I appreciate Square Enix supporting LGBT rights in FFXIV.

[KizuyaKatogami]

There’s nothing indicating they’re together, it’s just headcanon.

[RhaesDaenys]

There’s nothing indicating they’re together, it’s just headcanon.

Sure. Just two gal pals holding hands in a very 'we are in a relationship' way.

[Theodric]

Sure. Just two gal pals holding hands in a very 'we are in a relationship' way.

I don't think that there's anything particularly suggestive about that image. It's a pair of close female friends holding hands...which isn't uncommon for female friends to do. Nor is it necessarily indicative of anything deeper than a friendship when two young women go out for cake and coffee together or on a shopping trip.

Much in the same way that - despite being gay myself - it doesn't mean I'm sleeping with my straight male friends if we go for a drink at the pub together or share a tent when out camping, hiking or fishing.

There's already LGBT characters that exist explicitly within the game world, at any rate - so surely there would be nothing stopping the writers from just announcing outright if Ryne and Gaia were actually in a relationship.

People are free to believe what they like, though there's nothing wrong with others not believing the duo to be in an established relationship when nothing official exists.

[Sclair0]

People are free to believe what they like, though there's nothing wrong with others not believing the duo to be in an established relationship when nothing official exists.

While I agree with your take on the poster. I would say that there are bigger issues in having the central characters of a piece of content be openly LGBT that might impede them from writing explicit romance for a gay couple. (e.g. localising the Eden raid in China for example). Not saying that is a major factor here, it definitely might not be, but it is why we often see LGBT minor or background characters in media but not as major ones. Much easier to write out for localisation. (Star Wars clipping out the gay kiss of those two background characters overseas for example)

[FrogDog]

Sure. Just two gal pals holding hands in a very 'we are in a relationship' way.

Fun fact: male friends in India hold hands.

[Rinhi]

Fun fact: male friends in India hold hands.

kind of sad that many men don't do it because they might be considered gay if they're seen doing it and could result in nasty rumours, even though I know a few 'cishets' who'd love to be able to be as 'touchy feely' as gals without being, well, seen as batting for the other team, same with showing emotions
these societal double standards are actually kinda sexist, tbh

[Vav2021]

Theres no evidence to suggest they were a couple.

[AlyaNimfa]

kind of sad that many men don't do it because they might be considered gay if they're seen doing it and could result in nasty rumours, even though I know a few 'cishets' who'd love to be able to be as 'touchy feely' as gals without being, well, seen as batting for the other team, same with showing emotions
these societal double standards are actually kinda sexist, tbh

Yeah, but it's also their culture not to do it. Who is anyone to dictate someone elses culture?

Also, men holding hands is the least of Indias social problems.

[Rinhi]

Yeah, but it's also their culture not to do it. Who is anyone to dictate someone elses culture?

Also, men holding hands is the least of Indias social problems.

how do you even get that message from my post? dictating culture? indian societal problems? ?????
I was just lamenting the fact that I find it sad that guys can't hold hands like girls do without possibly getting ridiculed for it lmao