There’s no Pride in censoring queer gamers
By Cyra Paladini & Evan Enzer In the wake of major corporate setbacks in last moth’s Pride celebrations—think Starbucks’ “no decorations” policy or Target pulling Pride merchandise—videogame developer Blizzard Entertainment opted for inclusivity.
Blizzard launched an in-game Pride celebration on Overwatch, a popular multiplayer game. The event features new costumes for LGBTQ+ characters and re-skinned maps to commemorate Pride.
This festivity is the latest example of video games’ growing importance as a space for social expression and connection. Resourceful players use video games for political rallies, religious ceremonies, protests, and dating.
Although gaming can provide an important digital public forum, new research finds that game moderation programs alienate minority players, and in-game censorship limits free expression.
