Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[KizuyaKatogami]

During the cutscene before the fight you and Ryne are concerned she has no memories of all of them, but during the fight Ryne's only concerned about Gaia forgetting her and only her.

When Ryne becomes Shiva and is defeated, the first words out of Ryne's mouth is complimenting her on her looks.

Also, what your post implies is also bi-erasure. The LGBT community and forgetting that Bisexual and Pansexual people exist, name a more iconic duo.

It’s not bi eras- anything. You can headcanon as much as you wish idc. But when it starts being pushed as “canon” is when it gets annoying, especially when there’s very little pointing to it. They’re kids, two girls can be close and be friends. I’ve said this before and i’ll say it again, they do typical girl stuff. Go shopping, get friendship bracelets etc. They’re just friends lol. Also i’d rather not go down the road of me being accused of being homophobic or transphobic or whatever you want to call it when i myself am gay. I’m just tired of people seeing things that aren’t there, while also not recognizing the things that are there. There are multiple npcs in the game that flat out say they’re gay, or lesbian, or bi. If other npcs were the same i’m sure square wouldn’t beat around the bush.

[Denji]

It’s not bi eras- anything. You can headcanon as much as you wish idc. But when it starts being pushed as “canon” is when it gets annoying, especially when there’s very little pointing to it. They’re kids, two girls can be close and be friends. I’ve said this before and i’ll say it again, they do typical girl stuff. Go shopping, get friendship bracelets etc. They’re just friends lol. Also i’d rather not go down the road of me being accused of being homophobic or transphobic or whatever you want to call it when i myself am gay. I’m just tired of people seeing things that aren’t there, while also not recognizing the things that are there. There are multiple npcs in the game that flat out say they’re gay, or lesbian, or bi. If other npcs were the same i’m sure square wouldn’t beat around the bush.

Then what would you like to see in-game that would make you or people who are not het and/or cis feel more included? I am genuinely curious.

There has been a lot of calling Square out on the lack of it but no suggestions on how to include such things I've noticed.

If "two girls leaping for eachother and embracing in a field of rainbow confetti flower petals and a rainbow crystal glows in the background after an entire fight that revolved around the one girl crying about how the other wouldn't remember her" wasn't enough, what would?

[Ivtrix]

During the cutscene before the fight you and Ryne are concerned she has no memories of all of them, but during the fight Ryne's only concerned about Gaia forgetting her and only her.

When Ryne becomes Shiva and is defeated, the first words out of Ryne's mouth is complimenting her on her looks.

Also, what your post implies is also bi-erasure. The LGBT community and forgetting that Bisexual and Pansexual people exist, name a more iconic duo.

It depends what language you play it on. I believe in the JP text it’s much more implied they are just good friends. Meanwhile on EN it teases that possible romantic relationship between Gaia and Ryne. Have to remember JP isn’t as progressive as the west and LGBT acceptance is harder to come by.

[Denji]

It depends what language you play it on. I believe in the JP text it’s much more implied they are just good friends. Meanwhile on EN it teases that possible romantic relationship between Gaia and Ryne. Have to remember JP isn’t as progressive as the west and LGBT acceptance is harder to come by.

If you look at my past posts in these forums in general you wouldn't lecture me on what the Japanese text says.

[BingleNingle]

You guys are VERY weirdly defensive about this.

[KizuyaKatogami]

Then what would you like to see in-game that would make you or people who are not het and/or cis feel more included? I am genuinely curious.

There has been a lot of calling Square out on the lack of it but no suggestions on how to include such things I've noticed.

If "two girls leaping for eachother and embracing in a field of rainbow confetti flower petals and a rainbow crystal glows in the background after an entire fight that revolved around the one girl crying about how the other wouldn't remember her" wasn't enough, what would?

Personally i don’t need to feel more included i feel plenty included as it is. I’ve seen that they do have some gay characters and that’s enough for me. I don’t need my interests or relationship ideals or sexual contexts plastered anywhere. No shame to people who do but i’m not one of those people, i don’t see the need for representation. Would it be nice to have more? Sure i won’t mind. But typically in media if someone is gay they’re either incredibly stereotypical, or people see them being gay as the only memorable thing. If they wanted to implement it, they can do so on the side. Like someone else had mentioned here, take a look at how blizzard did Soldier 76. It was a quick comic short that just showed a picture with him and his husband. Didn’t need to heavily comment on it, didn’t need to explain it. That’s how you do it. Unless the relationship is actually relevant to the story it doesn’t need to be expanded upon. It doesn’t need to be shoved in anyones face. That’s how it should be done.

The rainbow crystal was already explained lore-wise for being that color. I mean we restored all the elements to the zone of course it would have that color. Ryne specifically states at the start of the raids that she doesn’t have any FRIENDS around her age. Then Gaia appears. This girl who never got to be a normal girl finally got to be that with Gaia. That’s why they’re so close. Ryne finally has a girl around her age and Gaia is able to be herself around her.

You guys are VERY weirdly defensive about this.

Broken record much?

[Palslow]

I think Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus are actually a gay couple.....

[forsakee]

Broken record much?

bit hypocritical how long has this thread been arguing about ryne/gia relationship let alone the community. Normally just read but this is far from the first type of thread like this. Just make them gay in your head if you care soo much. I'll be waiting for devs to fix the ingame systems already implemented.

[Voidedge_Ragna]

Personally I don't really care if there's more, then again if you asked me about anyone's sexuality in the game I'd go "eeeeh i don't know" very few npcs have partners and only a few show interest in anyone, Thancred was a bit flirty at one point towards women and Urianger liked the moon lady, but I think that's about it. I'm not gonna look at a character differently because of their assigned sexuality.

focus on if a npc is likeable rather then who the npc likes, for all I care everyone is bi and its a giant bang circle, but if the npc is (not) likeable ill (not) not like them. What they do in the spare time in terms of sexuality hardly needs to be explored.

If SE would constantly show straight couples in your face I'd agree to keep some balance, but i do not recall many ... There's the chonky cat lady and her husband ... but after that I'm blanking.

This game is a "power of friendship" game, saying gaia and ryne are a couple is about as close as saying rauhban and nanamo are ... maybe, maybe not, depends on how much you want to read between the lines.

[Wilford111]

Have to remember JP isn’t as progressive as the west and LGBT acceptance is harder to come by.

Really? I seem to recall early 90's anime which had gay couples in it, but when they got localized in the west they were just "good friends".
From my perspective the west has been far too late to accept homosexual relations, and nowadays are rebounding way way wayyyyy too far in the opposite direction to try and compensate.