Will Dawntrail Surprise Us With A Major LGBTQ+ Character In The MSQ

[Catwho]

The best thing about Dion isn't that he was a gay man who was major character.

It's that him not being gay wouldn't really detract from his character or his story at all. He's a complete character on his own merits who just happens to have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend or nobody at all. (Terrence being his first in command and a commoner is what makes the relationship something they need to keep a secret, not necessarily the fact that Terrence is a hunky dude. Dion has good taste though.)

I'm so glad they made a character who was integral to the plot and had his sexuality simply be a factoid about him, rather than having it be his whole personality. He's not cartoonishly foppish, and he doesn't hit on every other male character in the game. He doesn't go "ew women" or avoid them. He doesn't introduce himself to people as "Prince Dion, and btw I really like men."

If any character in Dawntrailer is LGBTQ, I hope they're treated with that same level of respect. "Gay" shouldn't be the primary defining trait of a well written character.

[Renathras]

The best thing about Dion isn't that he was a gay man who was major character.

It's that him not being gay wouldn't really detract from his character or his story at all. He's a complete character on his own merits who just happens to have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend or nobody at all. (Terrence being his first in command and a commoner is what makes the relationship something they need to keep a secret, not necessarily the fact that Terrence is a hunky dude. Dion has good taste though.)

I'm so glad they made a character who was integral to the plot and had his sexuality simply be a factoid about him, rather than having it be his whole personality. He's not cartoonishly foppish, and he doesn't hit on every other male character in the game. He doesn't go "ew women" or avoid them. He doesn't introduce himself to people as "Prince Dion, and btw I really like men."

If any character in Dawntrailer is LGBTQ, I hope they're treated with that same level of respect. "Gay" shouldn't be the primary defining trait of a well written character.

This.

MOST people don't have a problem with a gay character. They have a problem with a GAY character. That is, a character whose entire story, character arc, and every appearance mentions that he's gay like your friend who just became a vegan mentioning they're a vegan at every opportunity.

A well written, complex, and interesting character with an engaging story arc can be gay, straight, bi, asexual, or whatever. It's when their sexuality is front and center, to the point of stepping all over any character they otherwise have, that it ruins them. This is true of any ideological or political or religion based characters. These things being a part of a character is fine, and good when done well, but this being THEIR ENTIRE character is near universally reviled and they become a "token X" character that isn't in the story to be a part of it, they're in a story to rub people's faces in it.

Even in the case of Dion, more prudish people could pretend they were "just really good friends". The game never outright insists that they ARE gay, we don't see them sleeping together, and Dion doesn't make him being gay central to the plot. It isn't even mentioned by his father ("Your litter brother is now emperor because I know you won't give me an heir because you love men!" or the like). It's treated as an aspect of his character, not his whole character. Just like in real life, gay men are more than just "I sleep with other dudes". FF16's writers got that right with Dion, and made him an overall good character who's also a badass. Him being gay is just part of his character, not an overpowering entirety of it.

EDIT:

Oh, btw, this is also true of all other sexualities, too. No one wants to see a straight couple mentioning how they're straight and sucking face in every cutscene.

Also also: Yes, yes, I know who OP is. Doesn't change the above.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Even in the case of Dion, more prudish people could pretend they were "just really good friends". The game never outright insists that they ARE gay, we don't see them sleeping together, and Dion doesn't make him being gay central to the plot. It isn't even mentioned by his father

I'm pretty sure Dion and the other guy kiss at some point. It's a bit hard to pretend it's just friends. And the in-game description states plainly they are lovers.

I don't really care - as long as they don't pat themselves on the back and have marketing campaigns around it. Like "we have a gay!" lol

[Renathras]

I'm pretty sure Dion and the other guy kiss at some point. It's a bit hard to pretend it's just friends. And the in-game description states plainly they are lovers.

I don't really care - as long as they don't pat themselves on the back and have marketing campaigns around it. Like "we have a gay!" lol

I noticed the kiss, but there are cultures where people kiss instead of hug. Again, I'm not saying it's not pretty obvious. I'm more saying it's not central to his character (in the sense that he has development, traits, and a story arc besides just a gay kiss), and if some people want to headcanon he wasn't, then they can with JUUUUST enough wiggle room to do so.

Either way, the story didn't force the issue, and outside of their kiss, doesn't really make a point of telling the audience how gay Dion is and that he's so gay he's gay. It's done very organically, and if they substituted his mate for a female, no one would bat an eye and it wouldn't take from or damage his character or story. He's a good character in his own right who happens to be gay. Imo, that's the best way to make characters - of any sexuality. I'm annoyed when people make straight characters that their whole story is how straight they are. It's like "What are you compensating for here? Who are you trying to convince, me or you?" Irl gay men aren't just about who they sleep with, so why should game characters be?

[ZephyrMenodora]

if some people want to headcanon he wasn't, then they can with JUUUUST enough wiggle room to do so.

Fine with most of the post except this. There really isn’t. It’s explicitly stated in the games lore files. Nothing is left to interpretation and wishful thinking.

[Midare]

On the opposite end of the spectrum (I think), EW has been very insistent on shoving Sicard and Emmanellain in everyone's faces, every chance it gets...

I remember when I used to ship characters like this. I was young and spry. Then I got older and realized men can have a friendly rivalry without them wanting to hold hands.

The best thing about Dion isn't that he was a gay man who was major character.

It's that him not being gay wouldn't really detract from his character or his story at all. He's a complete character on his own merits who just happens to have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend or nobody at all. (Terrence being his first in command and a commoner is what makes the relationship something they need to keep a secret, not necessarily the fact that Terrence is a hunky dude. Dion has good taste though.)

I'm so glad they made a character who was integral to the plot and had his sexuality simply be a factoid about him, rather than having it be his whole personality. He's not cartoonishly foppish, and he doesn't hit on every other male character in the game. He doesn't go "ew women" or avoid them. He doesn't introduce himself to people as "Prince Dion, and btw I really like men."

If any character in Dawntrailer is LGBTQ, I hope they're treated with that same level of respect. "Gay" shouldn't be the primary defining trait of a well written character.

I haven't played XVI, but that sounds a lot like what they did with Emil and Kaine in the first Nier, you can pick on the signals here and there, yet, that's not who they are. Emil's kindness and care for his friends is what make him such a endearing character, and Kaine's strong and sometimes harsh attitude while still being obviously caring is what made her such a memorable character.