Queer Champions in LoL Lore

Sweetsy··35 votes·16,967 views

I really want to enjoy playing this game but it's very hard to relate to any of the characters when they're all straight. I honestly don't know why there haven't been any LGBTQ+ characters in any of the lore so far. Is it really that hard to write them in? There have been plenty of confirmed straight relationships. (to the point where everyone gets reminded that GP and Illaoi are a thing when you load in) I'm pretty sure the closest we've gotten to an actual LGBT character is when riot stated in a Q&A that Taric doesn't really care about gender (or something like that) and the couple Riot employees who ship Diana/Leona. Also, didn't someone state that Kayn have a crush on Zed but then someone else came and said he didn't? There are 139 champions (including Ornn) and we don't have a single one who is shown to be Queer in the lore? I understand that relationships, in general, aren't really shown in the Lore of LoL that much but, throw us a bone, please.

242 Comments

Malicious Metal23 votes

See, it would also mean that straight people wouldn't relate to X champion then and already established character's sexuality is always a touchy subject. And I'm speaking as a Bisexual male.

I couldn't give a damn who my champion likes to sleep with. What I do care about is them as characters, their personality, what makes them stand out. Being gay, Bi, non-binary or anything in between just isn't something that I consider important to a character.

How you act, your merits and what you stand for is so much more valuable when judging a character than their choice of sexual partner.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO5 votes

I would say that any character Riot creates now would be mikes ahead of the character standard they once had. I don't know why you're so against this idea

Malicious Metal19 votes

Because every one of these threads just boils down to having a LGBT character for the sake of it. If them being non-straight is actually an important aspect of their character without them being simply the "Token Gay" character I'd be totally on board with it but I personally think sexuality is something far from being important to one as a person. Though, there are some great examples of how you can implement a really relatable LGBT character, Dorian from DA:I comes to mind.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO9 votes

Sexuality is one of the big identifiers in the world, up there with race, religion, and gender. I think the creation of a well-done LGBT character would do wonders for Riot as a company and show people that these types of characters can be handled well.

I get that the sentiment against this is that it would result in things like Marvel Comics now. Reaching too hard for diversity can result in poor characters.

You personally may not see it as a big deal and that's fine. But having relatable characters goes a long way with people who can relate to them. Look at games like Street Fighter. Sure you can say that all the fighters are stereotypes of cultures, but at the end of the day a kid can point to a character on the screen and say "that's me."

Obviously Riot will never incorporate real life religion. There are a decent mix of male and female champions, and a lot of different ethnicities are represented (though that can always use work).

So yes, having an LGBT character would work well for those looking for representation.

Malicious Metal11 votes

Race, religion and gender are all things I personally despise as things people identify themselves as, since it more often than not leads to unnecessary conflict and other stuff that just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Why would I want to identify myself with something as arbitrary and unimaginative as religion or sexuality when my strengths and hobbies are a way better representation of who I am?

Still, that's probably just me and there are tons of people who just build their identities around this one little detail about themselves so I'm not one to judge.

And yeah, that's probably why I don't think Riot releasing a LGBT champion asap is necessarily a bad thing. You can still identify yourself with one of the 140+ champions we got, there's bound to be at least one champion you can safely say you share some traits with.

ZyniX2 votes

I am really sick of being categorized and then becoming guilty by association for others actions. It was only ever a divide and conquer strategy that younger generations still don't understand and we certainty don't need to know who a champion sleeps with as it has no impact on the game whatsoever.

MysterQ5 votes

I would be so much happier with this.

Note, I am not saying stay in the closet. Hide yourself. Or anything like that. Just you don't need to force yourself to try to normalize it. It becomes offputting for a lot of people when everything turns into a political issue.

When I was younger, there were gay people. Nothing wrong with it. And you know what, being gay DIDNT identify them. They were just gay. But now there is so much media attention people use their "different" sexuality to define themselves. Like it isn't your most important trait. Hopefully it isn't asked on like school applications and such, I mean come on. If you want to normalize it, stop bringing so much attention to it (imo).

SummonersDrift17 votes

the game isnt about that, why do you even care and why do you assume they are all straight? the vast majority dont state what gender they like. dont be one of those people, take your SJW shit elsewhere please.

Sweetsy8 votes

I'm just saying as a Queer person that having a character that i could relate to and positive representation would make me enjoy the game more, I've talked to my LGBT+ friends who play league and they care about this as well. I can understand if you don't care but please don't make it seem like this isn't an issue.

ChompyWulf3 votes

It isn't an issue. Game is not lore driven, champ bios are pretty concise, and as others have pointed out few are confirmed straight. Whole this guy was an ass about what he said, he's not all wrong either.

HalcyonDweller5 votes

His general opinion that league shouldn't be politicized might be right, but it's certainly wrong to overreact to a post like this and accuse the poster of being an SJW in an attempt to shut them up.

SummonersDrift3 votes

Ok Let me summarize my side in dot point form. .I am ok with there being lgbt characters in the game, i think there already are just not stated in lore (why assume everyone is straight?)

.I am NOT ok with bending over backwards or going out of riots way JUST to put in a lgbt character. if they are ACTUALLY gay as a character then thats fine but as others have said about the token gay guy character, dont do that=P

.I am rude (and lets be honest not that rude) in my reply because it annoys me that there a LOADS of character types that arent in the game, why do you think your personal characteristics not being in the game is any more important than others? I find it arrogant and self centered. there are no australian characters in the game, i do not care and dont think riot should drop everything to start developing one.

.am i over-reacting? maybe a little, but when you watch people yelling over scientists ignoring what someone has studied for 30+ years AND is super smart because they dont want their feelings hurt, it gives me a generally short fuse on the topic.

HalcyonDweller5 votes

Don't mind him. He's just being rude.

Yes, it would be nice for people like you to have characters to relate to. Unfortunately it is difficult and controversial for Riot to get involved in a topic such as this. I suspect that this may be the reason they haven't done that yet.

They do have a few characters that have implied preferences (Taric perhaps), although there aren't any gender ambiguous characters yet. I STAND CORRECTED BARD IS A CHARACTER.

Edited.

Sweetsy4 votes

Actually Kindred is gender ambiguous too! It's just that literally everyone forgets that...

HalcyonDweller9 votes

"Cant you just leave us alone?"

"And also no to the things you ask for..."

It sure is nice being straight, white, and male. Speaking as one.

let it be known that SummonersDrift does not represent the opinion of every straight, white, male player of this game.

EDIT: For anyone interested in checking out the comedian I quoted here, his name is Bo Burnham. He does a really good job of being offensive on purpose and satirizing things that are wrong in life. The song is literally just called "Straight White Male"

Killed Inaction1 votes

You forgot cis.

HalcyonDweller2 votes

I'm unfamiliar with that acronym. What does it mean?

Also I'll be honest, I mostly just wanted to share a quite from one of my favorite comedians where he did a ditty about being straight, white and male. Also it was relevant and SummonersDrift was being a dick.

Killed Inaction4 votes

Cis is the opposite of trans. Transgender people are people who (I'm sure you know) change their apparent physical gender away from that of their AAB (assigned at birth) gender. Cisgender people are those who are comfortable with and remain the gender they were assigned at birth.

Cis is to trans (T) as straight is to LGB.

Stars Shaper12 votes

The only confirmed straight champions are: Xayah, Rakan, Illaoi, GP and Lucian (plus Ashe and Tryndamere). Aaaaand Garen plus Katarina.

If you need to know the sexual orientation of a character to decide if you are playing them or not, the issue is not in the game.

Malevolent Metal3 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=ia6VVqME,comment-id=0002,timestamp=2017-08-10T22:04:52.264+0000)

The only confirmed straight champions are: Xayah, Rakan, Illaoi, GP and Lucian (plus Ashe and Tryndamere).

If you need to know the sexual orientation of a character to decide if you are playing them or not, the issue is not in the game.

Don't forget Garen and Katarina :p

midnight oil249 votes

I think personally (and I'm asexual) that it doesn't really matter to the game itself, but if they put one in I'd be happy for it. The creators have confirmed that there will be gay champions, we just have to wait.

Plus, there are other factors you can look for. Ornn, for example, is a champion I'm incredibly excited about because he seems to fit with me in terms of mentality, view of others, view on work, and general attitude. So it's not like I need an asexual champion to relate to, I just want a character that I see an aspect of myself in. Not a specific aspect, just an aspect.

FiddlesOnTheRoof9 votes

Ya, "the gay one"- just what a game and what an entire community needs.... I haven't heard any other demographic voice a need to "relate" to a character. I'm a big white guy... That doesn't make me play Garen and Darius.

ChompyWulf8 votes

This is a MOBA, not a RPG or other story driven game....sexuality should not matter in relating to what little bits of character are given about the cast. Unless they make another champion pair similar to Xayah and Rakan, I see few if any ways that sexuality will be relevant in a champion bio.

Kynin7 votes

It is widely believed Taric and Ezreal have a thing going and Yorick does dig graves.

IAintDarius12 votes

"If you say something enough times eventually people will believe it."

Literally the only reason the whole Taric Ezreal thing exist is because the community memed about it a lot. There is nothing else that states that.

Kynin1 votes

{quoted}

"If you say something enough times eventually people will believe it."

Literally the only reason the whole Taric Ezreal thing exist is because the community memed about it a lot. There is nothing else that states that.

I am not so sure about that. Taric is from Mount Targon, a place only the most devout seeker can find and who is more devout to seeking than League's own explorer? They could quite easily meet and I am sure they would hit it off.

IAintDarius6 votes

That's not my point. I said everything about Taric x Ezreal is 100% fanbase side.

Gunpoint7 votes

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midnight oil2411 votes

Why does everyone assume that's what people would want it to be? LGBT people are capable of gasp being totally normal people who just so happen to be gay/bi/trans/whatever. It's not like they want it to be the core trait of the character, they just want it as a trait. Sort of like how a trait of Ez is his terrible personality, or that Tryndamere has a sword.

Gunpoint9 votes

[{quoted}](name=midnight oil24,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=ia6VVqME,comment-id=00090001,timestamp=2017-08-10T22:32:58.537+0000)

Why does everyone assume that's what people would want it to be? LGBT people are capable of gasp being totally normal people who just so happen to be gay/bi/trans/whatever. It's not like they want it to be the core trait of the character, they just want it as a trait. Sort of like how a trait of Ez is his terrible personality, or that Tryndamere has a sword.

I don't even have a problem with Riot making a gay champion, I just hate the reasoning behind why they "NEED" to make one. You can identify with champions in other ways than your sexuality. I main a female champion, and I'm a guy. The reason why is not because I actually identify as a girl, it's because the champion is fun to play and I also like the champions personality.

Sweetsy6 votes

I can try to make it a little clear why it's so important!! The LGBT+ community's biggest hardship is invisibility. Homophobia generally comes from a lack of information. Positive queer characters in popular media are so important so the image of the LGBT+ community isn't riddled with stereotypes and negative portrayals. That's why I think a queer character in League would be so important. Not only for other queer people to identify with, but also to help educate people. If that makes sense.

MysterQ9 votes

NOW YOU ARE WRONG.

You aren't taking this into you need to identify with a character. NOW you are asking to make a political statement.

midnight oil246 votes

Unfortunately, you're a little right. A gay character should be there, but have it as just one aspect of them. I'm not defined by asexuality, and gay people aren't defined by that. I would want a character, not a political statement.

MysterQ5 votes

And that would be fine. A few LG characters is fine. (In most parts of the world).

I would have a problem with 50% LG characters. So if they added a few, these threads should reduce themselves (which I fear they would not).

Lapis7 votes

There was a post a while back where Taliyah's writer or something (I can't remember 100% who it was) said something like "Taliyah cares more about who a person is rather than what gender they are".

ssj8Brolykugeta7 votes

As a black guy you dont see me complaining about the lack of diversity in a fantasy themed game. Literally who cares. Just enjoy it or play taric. Or dont play at all. My god

I Love Thresh7 votes

Oh boo hoo. Who cares about who a champion wants to fuck. If you need to project your sexuality onto fictional characters, it says a lot about you.

Darius Strada6 votes

If you actually read the lore you would know that there are gay characters in Runeterra so this leads me to believe you just trying to get attention?

Mystery Ghost6 votes

LoL is a videogame not a hollywood propaganda, keep your gay lgbt shit for the american hollywood since they are from there and dont bring them here. LoL is a global game for all countries and mainly for the chinese market, not for american propaganda.

trashbagz5 votes

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midnight oil245 votes

Why aren't they normal? What makes them any different from others than who they're into?

trashbagz6 votes

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midnight oil247 votes

Being gay isn't a condition. It's just who someone is. You really shouldn't call someone not normal, because it can be pretty rude. It's not like they're suffering from it.

And besides, despite what you said up there, if I saw a gay champion done in a good way that didn't make being gay the sole aspect of their character, I'd love to see one in this game.

trashbagz4 votes

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Fasmodey6 votes

For something to be considered as mental illness, It should affect individual's life negatively.

And for being normal... Being rich is not normal, being ginger is not normal, having green eyes is not normal, being tall is not normal. There is a huge list of things that are not normal but also in positive side.

Normal is society term, It is made up. And something not normal doesn't mean it is necessarily bad, as I listed above.

TyrekGoldenspear7 votes

And for being normal... Being rich is not normal, being ginger is not normal, having green eyes is not normal, being tall is not normal. There is a huge list of things that are not normal but also in positive side.

These aren't even positive. They are net neutral things.

The main issue is that for some reason you insist that sexuality is something that you must have to identify yourself with/relate with. And that's not true at all.

Nobody straight identifies with a character becuase the character is straight.

So why does it have to work the other way? These made up flagposts and arbitrary excuses to push your idea that "this is normal, everyone must be okay with this or else they are bad people". Not how this works.

P.S. How's the Vet thing going?

Otivnaig5 votes

This is a game about fighting, dying and so on. Who the hell cares about relations?

MysterQ2 votes

@Fasmodey's comment (can't find it on here) Race and sexuality are not same. Every race has homosexuality, and it is actually almost same in every part of world. But race is different.

A game created by asians, or hispanics, or whites, or any race could avoid another races. Even though I think they shouldn't, I can understand that as they may aim their nation. But homosexuality exists among every society. Every race has gays. So excluding them in a big game would be almost like "we don't like gays".

And please don't act like you're terribly unrepresented. Asian characters are everywhere, heteros are everywhere. Ofc you wouldn't make it a problem if you were not represented in a produce, as it is a rare case. It is not an achievement to say "Oh well, there are no straights and asians in this game, who cares" when you exist in 95 out of 100 produces. Because you know you will represented in next one.

People would lose their shit if a game was made by all gay characters. They would say how unrealistic it is and why there are no straights. And they did apparently.

Borderlands 2 seems like an LGBT supportive game even though it is not all about gay characters as I know. Though I did not play this game and I almost know nothing (not kidding, literally almost nothing), even I have heard that this game have many LGBT characters and people make it a problem. Yeah, it almost doesn't sound like anything. I can't imagine another similar group to this...

Well, It is ALMOST LIKE we people are all similar and our mentality is not significantly different. It is just conditions that make it look different. You think you're so tough and you don't give a fuck about anything, neither sexuality nor race. You think you ignore every social problems and you're cool when you say it.

But it is not mate. Better don't be in a similar case. Better don't live such a problem in your life that make this "Idc" attitude a shameful memory.

I'm less on Riot making a gay character than you trying to make it avoided by Riot. I can be happy (and I already am) without gay characters but you feel like you would be upset if there was any. It is just sad.

These type of threads are long time alive just because of people who are unbelivably against LGBT. And for that reason I said to myself not to argue on threads like this anymore until someone replies to me. Even though I have seen so bad argues on this thread (It is insane), I did not reply or anything as I know it is such a waste of time. Because I know we don't cross on a point, It never ends.

MysterQ4 votes

For some reason I read this like you have a higher opinion of yourself than you do of others. But maybe I was wrong in my first reading.

Ok, I am also Native American-Cherokee. You are right let's go with that. WHERE AM I REPRESENTED ANYWHERE?!?! I STILL DON'T CARE. Do any of my Native American friends care? None of MY Native American friends care. Because that is not our defining characteristic trait that we chose for ourselves. I am sure some 100%NA would actually care a little more because to them it is a much bigger defining trait.

The LG community is the one who is making sexuality their defining trait, when it should really only be one aspect of their life, not their entire existence.

I have already said I am fine with a few LG characters, especially if it would (pardon me) shut up the small vocal community of LGs who need approval and normalization by every other person because they are insecure in themselves. You are right though. The problem comes when the few is not enough. I know nothing of borderlands, but if LoL decided to go 90% LG I might get upset at it. If it was in the background, I probably wouldn't care. But if it was a purposeful political statement, then you bet I'd care. I don't want your politics in my game.

And I am sorry if that comes off as rude. Again, I am not trying to oppress, or say hide yourself or anything. I just want my entertainment to be entertainment and not another political machine trying to make statements.

Ok, reading through it again. Yea, you definitely come off super conceited in yourself. This is why there is no point in having these types of conversations.

Edit: Also you ignored your two incorrect points completely. You said asexuals aren't romantic, an asexual on this thread said he was. You said Riot's new characters have 4 confirmed heteros. Well someone said Riot said Taliyah is... x-sexual. But yes, insult me more.

Mechakaiser1 votes

Well, there are a lot of people discussing why LoL should have a LGTBI character or not, and I just see things too clearly. Because of THIS. THIS. This whole post, and its comment section, that's why League should definitely have more LGTBI characters, because they aren't normalliced in society, and whenever someone brings this issue to debate, the whole thing turns into a mess of insecure guys trying to make it about themselves.

Guys, it isn't about US, it doesn't always need to be about us. Some people are gay, just let them be gay, you don't need to feel attacked in any way, again, this isn't about YOU, but THEM. The fact that some League characters where defined as being LGTBI wouldn't affect you on the least, but it could make a lot of people happy, and it would also help make their situation more normaliced.

They don't want a LGTBI "Token" character, they don't want a character whose only defyning trait is being gay, because that would be boring and insulting. People are much more than their sexuality, people have ambitions, dreams, flaws that have nothing to do with their sexuality. The only reason for them to talk so much about sexuality is that they CAN'T, because they aren't allowed to talk about it as it was a normal thing. And it HAS to be a normal thing, because otherwise, we are hurting each other and making a lot of people go through lots of problems, just for being born they way they are.

All that OP asked for was for Riot to "throw a bone". That's it. Not some character wearing rainbow clothes and yelling about how gay they are. How many people are like that in real life? They want a Hero, or Villain, or whatever, like any other character in League, and they want Riot to CONFIRM, just with one message, or picture, or some short story, that aside of being a Hero, they are also LGTBI. Just like people outside there are LGTBI, without that needing to be "justified" by their life experiences and goals. Blizzard only needed one image of Tracer kissing another woman (can't remember her name, I am not really into OW) to make their LGTBI fans go nuts. That's what people need, those are the tiny steps that help normalice something that should have been normal since the start.

This is Jorgen: Jorgen is a bruiser with Heavy Ad scalings who is perfect for skirmishes in the early game. He has this gimmick where he uses walls to bounce off them and enhance his attacks and... long talk about mechanics and gameplay...

...still talking about mechanics and gameplay...

...some random thoughts by the designers...

...some Lore...

... also, he is gay. And this is is launch skin Warrior Kingdoms Jorgen, have a nice day.

And it doesn't need to be "justified", whatever that means. People don't need "justification" to be LGTBI, they just ARE, as characters in fiction should simply, BE LGTBI, because fiction is all about making us think about our reality in different and new ways, and people in our reality are LGTBI. This won't turn Riot Games into a machine of throwing "politically correct" (LOL) characters, they just want Riot to "throw a bone", SOMETHING, because so far, they have gotten NOTHING, and that's simply not fair. Come, CONFIRM, strongly, that one character is LGTBI, then keep doing amazing characters, as they always do, maybe add another one in the future. That's it.

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