The Red Flower Factory’s Post

Thank you, GLAAD, for this report. No surprises here. But it makes a strong statement that we are here to stay, and our numbers are larger than ever. We want to see ourselves represented. And gaming is no exception. #pride "Despite LGBTQ people making up nearly one-fifth of all active gamers in the U.S., only 2 percent of all video games have LGBTQ storylines or characters, according to a new report from GLAAD. 'We are nearly invisible in game representations despite being a significant percentage of gamers,' Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, said in the report. Other findings in the report include 72 percent of LGBTQ gamers saying that seeing characters with the same sexual orientation or gender identity 'represented well makes them feel better about themselves,' with the percentage being higher among younger age groups, at 78 percent for those ages 13 to 17. The report also noted that 68 percent of LGBTQ gamers 'wish there were more prominent LGBTQ storylines in games.' 'Games offer the opportunity to explore fantastical worlds, experience narratives in new ways, simulate day-to-day life, and recreate real events ranging from key historical moments to contemporary sporting events,' the report reads. 'As LGBTQ people exist in our world, they must be included in these imagined or recreated worlds.'”

🌈 As Pride month comes to an end, let's remember that Pride and queer inclusivity should be celebrated all year round. Our latest blog post explores the evolving landscape of geek culture and gaming, highlighting the importance of queer representation in role-playing style games. 🎮 Role-playing games (RPGs), whether pencil and paper or video games, offer safe spaces for identity exploration and self-expression, making them especially meaningful for LGBTQIA+ gamers. 🌟 Our blog post delves into the progress and remaining challenges in representation within the gaming industry. We discuss iconic queer protagonists, games that let you create inclusive characters, and tabletop RPGs that provide deep customization for queer narratives. From Baldur’s Gate III to Dungeons & Dragons, discover how these games can help foster a sense of belonging and visibility in the gaming world. 🌐✨ Happy gaming and happy PRIDE! Read it here: https://lnkd.in/enpTEHzw #Pride #LGBTQIA #RepresentationMatters #GamingCommunity #RolePlayingGames #GeekCulture #NewHopeCounseling

Why are video games lagging behind on LGBTQ+ representation vs other media outlets? A recent article from PinkNews highlighted that less than 2% of gaming content and characters are LGBTQ+ related. With the advertising industry pushing for diverse content, why is that gaming is so far behind? You can read more on the topic here: https://lnkd.in/em7E7yRh And I'd love to hear your thoughts! Does it matter? Is the ad industry actually strides ahead? And what should be done? #LGBTQNews #Gaming #AdIndustry #PinkNews

🌈 As Pride month comes to an end, let's remember that Pride and queer inclusivity should be celebrated all year round. Last Friday, we published a blog post exploring the evolving landscape of geek culture and gaming, highlighting the importance of queer representation in role-playing style games. 🎮 Role-playing games (RPGs), whether pencil and paper or video games, offer safe spaces for identity exploration and self-expression, making them especially meaningful for LGBTQIA+ gamers. 🌟 Our blog post delves into the progress and remaining challenges in representation within the gaming industry. We discuss iconic queer protagonists, games that let you create inclusive characters, and tabletop RPGs that provide deep customization for queer narratives. From Baldur’s Gate III to Dungeons & Dragons, discover how these games can help foster a sense of belonging and visibility in the gaming world. 🌐✨ Happy gaming and happy PRIDE! 🏳️🌈 Comment "Pride" for a link to the blog, or head to our website today to read the full post. #Pride #LGBTQIA #RepresentationMatters #GamingCommunity #RolePlayingGames #GeekCulture #NewHopeCounseling

This is the reason why I am so unapologetically open about being gay in my profession because there needs to be more LGBTQ representation in not just advertising but in gaming too. Nearly 1 in 5 active gamers declare themselves as LGBTQ+, however GLAAD's new report find that despite growth in the gaming industry in the past 50 years, it's clear that LGBTQ representation has been notably lacking. The industry has yet to catch up with other media channels in adequately portraying LGBTQ individuals, but despite concerns of alienating certain audiences, we should consider that this could be an innocent oversight where gaming characters can be anyone you want them to be. Positively though, gamers overall are largely accepting of LGBTQ content in games. As the gaming community becomes more diverse, there's a clear call for greater LGBTQ representation in gaming. It's time for the industry to embrace inclusivity and reflect the desires of its audience.

Under 2% of video games include LGBTQ characters or storylines, despite that 17% of gamers identify as queer, according to GLAAD's new survey. Per the 2024 GLAAD Gaming Report, 1 in 5 active gamers are LGBTQ.

New study published by GLAAD finds that less than 2% of video games contain LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. This fails to match the demographic makeup of gaming, with nearly 1 in 5 (17%) players identifying as queer. Analysing the digital libraries of leading gaming platforms Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Steam, GLAAD determined representation is disproportionately low. Out of thousands of games, only a few hundred were tagged as containing LGBTQ+ content. Much more to be done to simply reflect players in the games they play. https://lnkd.in/eG4Kg8Qc

🌈 As we dive into mid-July, let's keep the spirit of Pride alive beyond June! Last month, we explored the vibrant world of geek culture and gaming in our blog post "Queer Characters and Narratives in Role-Playing Style Games." 🎮 In this post, we celebrated the evolving landscape of queer representation in role-playing games (RPGs), highlighting how these games provide crucial spaces for identity exploration and inclusivity. Whether you're into Dungeons & Dragons or exploring digital realms like Baldur’s Gate III, these games offer avenues for LGBTQIA+ gamers to feel seen and represented. 🌟 From iconic queer protagonists to games that empower players to create inclusive characters, our blog delved into the diverse narratives and customizable experiences that shape the gaming community today. Celebrate gaming, celebrate diversity, and celebrate PRIDE! 🏳️🌈 Comment "Pride" for a link to the blog post, or visit our website to read more. #Pride #LGBTQIA #GamingCommunity #RolePlayingGames #GeekCulture #RepresentationMatters #NewHopeCounseling

Just got back from a big trip, so here are the things I missed: 1. Happy (belated) Trans Day of Visibility! We need to work together as an industry to make it more accessible and inclusive to transgender game developers AND transgender gamers. Also, let's just make everything more inclusive. 🏳️🌈 2. I finally got to taking the ➡ GDC out of my name on LinkedIn. 😂 3. It's April Fools, but # 1 is not a joke. More transgender characters in games. More inclusivity in gaming. Let's do it. #transrights #gamingindustry #gamingcommunity #transgenderdayofvisibility

"The study found that LGBTQ+ gamers are 11% more likely than non-queer gamers to use gaming to escape from difficult real-world situations and are 24% more likely to depend on gaming to get them through tough times. These percentages increased for queer people living in states that have recently passed or proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In fact, half of all LGBTQ+ gamers said they felt more accepted by the gaming community than they do where they live. Approximately 66% of LGBTQ+ gamers said that gaming allows them to express themselves in a way they don’t feel comfortable doing in the real world, and 35% of LGBTQ+ gamers said they felt like gaming was their only outlet for socializing with other people. Despite this, 52% of LGBTQ+ gamers reported experiencing harassment while playing online, compared to 38% of non-queer gamers." https://lnkd.in/g2hRPAbZ