Now that FF16 will feature LGBT+ characters, can we get some rep in FF14 too?

[Hurlstone]

Ah, like the changing of the seasons, this thread seem inevitable every few months. Its always ‘fun’ to see if the OP of such topics is genuinely engaged with the question, or is just trying to troll and use LGBTQ+ people as a shield. Unfortunately its often the latter.

Anyway, as a bi guy (Though I do not think you need to be part of any minority to support said inclusion) I would like to see a more prominent LGBTQ+ character/s emerge. Diversity in all its forms is a great thing and a useful tool to expand lore and storytelling. Its nice that we have had smaller instances of this in the past, such as the couple whose quest unlocks the The Wanderer's Palace (Hard), the walking ladies magnet that is Sadu and the level 80 Warrior quest is wonderful if you play a female character, but I do not think a more prominent case of inclusion would be a bad thing. I am not saying the next Scion needs to be LGBTQ+ or anything (Though romance is not exactly a new thing to our main cast, such as Thancred being a known ‘Ladies man’ in ARR, Yastola and Runa, Urianger and Moenbryda etc) but if that happened then I do not see how it would be a bad thing, nor damage the games lore in anyway. Plus given the amount of side quests and NPCs we meet in every expansion, a more recent incident or two of a named NPC mentioning perhaps a same-sexed spouse or something would just be neat I think.

Is it necessary? No, and I do not think anyone is demanding that this is something the game must add this things or they will quit etc. The themes of the games lore and story already prize the ideals of diversity and hope, which obviously resonate with a lot of players and is a reason I think why there is a strong LGBTQ+ following in trhe commmunity. I think many of us also understand that being a non-Western game makes such things a little less likely to appear, though… I do think Japan has a habit of being painted in these disscusions by some as this non-political entity where anything like this just does not exists, which I feel is a generalisation thats can act as a slap in the face to both the LGBTQ+ people of Japan, and the media that does indeed add such elements to their themes and characters. Oh and standard disclaimer, yes we do want them to be well-rounded characters too. Its a bit depressing when this topic comes up and the response is a standoff-ish “Well why not have better written characters!?” like… yes? No one wants a one-note stereotype of a character, and diversity can be the perfect tool to combat that.