Gay video game characters – If they’re in the closet, how do we know?

We’ve had a few “interesting” emails this week at Lesbian Gamers. One stood out and got LG HQ thinking about characters and closets. If you’ve been with us awhile you’ll know every now and again we’ll question a games characters sexuality, or allude that perhaps a character may be gay. Apparently we shouldn’t, we are bad bad people for even suggesting such awful things.

This got us to thinking, not only about how closed minded some people are – and why they’re reading content they clearly find offensive on a site blatantly called LESBIAN Gamers – but also about the question of “questioning” this aspect itself. Our logic would dictate that if a characters sexuality is not bluntly covered in game in some manner then we should be able to question that aspect of a character, just as we might question any other aspect of a character’s history or being if they interest us enough (be it in a tongue in cheek way, a wonderment way or a serious way).

This led to us wondering about the question of the closeted games character. If a character is in the closet, how are we even meant to know anyway. And why the hate if we wish to question that? We feel we should be able to question the sexuality of any character given they are not real and it isn’t damaging anyone, their career or anything else that may be taken into consideration in ‘real life’ situations. It’s all a bit of fun really. What do you guys think about this subject?

3 Responses to “Gay video game characters – If they’re in the closet, how do we know?”

1. LeftofSender says:

   December 3, 2008 at 7:23 am

   Homophobes don’t like it when you suggest anyone might have gay leanings. I feel sorry for anyone that extends that homophobia to virtual beings.
   I like it when you ponder those things about characters here because it gives characters a bit more depth than discussing breast size or how energetic they’d be in bed {yes those conversations do actually go on at some sites O-o}
   For closeted characters, just like in the real world theres bound to be loads. Lara Croft is a total closet case ;P Oh no I’ve upset someone now haven’t I heh.
2. Thefremen says:

   December 3, 2008 at 8:17 am

   I think it can be damaging/offensive when used in this context: http://www.timothyplan.com/Download/VideoGame-Graphic.pdf
   an investment group is rating games based on “offensive content” and that includes Gay/Lesbian characters/relationships. They actually speculate that the dudes in Army of Two are totally gay for each other. I guess it’s hard to tell because the Army of Two has a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy.
   I think what you gals do here is perfectly innocent and a lot of fun. Everyone has a different perspective about what happens during cut scenes or dialogue events, and many have different ideas about what those events mean to the characters and the larger world. Different perspectives are welcome in the debate, as far as I’m concerned.
3. Rhalo Escobar says:

   December 3, 2008 at 9:13 am

   The reason homosexuality is underrepresented in games is financial. Heterosexual gamers (which are the large majority) would most likely find it hard to sympathize with a homosexual hero. Relating to this, “outing” game characters could potentially hurt sales as the gaming community is too immature to “accept” them and the homosexual market is too small to compensate for those losses.
   Cold logic aside, I personally would not care and would like to see a homosexual hero in a game, as long as it was relevant to the narrative and not just tacked on.