I appreciate Square Enix supporting LGBT rights in FFXIV.

[Starshower]

I think it is a pretty subjective element, given that nothing is confirmed one way or another as to whether or not Ryne and Gaia are even in a relationship.

Plenty of LGBT players - myself included - have stated that they see nothing indicating a romance between them. Even a deep, sudden friendship emerging between two characters who knew each other for a matter of days is a stretch in the eyes of many. I think that'd be the case even if one between Ryne or Gaia happened to be male. Especially given the simple fact that they're both teenagers and aren't yet fully mature on either a physical or emotional level.

Of course, there's also people who don't care to speculate over the sexuality of children, fictional or otherwise, in the first place. I know if we get any confirmed LGBT representation within the game itself, I'd much prefer those characters to be adults.

Are you really implying that young people don't fall in love? Also, gay people can also have homophobic points of view. The same people saying that gaia and ryne aren't a thing wouldn't think twice before saying that gaia and that random ascian are a couple.

[Theodric]

Are you really implying that young people don't fall in love?

It isn't impossible, though there isn't anything suggesting to me that Ryne and Gaia are anything other than friends.

Also, gay people can also have homophobic points of view.

They can, though in my experience as a gay guy I've found that there's a much more sizeable portion of people who like to paint any gay people who have different thoughts, beliefs and opinions as 'homophobic' even when that isn't the case at all.

The same people saying that gaia and ryne aren't a thing wouldn't think twice before saying that gaia and that random ascian are a couple.

It was firmly established in the story that Mitron and Lohgrif were a couple. The same cannot be said of Ryne and Gaia, who haven't been officially established as anything but good friends. If some people want to read into it differently, they're free to - but I'm not really understanding the supposed need for everybody to agree with such a take.

[JennytheJester]

They can, though in my experience as a gay guy I've found that there's a much more sizeable portion of people who like to paint any gay people who have different thoughts, beliefs and opinions as 'homophobic' even when that isn't the case at all.

That's sadly how it goes because the term isn't ever used in a way to depict like genuine hate so much as "something you said might not be well received among a demographic." Like I'm trans myself, but have a lot of viewpoints that conflict with the perceived dogma which gets me called "transphobic" a lot when I'm the furthest thing from transphobic. At worst I have views that other trans people refuse to agree with and that's their opinion, just as mine are mine. Nothing I say is genuinely hateful, it just goes against what they think I should hold as beliefs because of that attribute. I have a very confident and openly gay friend who is a conservative, and of a minority demographic. He's straight up told me over one discussion we had, can't remember the exact text of it but it his remark was along the lines of "I've felt more hatred from progressives for being a conservative than I ever felt from conservatives for being gay, or black."

Though hell, you're just talking established canon with the guy but he's arguing on such ideological, and emotionally driven viewpoints I don't think you're in for a fun time. It's never established Gaia and Ryne are a couple, it's left open to interpretation so that way they can don't risk offending anyone for any reason. I agree it can come off that way, but it also can not come off that way. It really depends on the reader. I never once got the interpretation that Ryne and Gaia were a couple in English, but I can see how people would be led to that conclusion. However I'm not going to ram what is essentially my headcanon down people's throats. Square has said they watch Blizzard, and the hamfisting of representation in that game for the sole purpose of having it has divided the community pretty extensively. Square is wise to take an "if you see it that way then alright but we won't explicitly say anything" approach.

[Starshower]

It was firmly established in the story that Mitron and Lohgrif were a couple. The same cannot be said of Ryne and Gaia, who haven't been officially established as anything but good friends. If some people want to read into it differently, they're free to - but I'm not really understanding the supposed need for everybody to agree with such a take.

That's your bias showing. It was never established or confirmed that Mitron and Lohgrif were a couple, you could easily interpret it as Mitron wanting it and Lohgrif only seeing him as a friend.

[Starshower]

Though hell, you're just talking established canon with the guy but he's arguing on such ideological, and emotionally driven viewpoints I don't think you're in for a fun time.

That's because we're so starved for any LGBT representation and then you have people trying to erase it at any cost. No character in this game is in a relationship really, the game doesn't show much of characters in a relationship showing love anyway. For as much as the game shows this even with straight pairings ryne and gaia's relationship is really colorful by comparison, that's why people say this. I don't really bother too much to argue, but if anyone here would like to believe the game doesn't have any gay in it so be it that's your prerogative, go have fun.

[JennytheJester]

That's because we're so starved for any LGBT representation and then you have people trying to erase it at any cost.

This is your first problem. You shouldn't need representation to feel validated in something. If your sense of confidence hinges on whether there's enough people like you visible you'll never have a satisfying life because you'll be basing your entire enjoyment on what is ultimately a perversion of the appeal to popularity fallacy. It's like the idea that if there's not enough of a minority in the esports scene of a game then they won't feel validated in pursuing it. That's a load of crap, if you're confident in yourself that's it, and to no sane person in this world does their confidence hinge entirely on whether other people are reminded they exist.

I came from a very decorated WoW background when it came to raiding in that game as a teenager. I mean decorated as in I was 18 years old and raid leading a top guild in North America, then raiding as a member of the best guild in North America (but it was Dragon Soul so yeah, doesn't change the fact I think my guild ended the tier top 5 in the world or something), the LAST thing on my mind was "There aren't many 18 year olds pushing world first races, do I belong here? Am I validated?"

Also, I really wouldn't complain about "people trying to erase it at any cost" when the polar opposite and what we are seeing with you in particular is "people trying to have it at every cost." Both of these things are just bad for the game, story, and community. Let things happen organically, don't forcibly headcanon something that isn't expressly confirmed because you want it that way, and similarly don't demand something be made a certain way to suit the purpose solely of it finally existing. Learn to just live your own life and be happy with it on your own terms. Don't hinge your enjoyment on something as moronic as "I don't see enough people similar to me in a video game therefore I don't feel validated." Have a little self confidence.

[KizuyaKatogami]

That's your bias showing. It was never established or confirmed that Mitron and Lohgrif were a couple, you could easily interpret it as Mitron wanting it and Lohgrif only seeing him as a friend.

Nah the devs have stated it in an interview, as well as the backstory of the two showing that Loghrif made the promise to him as well that he should come find her. Gaia even acknowledges the love the two have by telling him in another life they can be together.You’re being purposely oblivious to something that’s specifically stated, whilst trying to push something that isn’t even stated anywhere whatsoever or implied. Funny how that works isn’t it? The thing with evidence that refutes your argument you can’t see, however you see fake evidence for your own argument.

[Rokke]

you could easily interpret it as Mitron wanting it and Lohgrif only seeing him as a friend.

Logrif (Gaia): "For as much as I chide and tease you, you are my everything to me, my inspiration. When I'm with you, I fear nothing. Promise me that we'll never be parted again."
Mirton (Artemis): "I promise. Even should fate conspire to separate us, I will reach out to you, wherever you may be."
Logrif (Gaia): "And I will come running."

I think they're both in on it.
I also think its fine to headcanon Gaia and Ryne for what its worth.

[Rinhi]

I also think its fine to headcanon Gaia and Ryne for what its worth.

it's fine to headcanon it, but most of the posters here are trying push that they're 1000% a couple and that if you disagree you're homophobic and whatnot

[Starshower]

??

Congrats on raiding I guess, lol. I'm confident, thank you very much. Like, I don't post my achievements in life to prove my point! The thing is, and you should know it, that there could be as much as a lgbt couple as this game could have and there would be people saying it's not a thing or being against it. I just think It's amusing you and others are saying that you're a minority and you're confident so you don't care if everything is straight around you. You can think like that, I just think it's funny and kinda amusing.