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@Riot a serious discussion regarding League champion sexuality

Jezebelle·4/6/2016, 1:06:16 AM·1 votes·1,349 views

I have a problem with the Tariq relaunch. No longer is he a flamboyant, elder homosexual modeled after celebrities such as Matt Bomer, and Andy Cohen. On that note, I took it upon myself (as I love this game) to analyze champion homosexuality and compare it to real life, and all I could find is Vi (a "butch" lesbian which in gay culture is a lesbian woman who is more masculine than feminine, her lore hints at love with Caitlyn), Ezreal (he looks like a "twink", which in gay culture is a skinny gay male, stereotypically blonde and white), and Braum (a "bear", which in gay culture is a hairy gay man). As a gay, I feel as though gays don't have much representation in League of Legends, and they need more, as Tariq's relaunch is taking one confirmed gay off of the Fields of Justice. Tariq was turned into a straight "Fabio" archetype male. I ask Riot one question: Can the LGBT community get a few more canon LGBT champions?

11 Comments

Variks the Loyal4/6/2016, 1:28:52 AM5 votes

Sexuality is not important. Not in Runeterra.

There, I said it.

It's important to you, yes. And my sexuality is important to me. But Runeterra is not a world where all of this is common discussion. Take a look at this trope.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HaveIMentionedIAmGay

No champions in League do, or should, fit that trope. By all means, they can be gay (Although Braum does not strike me as gay. At all. And Ezreal has a crush on Lux in the old canon). But their character should NOT revolve around that.

This is a world where a giant world ending dragon is coming to cleanse the Targonian civilization upon it. Should Taric stand in front of Aurelion and say, "By the way, I'm gay."?

Consider what we know of Taric's new lore. We have his bio, and the comic. Where in those narratives would it have been appropriate for him to say, "By the way, I'm gay." Has he run into a female character who hits on him, and he gently puts her down? No. We have no canonical situations where Taric's sexuality might have been a point to make.

Tesla Effect4/6/2016, 1:11:31 AM4 votes

Way to overgeneralise champions. An no, sexuality should not come before characterization. I mean for flippin sakes, over half of the champions havent even gotten new post-retcon lore any you think this matters more!? And even the lore we got isnt even close to truly diving into what and who the character is. Thats what matters.

LordHippoman4/6/2016, 3:03:11 AM4 votes

None of the champions you mentioned have a confirmed sexuality. In fact, Ezreal is super strongly implied to have a thing for Lux. Vi is Caitlyn's partner, and probably her only friend, but them having a relationship is pure fanon. Braum just loves everybody. Taric was also never confirmed to be gay. That's fanon as well, and honestly, it's not good fanon. It wasn't made from a respectful point of view, that joke (and it's considered a joke) comes from Taric being flamboyant and people latching onto it as a stereotype.

Honestly, I'd love a canon LGBT champ. But like has been mentioned, I'd rather it not be their defining characteristic. Because then, you're right, it just becomes a stereotype. Honestly, a lot of champs could be non-hetero. Urgot could be gay. Irelia could be a lesbian. We just don't really know. If I could have my ideal LGBT champ? They'd just be like any other champion, but with a different love interest. Just like real LGBT people.

Faith Morgana4/6/2016, 1:22:58 AM2 votes

you should watch a game of the reworked taric on youtube not necessarily an entire game but just too see what his various animation look like (taunt, joke, auto attacks, etc) he became the embodiment of his meme haha