February 18th 2024.
When I first heard about Final Fantasy 14 Online, I was immediately drawn to it. As a trans person, gaming has always been a way for me to explore my own identity. From playing The Rocky Horror Video Game on the Spectrum console back in the 70s to now, gaming has been a safe haven for me to test out different ideas of who I am.
So, when I saw the GLAAD report on gaming, I was filled with hope and encouragement. It's wonderful to see that more and more people are feeling empowered to showcase their true selves through gaming. It's a feeling of inclusivity and acceptance that I never thought I'd experience in the gaming world.
One of my earliest memories of gaming was playing The Rocky Horror Video Game on the Spectrum console. It was the first time I had the option to choose a character to play as, and from then on, I always chose a female avatar whenever possible. But it wasn't until Tomb Raider came along that I saw a major game with a no-nonsense, unapologetic female lead. It was groundbreaking and inspiring for me. And even though I also loved playing Metroid, the hidden gender of the lead character, Samus Aran, didn't have the same impact on me as Lara Croft did.
As I continued to explore different games and characters, Mass Effect's FemShep became a major game-changer for me. It opened my eyes to a whole new level of representation and inclusivity in the gaming industry. However, it was still rare to see meaningful choices for female characters in games outside of role-playing games.
That all changed when World of Warcraft was released. It was the first MMORPG that I subscribed to, and I created my first female character. However, misogyny was still a prevalent issue in the gaming community at that time. The derogatory joke "MMORPG stands for Many Men Online Role Playing Girls" was all too common and reflected the underlying attitude towards women in gaming. It was a toxic environment that led many women to hide their true gender for fear of backlash from other players.
But over the years, I'm grateful to say that things have changed for the better. More and more gamers and guilds are openly embracing different genders and sexualities, though there are still unfortunate instances of attacks and discrimination.
For me personally, my journey with gaming has led me to feel safe enough to reveal my true self to the world. And it's amazing to see that one of the many names I used for my game characters has now become my real-world name.
As I continue to play MMOs, my main gaming interest, I've found a welcoming and inclusive community in Final Fantasy 14 Online. It's a space where I can truly be myself without fear of judgment or discrimination, unlike my experience in World of Warcraft.
I never thought I'd see the day where gaming would become a safe haven for the LGBTQI+ community. And while real-world attacks on our community have unfortunately increased in recent years, I feel that the gaming industry, for the most part, is moving in a positive direction. It's a space where people can freely explore their true selves without the fear of being outed, and where those who are lucky enough to live as their authentic selves can feel welcomed and embraced.
So, to all my fellow gamers out there, have fun and continue to support inclusivity and diversity in the gaming world!
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