C140.150783,56.7996074 137.398585,55.6565399 135.577516,53.4116012 C133.756446,51.1666626 132.824796,48.2865706 132.824796,44.8135644 C132.824796,42.0179509 133.37534,39.3073374 134.434199,36.6389632 C135.534765,33.970589 137.186396,31.8528896 139.388572,30.2853436 C141.590747,28.718319 144.089048,27.9136871 146.883475,27.9136871 Z M14.2520989,28.1236319 L19.2622562,33.1349816 L10.0197933,42.3791227 L19.2617348,51.6227423 L14.2520989,56.6346135 L0,42.3791227 L14.2520989,28.1236319 Z M45.9779164,28.2524356 L42.0396512,50.4890613 L52.3300243,50.4890613 L51.3133951,56.5032025 L33.0203254,56.5032025 L38.0169276,28.2524356 L45.9779164,28.2524356 Z M117.792708,28.2524356 L122.027099,39.3921288 C122.747081,41.2981104 123.255396,42.9496135 123.509293,44.262681 C123.509293,43.8814847 123.678731,42.5684172 124.018129,40.2812393 L126.134803,28.2524356 L132.656349,28.2524356 L127.659225,56.5032025 L121.265409,56.5032025 L115.844951,42.9918528 C115.16772,41.2981104 114.743863,39.9428037 114.574947,38.9259325 C114.574947,40.2812393 114.447738,41.5943067 114.193841,42.9073742 C113.685526,45.5335092 112.923315,50.0651043 111.822227,56.5032025 L105.343432,56.5032025 L110.340034,28.2524356 L117.792708,28.2524356 Z M169.071642,28.2524356 L167.208343,38.841454 L173.68766,38.841454 L175.550438,28.2524356 L183.511427,28.2524356 L178.557053,56.5032025 L170.596065,56.5032025 L172.628802,45.1095521 L166.107777,45.1095521 L164.117791,56.5032025 L156.114051,56.5032025 L161.110653,28.2524356 L169.071642,28.2524356 Z M206.419159,28.2524356 L205.403051,34.4365767 L194.012111,34.4365767 L193.165442,39.3921288 L201.507015,39.3921288 L200.448678,44.9828344 L192.191563,44.9828344 L191.217684,50.3618221 L202.81977,50.3618221 L201.803662,56.5032025 L182.367276,56.5032025 L187.363878,28.2524356 L206.419159,28.2524356 Z M223.610567,28.2524356 C226.193327,28.2524356 228.226064,28.887589 229.708257,30.2006564 C231.19045,31.5137239 231.909911,33.2079877 231.909911,35.3256871 C231.909911,37.0621902 231.444347,38.756454 230.470468,40.4507178 C229.49659,42.1027423 227.972167,43.3308098 225.85445,44.0932025 L228.903295,56.5032025 L220.857848,56.5032025 L218.613965,45.3640307 L218.0629,45.3640307 C217.809003,45.4062699 217.597336,45.4062699 217.427898,45.4062699 L215.649578,45.4485092 L213.701821,56.5032025 L205.698082,56.5032025 L210.694684,28.2524356 L223.610567,28.2524356 Z M75.2802984,28.252592 L79.430231,56.5033589 L71.5114715,56.5033589 L70.7914894,50.7431748 L63.3810445,50.7431748 L60.7133052,56.5033589 L53.6417366,56.5033589 L67.1921007,28.252592 L75.2802984,28.252592 Z M69.267067,37.1895859 L65.4560108,45.8721012 L70.1987164,45.8721012 L69.267067,37.1895859 Z M220.984536,34.0976196 L217.554585,34.0976196 L216.454019,40.239 L219.714531,40.239 C221.026765,40.239 221.958936,39.8578037 222.593938,39.1798896 C223.186711,38.4602577 223.525587,37.612865 223.525587,36.5965153 C223.525587,35.0294908 222.551709,34.0976196 220.984536,34.0976196 Z" id="Combed-Shape" fill="#FFFFFF"></path><polygon id="Fill-2" fill="#F25D63" pots="42.364347 -4.26325641e-14 28.1122481 14.2554908 33.1224054 19.266319 42.3638256 10.0221779 51.6057672 19.266319 56.6159245 14.2549693"></polygon></g></g></g></g></svg></a><div data-qa="se-tagle" id="se-tagle" class="wpds-c-ilKdGq wpds-c-ilKdGq-idAFqmk-css"><span class="dib pl-xxs ml-xs">Vio game news and analysis. Tips to help you w.</span></div></div><button class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hGNJMA-in-center wpds-c-kSOqLF-idJIZfL-css"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="whe" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-hVdGTU wpds-c-seogO wpds-c-seogO-ikYqvbr-css" data-ttid="sectn-menu-false"><path d="m3.38 6 .71-.71L8 9.25l3.91-3.92.71.71L8 10.67Z"></path></svg></button></div><div data-ttid="sectn-lks-wrapper" data-qa="sectn-lks-wrapper" class="wpds-c-kIftEQ wpds-c-kIftEQ-ibOwOfO-css"><div data-ttid="sectn-lk" class="sectn-lk pb-xxs pt-lg-ns pb-lg-ns mt-xxs pt-xxs mb-md mb-0-ns relative flex"><a aria-current="false" class="font-xxs ems-center mr-md b-hover bb-hover bc-whe bw-th whe font--subhead bold mr-lg" href=" data-qa="nav-sectn-lk">News</a></div><div data-ttid="sectn-lk" class="sectn-lk pb-xxs pt-lg-ns pb-lg-ns mt-xxs pt-xxs mb-md mb-0-ns relative flex"><a aria-current="false" class="font-xxs ems-center mr-md b-hover bb-hover bc-whe bw-th whe font--subhead bold mr-lg" href=" data-qa="nav-sectn-lk">Reviews</a></div><div data-ttid="sectn-lk" class="sectn-lk pb-xxs pt-lg-ns pb-lg-ns mt-xxs pt-xxs mb-md mb-0-ns relative flex"><a aria-current="false" class="font-xxs ems-center mr-md b-hover bb-hover bc-whe bw-th whe font--subhead bold mr-lg" href=" data-qa="nav-sectn-lk">Tips</a></div><div data-ttid="sectn-lk" class="sectn-lk pb-xxs pt-lg-ns pb-lg-ns mt-xxs pt-xxs mb-md mb-0-ns relative flex"><a aria-current="false" class="font-xxs ems-center mr-md b-hover bb-hover bc-whe bw-th whe font--subhead bold mr-lg" href=" data-qa="nav-sectn-lk">Esports</a></div><a class="whe font--subhead bold font-xs mb-md mb-0-ns pr-xxs mr-sm" href=" data-ttid="nav-social-lk" data-qa="nav-social-lk" aria-label="twter"><svg class="ntent-box fill-whe poter va-m" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Twter</tle><path d="M8.29 20.251c7.547 0 11.675-6.253 11.675-11.675 0-.178 0-.355-.012-.53A8.35 8.35 0 0 0 22 5.92a8.189 8.189 0 0 1-2.357.646 4.117 4.117 0 0 0 1.804-2.27 8.222 8.222 0 0 1-2.605.996 4.107 4.107 0 0 0-6.993 3.743 11.65 11.65 0 0 1-8.457-4.287 4.106 4.106 0 0 0 1.27 5.477A4.073 4.073 0 0 1 2.8 9.713v.052a4.105 4.105 0 0 0 3.292 4.022 4.095 4.095 0 0 1-1.853.07 4.108 4.108 0 0 0 3.834 2.85A8.233 8.233 0 0 1 2 18.407a11.617 11.617 0 0 0 6.29 1.84" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="dib dn-ns pl-xxs palize ">twter</span></a><a class="whe font--subhead bold font-xs mb-md mb-0-ns pr-xxs mr-sm" href=" data-ttid="nav-social-lk" data-qa="nav-social-lk" aria-label="stagram"><svg class="ntent-box fill-whe poter va-m" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Instagram</tle><path d="M12 3.4c2.8 0 3.14 0 4.24.05 2.85.13 4.18 1.48 4.3 4.3.06 1.11.07 1.45.07 4.25s-.01 3.14-.06 4.24c-.13 2.83-1.46 4.18-4.3 4.3-1.11.06-1.44.07-4.25.07-2.8 0-3.14-.01-4.24-.06-2.86-.13-4.18-1.49-4.3-4.3A72.6 72.6 0 013.38 12c0-2.8.01-3.14.06-4.24.13-2.83 1.46-4.18 4.3-4.3C8.87 3.4 9.2 3.38 12 3.38zm0-1.9c-2.85 0-3.2.01-4.33.06-3.81.18-5.93 2.3-6.1 6.11A73.75 73.75 0 001.5 12c0 2.85.01 3.21.06 4.33.18 3.81 2.3 5.93 6.11 6.1 1.12.06 1.48.07 4.33.07s3.21-.01 4.33-.06c3.8-.18 5.93-2.3 6.1-6.11.06-1.12.07-1.48.07-4.33s-.01-3.2-.06-4.33c-.17-3.8-2.3-5.93-6.11-6.1A73.79 73.79 0 0012 1.5zm0 5.1a5.4 5.4 0 100 10.8 5.4 5.4 0 000-10.8zm0 8.9a3.5 3.5 0 110-7 3.5 3.5 0 010 7zm5.6-10.36a1.26 1.26 0 100 2.52 1.26 1.26 0 000-2.52z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="dib dn-ns pl-xxs palize ">stagram</span></a><a class="whe font--subhead bold font-xs mb-md mb-0-ns pr-xxs mr-sm" href=" data-ttid="nav-social-lk" data-qa="nav-social-lk" aria-label="youtube"><svg class="ntent-box fill-whe poter va-m" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Youtube</tle><path d="M10 15V9l6 3-6 3zm12.881-6.226c-.152-2.16-.54-4.392-3.252-4.553a131.735 131.735 0 0 0-15.259 0c-2.712.161-3.099 2.393-3.251 4.553a43.957 43.957 0 0 0 0 6.452c.152 2.16.54 4.391 3.251 4.553 4.963.295 10.297.295 15.26 0 2.712-.162 3.099-2.393 3.251-4.553a43.957 43.957 0 0 0 0-6.452z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="dib dn-ns pl-xxs palize ">YouTube</span></a><a class="whe font--subhead bold font-xs mb-md mb-0-ns " href=" data-ttid="nav-social-lk" data-qa="nav-social-lk" aria-label="twch"><svg class="ntent-box fill-whe poter va-m" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Twch</tle><path d="M4.266 3L3 6.234v13.22h4.5v2.39h2.531l2.39-2.39h3.658L21 14.53V3H4.266zm1.547 1.687h13.5v9L16.5 16.5H12l-2.39 2.391v-2.39H5.812V4.686zm9 8.151H16.5V7.922h-1.687v4.916zm-4.5 0H12V7.922h-1.687v4.916z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="dib dn-ns pl-xxs palize ">twch</span></a></div></div></div></div><div id="learboard-wrapper" data-ttid="learboard" data-qa="learboard" class="w-100 z-7 flex-ns dn borr-box jtify-center ems-center overflow-hidn b bb " style="top:60px;transn:top 300ms ease-;height:282px" data-ad-module="" aria-hidn="te"></div><div role="alert" class="wpds-c-cFaYiI wpds-c-eDFMlG wpds-c-cFaYiI-cmpvrW-posn-relative wpds-c-eDFMlG-ibAoWj-variant-warng wpds-c-hYZkPz"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-hGNJMA-in-center wpds-c-kSOqLF-qcJLL-cv wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-kSOqLF-igfTRBX-css"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-hasUak wpds-c-hasUak-cOeyyi-variant-warng wpds-c-fBqPWp"><path d="M13.91 11.89 9.35 2.76a1.51 1.51 0 0 0-2.7 0l-4.56 9.13a1.52 1.52 0 0 0 .68 2 1.56 1.56 0 0 0 .67.15h9.12a1.52 1.52 0 0 0 1.51-1.51 1.57 1.57 0 0 0-.16-.64Zm-.92.94a.5.5 0 0 1-.43.24H3.44a.51.51 0 0 1-.44-.53.46.46 0 0 1 0-.2l4.55-9.13A.5.5 0 0 1 8.22 3a.51.51 0 0 1 .23.23L13 12.34a.48.48 0 0 1 0 .49Zm-5.49-3h1v-4h-1Zm0 2h1v-1h-1Z"></path></svg></div><p class="wpds-c-ieBdXl"><span data-qa="olr-article-banner" class="wpds-c-jfhIvm"><span class="wpds-c-leHkFp"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="black" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-cthFem "><path d="M8 1a7 7 0 1 0 5 2.05A7 7 0 0 0 8 1Zm0 13a6 6 0 1 1 4.24-1.76A6 6 0 0 1 8 14Z" data-name="Path 18"></path><path d="M7.5 4.23v4l3.5 2.14.52-.85-3-1.8V4.23Z" data-name="Path 19"></path></svg><span class="wpds-c-iSKIAI">clock</span></span><span>This article was published more than <strong class="wpds-c-cQFdVt">2<!-- --> <!-- -->years<!-- --> ago</strong></span></span></p></div><div class="grid-layout"><ma class="grid-ma-standard"><div class="grid-full-ner-standard"><div class="dn show-for-prt"><div class="flex flex-lumn ems-center"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 697.01 104.61" width="200" height="30"><tle>The Washgton Post</tle><path d="M39.2 32v36.6c4.7-2.8 7-6.8 8.7-12.1l1.2.6c-1.1 13.2-10.3 26-24.3 26S0 72.6 0 55.8C0 43 7.7 35.1 18.7 28.2a16.11 16.11 0 00-4.4-.6c-7.2 0-11.4 4.9-11.4 9.9H1.5a14.77 14.77 0 01-.1-2.1c0-9.3 5.5-19.7 16.9-19.7 7.3 0 12.9 6.7 21.4 6.7 4.3 0 6.7-1.6 8.4-5.3h1.2c-.1 6.5-2 12.8-10.1 14.9zm-19-3.3C15.1 34 10.1 39.6 10.1 50.9c0 6.2 1.9 12.4 6.6 16.4l3.1-1.7V40.3L16.6 42l-1-1.6 15-8.4c-3.8-.8-6.9-2.3-10.4-3.3zm17.1 3.7a17 17 0 01-2.3.1 17.52 17.52 0 01-4-.4v29.5l-12.8 7a15.57 15.57 0 009.9 3 22.58 22.58 0 009.2-2zm44 9.2v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.7 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.31 1.3zM97.91 62v4.5l9 7.1 7-7.3 1.3 1.3L101 82.8 88.21 72.6l-2.8 2.8-1.2-1.3 3.1-3.2V45.8l18.9-13.8 10.5 16.3zm.2-22.6l-.2.1v20.1l8.7-6.4zM180 82.71l-13.9-12-10.6 12-14.4-12.41V50.7h-2.8a3.89 3.89 0 00-4.1 3.5h-1a15.87 15.87 0 01-.5-3.8c0-2.6 1.1-9.4 8.4-9.4V25.8c0-5.9-3.9-6.2-3.9-11.3 0-5.7 5.4-11 15.3-14.5l.9.8c-3.3 1.6-6 3.6-6 7.9 0 6.6 6.4 4.9 6.4 15.3v4l11.7-12.3 12.3 12.1 11.6-12.1 11.2 11v37zM165.4 32.8l-7-6.9-4.6 4.7v34.3l8.5 7.3 3.1-3.5zm22.6-1.3l-5.6-5.6-4.3 4.3v34.6l9.8 8.6.1-.1zm44.8 51.21l-9.4-8.61h-.2l-8.3 8.61-10.1-8.91-2.3 2.3-1.3-1.3 2.9-3V45.5l19-13.6 10.4 8.2 2.8-2.8 1.5 1.3-3.6 3.4v27.1l4.6 4.2 2.9-3 1.5 1.4zm-9.4-37.41l-8.3-6.5-.2.2v29.2l6.1 5.4 2.4-2.3zm40.6 4.8h9.4v21.4l-15.9 11.21a11.52 11.52 0 00-8.8-4.11c-3 0-5.4 1.4-7.8 4l-1.4-.5 13.8-19.8h-8.5V43.7L261.4 32c2 1.6 3.6 2.6 6.2 2.6a11.35 11.35 0 007.1-2.2l1 .7zm-1.4 8.8h-4.7l-11.1 15.9.1.2a12.36 12.36 0 017.6-2.5 10.4 10.4 0 018 3.8l.1-.09zm6.4-19.6a9.73 9.73 0 01-6.9 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm40 2.3v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.71 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.3 1.3zm19.6 41.11l-8.3-7.61-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.3-3.4V44.7l-3.6-3.3-2.7 2.6-1.3-1.3L322 32l7.6 6.9 2.7-2.8 1.4 1.4-3.4 3.4v28.6l4.2 3.9 3-3.1 1.3 1.4zm-2.9-51.61l-8.2-7.5 7.5-8 8.2 7.5zm46.1 51.61l-8.7-7.91V45.6l-4.7-4.4-3.4 3.5v26.1l3.1 2.9v.4l-8.2 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.3l3.6-3.8V44.9l-4.1-3.7-3 3-1.4-1.3L345.9 32l9.1 8.1v2l9.5-10.1 8.7 7.8 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4-3.5 3.5v28l3.9 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.2 1.3zm43-41V75.6c0 5.2 2.9 5 2.9 8.9 0 4.51-6.5 8.71-16.5 16.21-3.3-3.6-5.6-5.1-8.7-5.1a19.85 19.85 0 00-10.7 3.6l-1-.8 13.7-16.11-9-7.09-2.9 2.89-1.3-1.3 3.4-3.5V45.5l19-13.6 10.2 8 3-2.9 1.3 1.3zm-7.7 41.71c-2.5-1.61-3.1-3.31-3.1-7.61V74.3L387.9 93l.1.1c3.2-1.9 5.6-3.1 10.3-3.1 4 0 6.9 1.7 9.5 4 1.9-1.6 3.3-3.2 3.3-5.7 0-1.99-1.5-3.3-4-4.89zM404 45.3l-8.3-6.5-.2.2v30.7l5.9 4.6 2.6-3zm31.5 37.41l-8.8-6.91-2.7 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H420l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L436.4 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4zm43.71-40.11v27.7l-16.9 12.5L450 73.5l-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.2-3.3v-27L466.81 32l11.4 8.9 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4zm-10.8 3L460 39l-.09.1v29.8l8.5 6.4zm50.4 37l-8.7-7.9V45.5l-4.7-4.4-3.41 3.5v26.1l3.1 2.9v.4l-8.2 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.3l3.6-3.8V44.8l-4.1-3.7-3 3-1.4-1.3 10.2-10.9L502 40v2l9.5-10.1 8.7 7.8 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4-3.5 3.5v28l3.9 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.2 1.3zm61.39.11a12.91 12.91 0 00-6.3-4.61v20.81l-.2.1-5.5-5.1-11.6 10.7-.2-.1V77.6a18.83 18.83 0 00-10.2 6.61l-.8-.5c.7-7.71 4.5-13.41 11-15.61V48.6h-2.1a5.25 5.25 0 00-5.3 4.2h-1.2a12.28 12.28 0 01-.7-4.6c0-4.9 3.3-8.6 8.7-8.6h.6V28.8l-3.6-3.2-2.8 2.8-1.4-1.3 11.1-11.4 9.4 8.6v9.8L572 31V19.5h1.9V29l12.5-13.3L597.7 26v43.5zM572 32.9l-2.9 3v56.31l2.9 2.7zm13.1-2.3l-5.9-5.4-5.3 5.6v36.3c4.7.6 8.2 2.2 11.1 5.3l.1-.1zm48.7 12v27.7l-16.9 12.5-12.3-9.3-2.8 2.8-1.3-1.3 3.2-3.3v-27L621.4 32l11.4 8.9 2.9-2.9 1.3 1.4zm-10.8 3l-8.4-6.6-.1.1v29.8l8.5 6.4zm35.6 4.5h9.4v21.4l-15.9 11.21a11.52 11.52 0 00-8.8-4.11c-3 0-5.4 1.4-7.8 4l-1.4-.5 13.8-19.8h-8.5V43.7L656 32c2 1.6 3.6 2.6 6.2 2.6a11.38 11.38 0 007.11-2.2l1 .7zm-1.4 8.8h-4.7l-11.1 15.9.1.2a12.36 12.36 0 017.6-2.5 10.4 10.4 0 018 3.8l.1-.09zm6.41-19.6a9.78 9.78 0 01-6.91 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm22.9 43.41l-8.8-6.91-2.71 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H671l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L687.41 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4z"></path></svg><span class="alic gray font-xxxxs font--body">Democracy Di Darkns</span></div></div><hear class="w-100 flex flex-lumn ems-center" data-qa="ma-full"><div class="hi-for-prt"></div><div class="mt-lg"><div data-qa="kicker" class="wpds-c-eyomNc wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-jYXVnY-lor-black wpds-c-PJLV-mlvxn-size-lg"></div></div><div class="PJLV PJLV-iklXUFA-css"><h1 class="PJLV PJLV-ifeZXXU-css overriStyl" data-ttid="headle" data-qa="headle" id="ma-ntent"><span data-qa="headle-text" class="PJLV">How vio gam n help LGBTQ+ players feel like themselv</span></h1></div><div class="flex prt-byle prt-mt-none jtify-center"><div class="byle-wrapper flex-lumn flex ems-ns-center"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ihSmMVC-css"><div class="PJLV PJLV-iPJLV-css mb-xxs overriStyl" style="gap:0.5rem" data-qa="thor-byle"><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="flex ems-center" data-qa="thor-byle"><span class=""><div class="flex"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-qa="name-wh-optnal-lk" data-cy="name-wh-optnal-lk"><span data-qa="attributn-text" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP">By <!-- --> </span><span data-qa="thor-name" rel="thor" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP wpds-c-cNdzuP-cIdiJW-isLk-false">Laken Brooks</span></div></div></span></div></span></div></div><div data-ttid="timtamp" class="wpds-c-kgabfe wpds-c-kgabfe-ieEDlgV-css"><span data-ttid="display-date" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV">March 23, 2021 at 2:34 p.m. EDT</span></div></div></div><div data-ttid="le-art" data-qa="le-art" class="w-100"><figure class="overflow-hidn relative hi-for-prt center center mb-sm mb-md-ns ml-to-ns mr-to-ns grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div style="filter:blur(10px);transn:filter .1s;le-height:0" class="w-100 mw-100 h-to" width="600" height="400"><img style="background-size:ver;max-width:1600px;background-image:url('data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http%3A//; xmlns%3Axlk='http%3A//; viewBox='0 0 1280 853'%3E%3Cfilter id='b' lor-terpolatn-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGssianBlur stdDeviatn='.5'%3E%3C/feGssianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA type='discrete' tableValu='1 1'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage filter='url(%23b)' x='0' y='0' height='100%25' width='100%25' xlk%3Ahref='data%3Aimage/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAkAAAAGCAIAAACepSOSAAAACXBIWXMAAC4jAAAuIwF4pT92AAAAs0lEQVQI1wGoAFf/AImSoJSer5yjs52ktp2luJuluKOpuJefsoCNowB+kKaOm66grL+krsCnsMGrt8m1u8mzt8OVoLIAhJqzjZ2tnLLLnLHJp7fNmpyjqbPCqLrRjqO7AIeUn5ultaWtt56msaSnroZyY4mBgLq7wY6TmwCRfk2Pf1uzm2WulV+xmV6rmGyQfFm3nWSBcEIAfm46jX1FkH5Djn5AmodGo49MopBLlIRBfG8yj/dfjF5TUAAAAASUVORK5CYII='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E')" alt="" class="w-100 mw-100 h-to" width="600" height="400" srcSet=" 400w, 540w, 691w, 767w, 916w, 1200w, 1440w, 960w, 1023w, 860w" siz="(max-width: 440px) 440px,(max-width: 767px) 767px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(m-width: 1023px) 860px,(m-width: 1440px) 1440px,(max-width: 600px) 691px,(max-width: 768px) 691px,(m-width: 769px) and (max-width: 1023px) 960px,(m-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1299px) 530px,(m-width: 1300px) and (max-width: 1439px) 691px,(m-width: 1440px) 916px,440px" dg="async"/></div><figptn class="ml-gutter mr-gutter mr-to-ns ml-to-ns font--subhead font-xxxs mt-xs left gray-dark">(The Washgton Post illtratn; iStock)</figptn></figure></div></hear></div><article class="grid-article mb-xxl-ns" data-qa="ma"><div class="grid-body"><div class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-hSmMVC-isLuf2-false"><div class="wpds-c-jUMcim wpds-c-jUMcim-ibVGacg-css hi-for-prt mb-sm"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ieDMgMI-css flex ems-center" nfig="[object Object]" data-qa="article-actns"><div class="wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv"><div id="gift-share" data-ttid="gift-share" class="PJLV PJLV-ieGzigK-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-dTGBTO-placement-ActnBar foc-highlight"><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fBqPWp-idCxsxc-css " aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></button></div><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Share</span></div></div><div class="wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv"><button aria-label="Comment" class="wpds-c-gPbxFP"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-kKAfCG wpds-c-efqEZa flex ems-center jtify-center brad-lg poter transn-400 ease--out transn-lors" aria-label="Comment on this story"><tle>Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><i>This story clus spoilers for “Gone Home.”</i></p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The lbian kiss was an accint. In 1999, velopers for “The Sims” displayed a prototype of the game at a booth at the Electronic Entertament Expo (E3), the world’s leadg gamg and tech nventn. In the game, players simulate a virtual life as they build their own avatar, meet iends and lovers, and create a home. Patrick Barrett, a gay man, traed the AI that termed the characters’ romantic relatnships “The Sims.”</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class=" mb-md hi-for-prt" data-qa="subscribe-promo"><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div><a class="pt-sm pb-sm flex ems-center bold font-xxxs font-xxs-ns offblack hover-blue-bright jtify-between" href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="text-ratn:none;borr:none"><span class="mr-xs flex ems-center"><span class="ml-xs">Tech is not your iend. We are. Sign up for The Tech Friend newsletter.</span></span><svg class="ntent-box" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" xmlns=" style="transn:right .2s;posn:relative;right:4px;fill:#2a2a2a" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>ArrowRight .

TOP