When Fabby Garza, a fitness instructor from Texas, came out as transgender, the first confidants she had were her online gaming friends. She waited another three years before presenting as feminine in her everyday life. Garza recounts the dangers she faced, like harassment and being followed by strange men, but found solace in online games where her friends respected her identity.
Gamers with marginalized sexual orientations or gender identities often turn to the gaming world to freely express themselves, especially in regions with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. These gamers challenge the stereotype of the typical white, heterosexual, cisgender male player that the video game industry has historically targeted. According to a GLAAD report, a significant portion of gamers who play for over 10 hours a week identify as LGBTQ+, which is an increase from previous findings.
GLAAD’s survey highlights that LGBTQ+ gamers are 11% more likely to use gaming as a refuge from real-world hardships and 24% more likely to rely on it during tough times. About 66% of respondents said gaming allows them to express themselves in ways they can’t in real life, including coming out as LGBTQ+. Nearly a dozen interviewees shared that gaming played a crucial role in their coming out process.
Karen Schrier, a games professor at Marist College, suggests viewing games not just as escapism but as “embrace-ism,” where players find acceptance and meet needs unmet elsewhere. Digital spaces have been safe havens for LGBTQ+ communities since the 1990s, aiding in building connections and coordinating activism. Cody Mejeur, a professor of game studies, recalls growing up in a conservative Midwest community where online platforms were their only safe space to express their true self.
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Digital platforms have long been sanctuaries for LGBTQ+ individuals, with online chat rooms in the early 1990s serving as hubs for community-building and activism. Games extend this tradition, allowing players to connect with others who may be geographically distant. For instance, Cody Mejeur from the University at Buffalo found refuge in online games while growing up in a conservative area, using them to safely explore and express their identity.