The Power of Representation

As adults you will know, the world has not been a welcoming place to the LGBTQIA+ community. To this day, people spend large parts of their lives denying themselves the freedom of being who they want to be, hiding from the judgement of others. Online gaming platforms, while no substitute for the comfort of self expression in the real world, do hold many benefits for queer folks.

A sense of community and belonging is crucial for living a happy healthy life. No matter your background, finding the people who understand you and your way of living can feel like a light in the dark. Creating spaces where queer individuals can connect with others who share similar experiences and identities is no exception. Games offer a lot of space to be playful and expressive. By their creative nature they are now often adaptable to each player's own choice of journey whether that's where they explore, how they look, or even who their partner will be. Games that allow players to craft their own identities provide the first and arguably most important step in representation. Adaptable playable characters can reflect sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and much more. With this option available, queer representation automatically improves in online gaming—and the power belongs to the players.

Another benefit of online gaming is naturally the communities that can be found or formed online. This is most valuable when young individuals are feeling isolated in school, at home, or in social situations offline. Nowadays, many games—and even more gaming communities—actively promote inclusivity and have policies against harassment, making them safer spaces for queer individuals. Keeping spaces like these safe means young people have more access to education around the LGBTQIA+ experience from those who have lived it, or are currently going through the same experience of self-exploration. Games with diverse narratives and characters aren’t just import...