Gay league champ plz

Bionthedl·Apr 5, 2017·19 votes·6,919 views

There's not much to it! I would love some LGBT representation in the league of legends. In before people say "sexuality means nothing, just fight" It'd be cool to fight as someone who was more representative of me as a person. I play league for the fantasy and surely can't be the only one. There are so many male eye candy champs (check pool party graves / heartseeker Varus ) that creating unique interactions with them could be truly hilarious. A flamboyant male character could be placed into many roles Top? Bottom? Nah, he's versatile and looking... for a place in the league of legends. PLeaz RiTo

98 Comments

RalanrApr 5, 201711 votes

It's a slippery slope to introduce a character of a certain sexuality without making them seem like they're pandering to that audience too hard.

If a character is gay or straight or whatever, it shouldn't be treated as big to the character or the setting.

Though I think Taric is currently bisexual.

SharjoApr 5, 20175 votes

Ralanr speaks the truth; these things should exist to give weight to the character and add to their narrative, not just as a standing element. At that point it becomes uninteresting window dressing. Let's SEE those relationships aye?

Also I figured Taric would be pan but that's just me.

OleandervineApr 5, 20174 votes

Lucian is nothing but "My wife is dead. I want vengeance." He is a straight male character acting macho. His heterosexuality is his character, it's not "in addition to" a developed narrative. Lucian being a heterosexual is a standing element, and he is uninteresting window dressing. If straight people can have such a character, why can't gay people?

SharjoApr 5, 20171 votes

I'm not saying you're wrong, definetly not. I would appreciate a gay character myself, but something to keep in mind is that, while all of League's characters who have relationships are implied to be straight at least, less than 10% of the roster has ever had their sexuallity explored. Xayah and Rakan, Azir, Lucian, Illaoi and Gangplank are the main ones. Cases can be made for crushes like Rumble's for Trist, but there's hardly any straight characters to begin with.

Not offering an excuse, just that it'd be nice to have such relationships explored, regardless of sexuallity. I would definetly love a non-straight one to be repped for sure, and Riot's shown that they can bring it up as seen in Piltover and Zaun's stories, both of which show gay characters.

OleandervineApr 5, 20174 votes

{quoted}

I'm not saying you're wrong, definetly not. I would appreciate a gay character myself, but something to keep in mind is that, while all of League's characters who have relationships are implied to be straight at least, less than 10% of the roster has ever had their sexuallity explored. Xayah and Rakan, Azir, Lucian, Illaoi and Gangplank are the main ones. Cases can be made for crushes like Rumble's for Trist, but there's hardly any straight characters to begin with.

Not offering an excuse, just that it'd be nice to have such relationships explored, regardless of sexuallity. I would definetly love a non-straight one to be repped for sure, and Riot's shown that they can bring it up as seen in Piltover and Zaun's stories, both of which show gay characters.

But in that regard, you have to begin to wonder why they only explore LGBT themes in 3rd string characters outside of the game, instead of in champions in the game. The whole point is that there's at least 7 confirmed straight characters (Xayah, Rakan, Azir, Lucian, Illaoi, Gangplank, and Camille) and a handful of heterosexual crushes like Garen and Katarina, Ekko fawning over Jinx, Taliyah fawning over Ekko. In total, that's 11 characters, at least, expressing heterosexual interest. That's 15% of the roster of 135 characters. There are currently 0 champions of the 135 characters and 0% of the roster expressing homosexual interest. Taric was close, but it felt like he was gay-but-not-gay and they heavily emphasized that he may be gay, but outright refused to confirm it in any respect. The game is nearing it's 10 year mark, and it's kind of a shame that diversity is improving at a glacial pace.

RalanrApr 5, 20171 votes

{quoted}

But in that regard, you have to begin to wonder why they only explore LGBT themes in 3rd string characters outside of the game, instead of in champions in the game.

Because League of Legends is an international esport and not every country is LGBT friendly.

OleandervineApr 5, 20172 votes

{quoted}

Because League of Legends is an international esport and not every country is LGBT friendly.

That doesn't stop actual real sports from having gay athletes.

RalanrApr 5, 20172 votes

You can't control an athletes orientation because they are real.

You can control the sexual orientation of a fictional character however. Which means countries that "tolerate" LGBT can still opt to avoid it in their media. Which means banning certain media.

OleandervineApr 5, 20171 votes

{quoted}

You can't control an athletes orientation because they are real.

You can control the sexual orientation of a fictional character however. Which means countries that "tolerate" LGBT can still opt to avoid it in their media. Which means banning certain media.

So why should media cater to countries that are intolerant to cultural differences? WE have to tolerate their intolerance and refusal to budge on the matter, so they should tolerate things that come out of our nation if they want those things.

RalanrApr 5, 20173 votes

{quoted}

So why should media cater to countries that are intolerant to cultural differences? WE have to tolerate their intolerance and refusal to budge on the matter, so they should tolerate things that come out of our nation if they want those things.

Because we're guests? And it's also safer to get a profit from it.

Remember there is a reason we can't have human bones in the game. It involves China.

Also Graves's cigar.

OleandervineApr 5, 20171 votes

{quoted}

Because we're guests? And it's also safer to get a profit from it.

Remember there is a reason we can't have human bones in the game. It involves China.

Also Graves's cigar.

Unlike Graves' cigar or human bones, both of which are visual and can't change from localization without a lot of work, gay or straight characters are developed in their voice overs, which is already translated and altered when being localized from country to country. They have the capability to release a gay character, because they can always just not make them gay in the VO's for the countries that forbid it. There's really no excuse.

RalanrApr 5, 20171 votes

So you just put them in the closet for another country?

OleandervineApr 5, 20173 votes

{quoted}

So you just put them in the closet for another country?

Let's not mince words here. Your argument is for them to not exist at all due to regulations in other countries. I would rather they exist and be LGBT in the USA and not be LGBT in China or Russia than to not exist at all.

Gay athletes have to closet themselves to go into other nations, or else they potentially face backlash from the locals.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

Then why at all?

RalanrApr 5, 20171 votes

Because the short stories are optional. And side characters don't effect the actual game at all.

OleandervineApr 5, 20173 votes

Neither do the voice overs or the animations. Hell, the game is nothing but a string of numbers and programming code - nothing but that affects it. All of the visuals, the music, the vocals don't actually affect the game itself. The game could function being completely silent and composed of blocky pixels that did things. But it doesn't, because it's a work of art that utilizes voice, music, and scenery to deliver an experience.

FasmodeyApr 5, 20171 votes

To be honest, It is not their fault. Is it? As they were a growing company (they still are and they have many years to improve themselves) of course their first thing to do in their list wouldn't be officially releasing a gay champion. I mean, you and I know people better than average. You know how harsh can people be.

They are also a company, a kind, thinkful one but still a company. They care about their benefits. They of course could not do such a thing that has possibility to backfire like this without having any base.

Riot is trying to do the best. It is not like they will not release one in the end. It will be done eventually. Better to have it late than never.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

I aint blaming anybody though, im just asking for one.

Stars ShaperApr 5, 20172 votes

It's not acting macho... It's taking a rather dark path to avenge your half. The fact that we are talking about a she doens't change things in any possible way.

OleandervineApr 5, 20173 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=A1zd91oZ,comment-id=0002000000000001,timestamp=2017-04-05T20:06:58.434+0000)

It's not acting macho... It's taking a rather dark path to avenge your half. The fact that we are talking about a she doens't change things in any possible way.

It does. His heterosexual relationship is 100% the basis of his character. You absolutely cannot remove his relationship with his wife and have the same character, as his sense of purpose and reason for vengeance vanishes.

You cannot create a vengeance story without something to fuel the vengeance. They could have made her be a sibling, and used blood ties to fuel it, or have her be a class mate, and have friendship fuel it. But no, they chose love and marriage to Senna to fuel his vengeance, which means he is a character that is absolutely based on his heterosexuality.

BionthedlApr 5, 20174 votes

I don't understand how creating a character that is gay is pandering to a specific audience any more than the creation of Xayah and Rakan is. There are over a hundred champions in the league of legends and all of which can be assumed straight. If that's the rhetoric you are approaching with, then the gay player base deserves a champion. My point is to get a character into the rift that is stated to be gay, he doesn't have to be flamboyant, but there is nothing wrong with flamboyancy and in fact, I would love for that. It should only be a facet of the character but being gay is something that easily adds weight and character to a narrative as being gay and coming to terms with your sexuality is a battle on its own. The fact that the champion is gay could even be the reason for him entering the league.

SharjoApr 5, 20174 votes

It's not that there's any issue with BEING gay, it's that I feel like such a character deserves to have that part of them explored and given more substance. If you wanna make a gay character, make one where the aspect of being gay actually matters beyond it just being a factoid about them, if that makes sense. It matters that Lucian's got a wife because his life has been shaped by her death. It matters that Azir had a wife and kids because that's informed how he's going to deal with Xerath. Xayah and Rakan's life is deeply impacted by each other. I'd expect League's first gay/bi/whatever champion to have a relationship of similar weight.

I speak as a straight white lad so my perspective's of course gonna be skewed by that, but hopefully I conveyed my thoughts properlly. I do agree that more representation would be great and I want more of it, I'd just like it to be done and matter narratively in a major way, if that makes sense. As you say it doesn't even have to be a relationship that makes it substantial, or something in their mannerisms or whatever, I'd just like it to have weight narratively.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

Great input, thanks very much for the contribution :) I agree though, I just want it to be a respectable character who is gay.

Tharona ShadeDec 1, 20171 votes

https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/varus/issue-1/3/

AND NOW YOU HAVE ONE, GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Varus

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20178 votes

I'm up for an LGBT character, but I dont' want it to just be "look how manly they are, they're in a relationship!" I would want it to be an actual representation of the group that I belong to. It'd be cooler to see something along the lines of Xayah and Rakan. Not "them" obviously, but not stereotypes of gay people. Xayah and Rakan have realistic personalities and mostly realistic body types. I'd rather see that than "oh, they're so buff and they're totes in a relationship." That feels more like a joke character than actual representation to me.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

Well, I was picturing something more along the lines of a flamboyant assassin or mage rather than anyone who would say "look how buff I am". Alas, diversity is a beautiful thing. The gays come in many shapes and sizes from skinny twink to muscle bear. I don't understand the parallels you are attempting at drawing to Xayah and Rakan as an example though, care to explain that? I'm not asking for a champion pairing like them, I just want a champion that's has his homosexuality as an integral part of his story.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

But see, I don't think that having it as the central theme to their story is necessarily a good thing, as it makes it so they're "the gay character." All they are is gay.

Yes, I get they come in a variety of shapes and sizes (I'm gay, and I'm tiny and hunched over), but I also don't think that an overly flamboyant champ is teh way to go. That just plays to stereotypes.

OleandervineApr 5, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=A1zd91oZ,comment-id=000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-05T20:37:32.619+0000)

But see, I don't think that having it as the central theme to their story is necessarily a good thing, as it makes it so they're "the gay character." All they are is gay.

Yes, I get they come in a variety of shapes and sizes (I'm gay, and I'm tiny and hunched over), but I also don't think that an overly flamboyant champ is teh way to go. That just plays to stereotypes.

I agree with this. It could be something simple like a joke, similar to Taliyah's joke to Ekko. It wasn't core to her as a character, but it gave her some flavor.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

It gave flavor, but I also don't want another "joke gay character" (there are a bunch of these out there) who's entire joke is just "HEY LOOK! THEY'RE GAY!"

It should be an aspect of their character, but it shouldn't be the main thing.

OleandervineApr 5, 20172 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=A1zd91oZ,comment-id=00000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-05T20:50:30.268+0000)

It gave flavor, but I also don't want another "joke gay character" (there are a bunch of these out there) who's entire joke is just "HEY LOOK! THEY'RE GAY!"

It should be an aspect of their character, but it shouldn't be the main thing.

Exactly, it'd be like if Ekko hit on Ezreal in his joke instead of Jinx.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

But see, if they just hit on another guy through their taunt as their "this character is gay" thing, it makes it pointless. It's just a joke then.

OleandervineApr 5, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=A1zd91oZ,comment-id=0000000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-05T20:56:59.168+0000)

But see, if they just hit on another guy through their taunt as their "this character is gay" thing, it makes it pointless. It's just a joke then.

No, not really. The /j interaction Taliyah has with Ekko and the /j interaction that Ekko has with Jinx doesn't invalidate their interest. I don't think having a guy hit on someone with his /j is going to make his sexuality a joke. And besides, there are TONS of triggers for comments like this, such as attacking, killing, landing a skill on, etc, so it doesn't have to be limited to /j.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

I get that, but I just don't want it to be on a joke or anything. I don't even need the character to be attracted to anyone at that moment. I just want a character who's like: "Yes, I'm gay. But you know what? I have more important things to worry about right now."

OleandervineApr 5, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=A1zd91oZ,comment-id=000000000000000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-04-05T21:03:11.995+0000)

I get that, but I just don't want it to be on a joke or anything. I don't even need the character to be attracted to anyone at that moment. I just want a character who's like: "Yes, I'm gay. But you know what? I have more important things to worry about right now."

But that can't work in the game because just announcing it doesn't offer anything. He's got no way to express it other than flirting. Otherwise, it comes off as awkward or pointless.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

He can be in a relationship, but the one thing I don't want is just another "so fab" character. I hate, hate, hate the super effeminate, makeup wearing gay guy stereotype, as they kind of, how do i put this... act like idiots.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

Then that's on you for thinking someone being true to themselves is acting like an idiot. Hatred within your own community is worse than hatred from without.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

I've seen some weird stuff from them.

Also, as someone who's actually trans and actually wishes she could dress in a feminine manner without judgement, seeing men go around dressed like women and acting super effeminate and stuff is pretty hurtful. It feels like hatred to me.

So I'd say that if being true to myself means that I'm hateful for people acting in a way that I wish I could actually be physically, then I guess I'm just a hateful person.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

But why is it not a good thing? If the champions backstory means more than the gameplay then the developers have an issue. Having a flaming queen who is proud of who they are as a champion in the league would be 100000% less offensive to me than if they made the gay champ I'm asking for a closet case who hates himself. Homosexuality is not something we should be ashamed of as it is a fact of our life. Just like we shouldn't be, I don't want a champion to be ashamed of himself. But really though, what is a stereotype? Do all white girls love pumpkin spice? are all black men hung like horses? what about Asian men, are they all lacking downstairs as well? No? Then stereotypes don't mean Jack sh-t. IF THEY DID make the champion a closet case but it was an integral part of the way they behaved on the rift then there would be no issue. We all evolve into ourselves at our own rate.... I just want a gay champion. There's nothing wrong with being "the gay character" and if they do the kit right, then they are much more than their sexual preference.

midnight oil24Apr 5, 20171 votes

I'm perfectly happy with having a gay character, and I don't want another "omg, i hate myself cause gay" character, but I don't want another "OMG SO FAB AND GAY" character, which I see a lot of.

I just want a character who's gay, but their life doesn't focus around it. I don't want someone who's all about how fabulous they are, I don't want a beefy manly guy, I just want someone who's like "yeah, I'm gay. But I have more important things to do than worry about that right now."

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

But if being fabulous is what the character is about and it's done well, what's the problem? The point of League is to beat the hell out of your opponents. If a character can do that, then what difference does it make if they are "omg so fab", "I'm super manly but gay", or even "yeah I'm gay but have stuff to do". I'm literally just asking for a character that identifies as gay without it being a secret or hidden away. Like it or not, your sexuality defines you as a person in some way so there's nothing wrong with having a champ who is defined by their sexuality as well. And obviously nothing riot does is going to make everyone happy, but representation is better than nothing in my book.

Dancing FoxxApr 5, 20175 votes

I still think Rakan is gay and Xayah is completely unaware.

TyrekGoldenspearApr 5, 20174 votes

If this is to be done, he will have to be a completely fleshed out character on the depth of Camille or Ivern, with his sexuality just being a facet added to it. This way we can represent without adding a gay character just to say we added it. Something like this has to be shown, not told, you know?

The WhamboozlerApr 5, 20174 votes

See... people say they want this, but if Riot does it... they'll OVER do it. Subtle nuance is lost with this kinda thing. You'll get a mincing, flamboyant drag queen or something and then people will be equally upset.

I'm down for a diverse cast too... but it seems REALLY hard for people to find a balance when writing things like that. Either the character will be so subtle in their sexuality that most people won't even notice it and then Riot will get accused of "hiding their gays" or they'll turn that shit to 11 and make it 90% of what the character is about... which will ALSO annoy people by seeming to cater to extreme stereotypes AND offend all the homophobic boys playing this game with how "aggressive" and up-front the character is about it. Not to mention the moral guardians will will cry that "kids play these games!".

Alternately, if they pull an Overwatch and just announce that "so and so character is gay/bi/trans" people will get on them TOO. People will call them spineless for not making it obvious in-game... even though there are PLENTY of people of people who don't wear a freaking pin that says "Totally gay/bi/trans" and go out of their way to play to stereotypes or push their sexuality into the spotlight. Despite this, the homophobes will STILL get up in arms as if it somehow affects the game or is pushing the "agenda" somehow.

It's hard to write this and not cause problems. It's sad that a lot of people/writers/companies are just plain unwilling to write issues of alternate sexuality into their lore just to avoid the drama on both sides. But I blame people for that in-general... not Riot specifically. I doubt the soulless corporate powers that ok all their choices actually care about the issue either way... they just wanna make money. So long as so many of league's markets are intolerant... they're going to seem intolerant too. Depressing, isn't it?

That said... head-canon IS a thing. I personally can't see Graves/TF as ANYTHING but a rugged, gay cowboy and his bisexual partner. Cait and Vi seem pretty "gay couple" to me too, for the girl-girl fans out there. It actually WAS said by the head cheese of decent writing himself that Diana has a girl-boner for Leona... who may respond in-kind... and Draven is clearly gay for himself.

It's there... you just gotta look REAL deep.

BionthedlApr 5, 20171 votes

This is some great food for though, thanks for your input.

The WhamboozlerApr 6, 20171 votes

Wow. I was expecting someone to take offense to my post because... well... a lot of peeps do when it's about issues like this that are serious problems some people are really struggling with. Thanks for proving me wrong. It's great to see sane people on the internet!

I would love to see more diversity in sexuality, race, culture, religion and so on in game... but MAN is it a hard sell that's so fraught with landmines that will blow up and shower you in rage or accusations of intolerance by SOMEONE. I know and am dear friends with a professional, published writer and the things people have gotten outraged at her about for including in stories are INSANE. In a world where everything you put online reaches millions of people, you WILL find someone who is offended to their core at what you've done or said and wishes you ill because of it. There's a lot of crazy people out there.

It's far, far worse when it's a topic like gender issues or sexuality that has a LOT of emotion, controversy and sadly... discrimination around it. People of all sorts are looking for reasons to jump onto you and accuse you of pandering to them, pandering to the bigots, exploiting one or more sides or just plain being a bigot yourself if you don't handle the topic with perfect grace. Even then... you'll likely get flak from the people who just hate that you're handling it at all. It's brutal.

Now, I wish the world was such that companies just said "tolerance and equality are right and so we're standing for that... if you don't like it... don't play".... but not every (many) people will do that. Not many CAN do that. Riot sells league worldwide and some things are censored or considered more offensive in some of the places they sell. It's not just sexuality. Karthas can't be a skeleton anymore because they're taboo to show in a lot of Asian countries (Or just China specifically? I forget) Australia is notoriously thin skinned and prone to censorship. Sexual issues are hot topics and it's something people often HAVE to approach very cautiously, if at all.

But at this point I'm... kinda rambling. It's a depressing topic because it's just something that can't really be changed in small steps. And most companies... including Riot, it seems... don't want to be the people to take those steps and then take the heat that will come over them.

TyrekGoldenspearApr 6, 20171 votes

Nice to see that our Angry Old Man has a heart. :)

And yes, with about 7 billion people in the world it's pretty impossible to please everyone or even avoid offending everyone.

The WhamboozlerApr 6, 20171 votes

At least we had a civil discussion without offending each other! That's gotta count for something, eh?

BionthedlApr 5, 20172 votes

[deleted]

FasmodeyApr 5, 20176 votes

{quoted}

I was just thinking of some funny interactions - To Xayah - Xayah honey, let me take Rakan off your hands To Rakan - Didn't i see you out on the Rift last weekend? Dont worry, i wont tell Xayah. To Annie - you dont know the first thing about bears little girl chuckles To Xilean when recieving exp - thanks To graves - what a big gun, are you overcompensating for something - A smoke screen? what are you trying hide from me? To Twisted Fate - I love a man with tricks up his sleeves To Braum - You looking for a damsel? To kled - Are yall a package deal? To nocturne - i know youre a creature of eternal darkness and all but I prefer the lights on

Super cringy