But Not Too Gay (Gay characters in videogames)

Article about gays in videogames.

Excerpt:

The argument that [all] gay video game characters should downplay their sexuality might be well intentioned, but is ultimately representative of the most dangerous kind of homophobia — a homophobia wrapped in intellectualism, appearing “tolerant.”

True, sexuality isn’t the only thing that defines a person — but for the vast majority of LGBT people, I would argue that it’s a crucial part of personal identity. To insist that effeminate gay men are “camping it up” and should just “be normal” is homophobia. That’s the same type of attitude that murdered Matthew Shepard — he would’ve been fine if only he didn’t act so damn gay around people!

Now, this thinking isn’t exclusive to homophobes; gay men discriminate against each other all the time. Some might brand me as “straight-acting” when (a) I’m not acting, and (b) straight men don’t have a monopoly on being more “masculine.” But then many gay men also discriminate against “feminine” men and imply they’re not “acting like real men” — whatever that means. So yes, everyone is guilty, there’s plenty of self-loathing to go around, blah blah blah.

But I digress. Perhaps my main point here is that the vast majority of adults on this planet have been known to care about sex. Sex is kind of a big deal — and thus, so is sexuality. Games aren’t exactly evolving as a medium if we always downplay this aspect of life — or worse, downplay it only for LGBT characters to make them seem more palatable for people who think gay sex is icky.

My comment:

There is a heroic flamboyant character in videogames: Zevran from Dragon Age. While it’s more attributable to his being pampered constantly, and he’s omnivorous when it comes to sex, he’s still effeminate and coy, despite being an unrepentant murderer (oh, excuse me, ASSASSIN. As if there a difference.)

As such, he’s also one of most popular characters in the game. Coincidence? I think not.

HE DIDN'T HAVE A LISP THOUGH!

Against LGBT, so don't care.

Why're you against LGBT?

I don't know any actual gay videogame characters. Heather or whoever that chick from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is pretty suspect though. What with her obsession with Nephenee and her joining your army so she could look at cute girls...

Let's see...

• Possibly Jimmy from Bully
• Possibly Commander Shepherd from Mass Effect (only sorta, since Asari are androgynous)
• Tony from the Ballad of Gay Tony
• The guy who's in the one scene in Indigo Prophecy
• My character in Fable
• My Character in Fallout

Hrm. Any others?

Tony from Earthbound.

Do the guys who gang rape cloud from final fantasy count as hard gays? :D

Oh I forgot the gay kid in Earthbound...

You have a gay option in the Japanese version of Harvest Moon DS Cute or whatever they called it here.

^YES

edited 26th Nov '10 4:26:31 PM by Aondeug

I don't know. Hey, AHR, refresh my memory, when in the game does that occur?

In that beehive hotel place.

It was when you had Cloud crossdress to get into Don Corneo's mansion. I don't think those guys count since they weren't aware he was a guy.

edited 26th Nov '10 4:29:40 PM by Customer

Customer, I think you reach a certain point where it becomes dreadfully obvious who you are screwing.

Except they didn't screw him, they were advancing on him and he knocks them out then sheds his disguise to find Tifa and Aerith. Unless you're talking about a different part of the game I've never seen or had forgotten about.

What? The fade to black could only mean that?

What about the scene where Sephiroth and Cloud make out? I haven't reached that part of the game yet, but I see fan work of it so much. I'm sure it's a powerful scene.

Jann Walker from Valkyria Chronicles was, well, fabulous.

OH! VAMP! Vamp from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was bisexual.

^^^^ I think I need to see a video or something for the scene in question. And a fade to black can mean anything. Not saying that didn't happen, but my memory's kind of drawing a blank.

edited 26th Nov '10 4:40:36 PM by Customer

Joshua from The World Ends With You; that is, unless he's just gay for Neku.

Actually, if I remember correctly, there's a guy named Mukki there who actually DOES offer to have sex with Cloud. Twice, actually. Once in the room, and once when you see him later on.

Also... Oh- April Ryan's landlady in The Longest Journey.

In the first five minutes

edited 26th Nov '10 4:44:52 PM by MrAHR

...I remember that now. I was talking about what happened later in the mansion. There was no fade to black, the screen just moved up so they wouldn't show (or rather create) a naked Cloud plus a bunch of guys getting into and out of a spa. Nothing really happens since the screen moves to indicate everyone moving around.

He wasn't gang-raped, but there was a sort of Hard Gay vibe.

"It hurts" was a speech option. Gang-raped.

Except VII is one of those games where selecting the speech option doesn't mean the character actually says the exact phrase. Besides, it was cramped in there, so of course "It hurts" is an option (nevermind that the line was meant to be a "humorous" implication of what could be happening instead of a soak).

In any case, I just wanted clarification of if VII had an actual implied gang-rape scene that I somehow missed.