It's 2017, when can we get a prominent LGBT character in the storyline?

[Kazrah]

How did Livia being in love with Gaius move the story? Would it have made an impact on the story if both of them were male or both were female?

Did the explanation of 1.0/2.0 Nael really change or move the story?

How does Mide and Dayan being a heterosexual couple affect the story that Mide and Dayana would make it any lesser? Why would it move it along any less?

Not sure about the first two since I don't feel like there was enough information on either of those in their respective parts of the story. As for Mide and Dayan, given how much more visually pronounced that relationship was, my guess is that heads would've rolled in other countries and other cultures if it was Mide and "Dayana". I'm sure it could've been passed off via some sort of context change in those cultures as siblings or something, but I'm sure you understand the different dilemma that would cause.

A major thing you have to remember is that this game is sold in places where LGBT relationships are usually frowned upon (including several parts of Japan), which is why I ask for reasoning to move the story along: unless it's portrayed as some "forbidden love" or there's some major change in context or otherwise a REALLY good reason for a relationship among two LGBTQ NPCs, it'll never fly past the local audience that the game is made for.

[Reinha]

How did Livia being in love with Gaius move the story? Would it have made an impact on the story if both of them were male or both were female?

Did the explanation of 1.0/2.0 Nael really change or move the story?

How does Mide and Dayan being a heterosexual couple affect the story that Mide and Dayana would make it any lesser? Why would it move it along any less?

This thread is about LGBT characters, not same sex couples. There can still be an LGBT character even if all relationships are opposite sexes. That's what the B implies. No MSQ characters have been confirmed straight in the story as far as I know.

Moreover, the T in LGBT could also be included already because in the current year trans can be trans without transitioning. Gender refers to how a person/character feels, not how they express themselves. Aymeric being a transwoman would not need to be mentioned at all because gender is irrelevant in Eorzea and identity doesn't prevent someone from leading a nation. No MSQ character has been confirmed trans but none have also been confirmed not-trans since knowing either detail is unnecessary.

Since no character has been confirmed straight or not-trans I think the treatment is fair towards all identities.

[Mirateski]

Aymeric being a transwoman

Aymeric would be a transguy actually, given everyone uses male pronouns for him.

I know I'm just piling fuel on this trainwreck here but, everyone's acting like an LGBT+ new npc would be unveiled with "HOLY SHIT!! LOOK AT THIS SUPER GAY NPC!!! We're so progressive u gaiz" but it's still entirely possible that, say, Hien will be gay (that's a bad example, since a lot of the promo stuff has been hinting him and Yugiri have a thing, but you know). Maybe Yotsuyu is a transwoman. Hell maybe Xenos is gay. FF14 has its problems but its inclusion of LBGT+ stuff naturally within the gameworld isn't one of them.

Also, it doesn't count as bi representation if all your bi characters are in straight relationships and never mention being with someone of the same gender. Where there's room to presume, most will presume "default" (straight/cis), and that's not representation at all.

[Rin_Sato]

How does Mide and Dayan being a heterosexual couple affect the story that Mide and Dayana would make it any lesser? Why would it move it along any less?

spoilers for alex:

I thought the story was about how they were their own ancestors though, which would be impossible for same sex couples unless you are implying asexual or other reproduction: "According to their myth of creation, the Hotgo trace their ancestry back to two children - a boy and a girl - who emerged from the belly of a great steel giant in days of yore"

[ErikMynhier]

[Mirateski]

A+ troll thread Skyrior, 10/10 please don't do it again.

I feel like a lot of the negative comments in this thread can be summed up with "I'm ok with the gay, so long as it's happening somewhere I can't see it" and "I naturally parse het relationships as normal, and thus feel like there aren't that many being shown in the game".

I have a lot of problems with GW2, but it does a bang-up job on the QUILTBAG front. Had a trans npc in New Lion's Arch (and people were only angry after the trans folks went "omfg she's trans!" and suddenly that NPC was UNNACCEPTABLE!!!) and a lesbian couple within the Living World story that doesn't feel shoehorned at all.

I mean, would people have complained if Moenbryda had been hitting on Minfilia instead of Thancred? Is it somehow wrong for Alisaie to turn out to be gay? We all know the 3.0 storyline was something of a coming-of-age for Alphinaud after all, it would make sense that we see something of the same for his sister in 4.0.

(as a trans person myself, it'd be nice to see a trans npc, but there's still always the issue of how to explicitly state that someone is trans without them screaming "MY PARENTS NAMED ME STEPHEN SO I GREW MY HAIR OUT AND NOW I'M STEPHANIE" which is just... awful)

[Esper]

What about the barber? I think he is rather flamboyant and they've hinted at such in moogle mail quests

[Texa]

I'll have you all know I'm super same-sex married to Tataru. Of course nobody would know because the ring I bought her was to large for her to wear casually.

THAT'S RIGHT!!! IT'S A DIAMOND RING MADE OF DIAMOND!!!

Get wrecked, Wedge.

[Arutan]

It's funny because the thread is about LGBT in the main story line but defender of this idea want them everywhere while those against just say why it's irrelevant in the main story because we don't give 2 cents if they feel like doing gay side-quest for fun and giggles.

[ExKage]

It's funny because the thread is about LGBT in the main story line but defender of this idea want them everywhere while those against just say why it's irrelevant in the main story because we don't give 2 cents if they feel like doing gay side-quest for fun and giggles.

Out of sight, out of mind. We don't care so long as we don't see it.