Boards›Player Behavior

LGBT+ community in League

Macabray·6/15/2016, 1:43:20 PM·7 votes·2,824 views

As a gay woman in the League community, I haven't been immune to the homophobia present in people's attitudes and therefore in games. Riot is in a unique position to reach demographic groups that are typically completely sheltered from messages of acceptance and tolerance for LGBT+ persons. I, therefore, would ask Riot to consider making a statement firmly in support of the LGBT+ community in the wake of the recent attack on us exacted by a homophobic, straight man. We, as a community, could be better allies; and that can start with a strong, clear message of support from Riot.

As players, I think we can all hold each other accountable for our language and behavior. We have to remember that sometimes the person yelling "----ggot" in the chat, or calling people "----gger" might be a kid who hasn't learned any better yet. We can support the younger members of our community by gently calling them out on language (instead of the classic "Aaaaand... Reported") and providing alternative ways to talk trash or vent frustration.

Riot, please, in the wake of one successful and one failed hate crime against my people, stand with us. Let's make our community better than the hate we see outside.

58 Comments

Oleandervine6/15/2016, 2:58:21 PM5 votes

While I almost agree with all you say, unfortunately Riot's manner of business doesn't generally pull in the outside world in news or media created by them, so acknowledging this shooting would be out of character for them. They strive quite hard to remain rooted in the fantasy game they created and they don't break that immersion with reality (aside from eSports). That said, I feel like gently scolding people for using homophobic language is not good enough. I like their no-tolerance policy on it. I'm gay and I want the hammer dropped hard on these little ignorant children who think those words are funny or use them to put others down. They know better than to use those words, it's not like they were just made offensive yesterday, so I'm all about ending their accounts if they can't behave themselves. They don't understand the sheer hatred caused by those words, and I would rather not see these people in my games.

AraMoOse6/15/2016, 2:05:21 PM4 votes

I'm very much a fan of the line "When they came for the blacks, I did not stand up for them, then they came for the Jews and I did not stand up for them, then they came for the homosexuals, and I did not stand up. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up for me".

As a heterosexual white adult male, I can't really understand what discrimination feels like, but I try to do my part by educating as well as leading by example. Take heart in knowing that some of us are trying to help make the world a better place. I'm sorry for what you have to go through and I hope we can change the world one person at a time. Do not lose heart.

Searno6/15/2016, 2:03:46 PM4 votes

I genuinely believe that Riot doesn't owe anything to the lgbtq+ community, however I do understand where you're coming from and I would like riot to put racism and hate crime related reports autosorted to the top of their list when reviewing reports. Words such as terrorist/terrorism, nig***, f*****, or the use of the word gay and such should be autofound in people's report descriptions so they show up immediately and see who said what.

I played a game Sunday where the Ekko was so mad he told one of my teammates that he was so gay that he was surprised he didn't get shot in Orlando and I'm sad to see that I didn't get a message yet saying that the player has been punished (Riot please permaban that bitch when you see the reports). I swear at least half of us sent in reports that game, from both teams.

Nazzadan6/16/2016, 3:27:50 PM4 votes

{quoted}

As a gay woman in the League community

Stopped here. If people say inappropriate things, report them and move on. No one cares about your sexual orientation or gender, report someone if they are out of line.

archerno16/15/2016, 3:15:12 PM3 votes

Can we please stop bringing things like these into League? It should never be about someones sexuality, race, religion, nationality.

zlumpy6/15/2016, 3:00:22 PM2 votes

This may come off as being a jerk (sorry if it is taken that way) but I don't think LGBT needs special treatment. Just like I think that no community needs special treatment. I acknowledge that you have made a choice in your life that I have absolutely no right to condemn or applaud. Overall acceptance of people is important, but we don't need to treat people like special snowflakes. equality doesn't mean picking a previously oppressed group and putting them at an advantage, lower standard of quality of work, general acceptance of everything they do, or giving them free stuff. human history is full of oppressed group that have gained equality by working hard. We are all just people and we can only do as best we can. Expecting someone else to give us an advantage is in itself a form of discrimination.

Btw the shooting was an atrocious act of violence that should be abhored purely for the fact that it occured at all. It could have been any religious group, political group, or demographic. I feel sorry for the pure waste of life that occured, and I am impressed by the solidarity of the community that was ravaged. Everyone should be mad that this happened because it happened at all; not because of who it happened to.

again sorry if I came of as a jerk it wasn't my intent. keep working hard and eventually you will have the equality you deserve. i already think of sexual orientation as a personal choice and not a reason to discriminate.

RampageRafshan6/15/2016, 2:19:24 PM1 votes

Riot does not owe LGBT community any responses or public condemnation. If they did this, they would have to do this for a million more reasons. It's sad your asking a game company to make public statement citing "stand up for my people". Take all your people hit the streets and ask for gun control instead. There's no ending to this. 16 mass shootings in 1 week. Mourning and crying has done nothing till now. It's high time we all stood up against guns. We are too busy discussing the motives of the criminals when it's not even the issue. I can walk into a store and come out with an assault rifle... Yes it's that bad. Our politicians love the blame game which leads to nothing. Thus, I'm pretty sure we all can agree we don't need assault weapons capable of firing 50 rounds per min for so called "self diffense".