Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[MellowMink]

I don't mean to be mean but in some countries that is not the great USA this may make the game banned... please don't do this.

That’s the fault of any governments that decide to ban the game then, not Square Enix for being inclusive in terms of representation. Also, Final Fantasy XIV already allows same-sex marriage, so any game bans related to homophobia would have happened long ago.

[Darthgummibear]

[IkaraGreydancer]

Why are we asking for sexuality to be inserted into a game that rarely even touches on it? Representation is fine and all but knowing a character is straight or gay shouldn't make you like them more. And if it doesn't serve a purpose other than making a sect of folks feel good thats just tokenism. Not really knowing is how things should be as that'd how it is in the real world.

I don't like Raubahn more because he's black like me. I like him because he's a strong and loyal badass. Who he wants to sleep with is irrelevant.

You are more than who you prefer to sleep with people

[EaraGrace]

I find it interesting that criticism is by and large encouraged… except for when one points out the lack of queer or minority representation.

[Vryn]

FF14 is a wonderful game. It's beautiful, the gameplay is fluid, the lore rich, and the graphics stunning, especially in the Azim Steppe.

Part of the reason why it's so wonderful is because it is possible to fully immerse yourself in this game. Characters all have a backstory, many NPCs are fleshed out, have their own personality, and you really feel like Eorzea is a place you can live in.

However, the lack of representation of LGBT characters in this game is frustrating for a billion-dollar video gaming company. While I applaud SE for allowing the Eternal Bonding to take place between two people of the same gender, there is not much else in this game that represents LGBT characters, other than a token gay couple in Upper La Noscea.

Some people will also bring up characters like Alphinaud (weird) or Haurchefant, and say they're "WOL-sexual". But you know that they're not actually designed as gay characters. They just happened to be perceived as LGBT because of the fandom.

Many other RPGs are already fully embracing the need to represent minorities in their game, because minority representation is an important issue that affects the psychological development of minority youth.

I hope to see Square Enix do more to represent LGBT characters in their game, because by doing so they'll let LGBT youth feel like they have a place in Eorzea and feel welcomed.

I know some people will think I'm joking, but I'm not. As a LGBT PoC myself, I am deeply invested in this issue.

Can I ask how would knowing someone like to stick their sexual origin in another member of the same sex makes your more life anymore fulfilled it doesn't mean you have anything in common with them? I am Bi by the way, but you are really shallow if you think something as amorphous as sexuality needs to be shown in a game when it's no one else business but their own. The Eorzean church isn't barring anyone of the same sex from marrying, I would also like to add the only straight couple we actually see is the parents of the twins which isn't a surprise.

I should also add being LGBT is not the same in Asia or the east as it is in the west, do we need people in drag walking down Uldah because we already have that, it happens in Limsa every ten minutes.

Sexuality is a very small part of life and would see two male or female characters snog in the background or in your newfound adventures patch really make your experience better? Do you need an over flamboyant queen going OH MY GOD! THAT'S AMAZING! There is a lack of any sexual representation and thank the Japanese for that.

Let people have their fantasies about certain characters and move on. Its like asking straight people if they are happy straight people are in media, guess what they dont think about it.

[MellowMink]

I'd rather no character get sexualized in any way, personally.

Sexualization and sexuality aren’t the same thing; there’s nothing inherently sexual about two characters of the same gender expressing romantic interest in each other.

Non-sexual attraction already exists in this game too; as just a few narrative examples with non-player characters, there’s chemistry between Curious Gorge and Dorongo in some Warrior quests, confirmed romantic interests from Runar toward Y’sthola, Zhai'a Nelhah toward Lalai in some Black Mage quests, and arguably from G’raha Tia toward the player regardless of their gender; none of those attractions are shown to be sexual, regardless of whether that may also exist behind the scenes.

[IkaraGreydancer]

I find it interesting that criticism is by and large encouraged… except for when one points out the lack of queer or minority representation.

Oh no. Please don't try that logic here. You're very slyly trying to call us queerphobes for giving valid points. Also I'm a minority and am saying this xD
What point would it serve to add more other than tokenism? Them being there for the sake of doesn't cut it, and I'd say the same if they just out of nowhere gave us a black main cast Scion. Would I like us to have one? Ofc. Am I asking for one? No. And until we get one I'm the black Scion that I want to see and that's enough for me

The only thing I'll say is I HAVE seen heavy pushback when folks ask for more black characters but thats on reddit

[dustdjinn]

Why are we asking for sexuality to be inserted into a game that rarely even touches on it? Representation is fine and all but knowing a character is straight or gay shouldn't make you like them more. And if it doesn't serve a purpose other than making a sect of folks feel good thats just tokenism. Not really knowing is how things should be as that'd how it is in the real world.

I don't like Raubahn more because he's black like me. I like him because he's a strong and loyal badass. Who he wants to sleep with is irrelevant.

You are more than who you prefer to sleep with people

To begin this is a troll post and people shouldn't be reviving it but your statement made me need to correct a point you seem to misunderstand.

You are boiling down the LGBTQ community to just sex but thats not what they are asking for. Romance is not inherently sexual. Knowing more about a characters likes and interest make them more real. I assume you have no problem with Runar's crush on Yshtola or a focus on the married Chia's on the first or Wedges crush on Tataru, or Thancreds old womanizing ways or the tons of other couples we meet along the way. This argument is only have brought up when the LGTBQ ask for a seat at the table. Gay people can be more openly put into the game and it wouldn't be tokenism, you just don't want it and use that as an excuse.

[MellowMink]

Can I ask how would knowing someone like to stick their sexual origin in another member of the same sex makes your more life anymore fulfilled it doesn't mean you have anything in common with them?

Romantic attraction and sexual attraction are two different things, with increased inclusion in the context of this thread’s discussions most likely being about the former. I don’t get why you would specifically bring up sexual intercourse in response to a comment that never mentioned sexual attraction at all; it seems random and vulgar to mention here.

It’s also worth pointing out to anyone else who reads this thread that plenty of asexual people who are romantically attracted to people of the same gender as them exist as well. The discussions in this thread shouldn’t include disingenuous arguments that specifically talk about sexual attraction, which again seems unrelated to what was being asked here.

[KariTheFox]

Sexuality is a very small part of life and would see two male or female characters snog in the background or in your newfound adventures patch really make your experience better? Do you need an over flamboyant queen going OH MY GOD! THAT'S AMAZING! There is a lack of any sexual representation and thank the Japanese for that.

I don't think anyone is asking for sloppy makeout sessions between same sex couples to be shoehorned into the game. When I think of representation, I don't think of a big neon sign saying "I'm gay!" over a character's head, I think of things like:

A Garlean solider is laying a wreath of flowers on a grave, when asked by the WoL who it is for, he says "My husband."

Two women NPCs flirting in dialogue bubbles - there's plenty of men and women NPCs flirting out there.

A character tells the WoL they "hope to settle down with a nice man or woman one day". Things like that, the small bits of flavor and storytelling about romance that already get sprinkled in the game, just a little more inclusive than it is now.