Gaymer: Difference between revisions

{{short description|LGBTLGBTQ gamer}}

'''Gaymer''' and '''gay gamer''' are [[umbrella term]]s used to refer to the group of people who are identified as [[homosexual]] and have an active interest in [[video game]]s or [[tabletop game]]s, also known as [[gamer]]s. [[Lesbian]], [[bisexualBisexual]], and [[transgender]] gamers are often categorized under this term.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

This demographic has been the subject of two large surveys that attracted press coverage: by Jason Rockwood in 2006,<ref name="first ever survey"/> who noted the level of prejudice that gaymers endure,<ref name="gaysurvey"/> and by Paul Nowak in 2009 focusing on what gaymers expect of video games.<ref name="Fahey"/><ref name="Hyman"/> A [[gaming convention]] oriented to [[LGBTLGBTQ]] gaming and geek culture, [[GaymerX]], first took place on August 3 and 4, 2013, in San Francisco.

Chris Vizzini, owner of the gaming site ''Gaymer.org'', was involved with several online communities (in special with [[Reddit]]) between 2007 and 2013 in a controversy and [[legal dispute]] over the trademark of the term ''gaymer'', which ended when Vizzini surrendered the right to the term and the trademark was cancelled.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}} In recent years, more and more proper representation of gaymer culture can be seen and predominantly featured in video game studios worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Meet the gaymers: why queer representation is exploding in video games |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/jul/27/meet-the-gaymers-why-queer-representation-is-exploding-in-video-games |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

[[Danielle Bunten Berry|Dani Bunten]], a [[transgender]] woman, designed some of the earliest [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer games]]. In 1996, [[JacqueJacques Servin]], a Maxis employee, was fired when he put implied gay characters into the ''[[SimCopter]]'' game. Some reports state Servin claimed to have done it because he was upset at being grossly overworked at Maxis, while others cited it as a political statement{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}.

The umbrella term quickly expanded throughout the internet which gave rise to popular online communities which provide a safe space for LGBT gamers and the LGBT gaming culture. Most notable of those on [[Reddit]] ''r/gaymers'', ''r/gayming'' and VoIP gaming app [[Discord (software)|Discord]], ''Gaymers, London Gaymers, ''Gaymers iNC, Aussie Gaymer Network'' and ''UK Gaymers''.

In 2006, Sara Andrews started a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-friendly Warcraft guild to create a safe place for this community. In January 2006, Andrews used the general chat channel, because most guilds recruit members this way, to recruit players to her LGBTQ-friendly guild ‘‘Oz’’"Oz".

After posting this, goal administrators quickly contacted Andrews informing her that this was a breach of the games terms of service. The Blizzard terms of service asserts that ‘‘sexual"sexual orientation,’’" including both clear and masked language, which ‘‘insultingly"insultingly refers to any aspect of sexual orientation pertaining to themselves or other players’’players" is banned. Andrews ‘‘was"was warned by a Blizzard game master that this violated the company’scompany's policy on harassment,’’" and ‘‘Blizzard"Blizzard went so far as to threaten Andrews with banishment from the game if she continued’’continued". Blizzard later apologized for this warning, saying that an administrator misinterpreted the policies against harassment.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/blizzard-apologizes-for-anti-gay-warning/ | title=BLIZZARD APOLOGIZES FOR ANTI-GAY WARNING | publisher=digitaltrends.com | date=February 13, 2006 | access-date=6 September 2013 | author=Geoff Duncan}}</ref>

Video game magazine [[The Escapist (magazine)|''The Escapist'']] devoted Issue 222 to gay gamers and characters with the title "Queer Eye for the Gamer Guy" (similar to the [[Queer Eye for the Straight Guy|TV show title]]).<ref>Issue 222 {{cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/features/issue/222|title=Queer Eye for the Gamer Guy|publisher=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|access-date=2011-07-16|archive-date=2019-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622191300/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/features/issue/222|url-status=dead}}</ref>

GaymerX took place on August 3 and 4, 2013, in [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gaygamer.net/2013/08/gaymerx-has-arrived-gaygamers-con-highlights/ |title=GaymerX Has Arrived! GayGamer's Con Highlights |publisher=Gaygamer |access-date=1 September 2013 |author=Sal Mattos |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424163523/https://gaygamer.net/2013/08/gaymerx-has-arrived-gaygamers-con-highlights/ |archive-date=24 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/features/gaymerx-best-weekend-evar | title=GaymerX: Best Weekend Evar | publisher=gamerevolution.com | access-date=1 September 2013 | author = Nicholas Tan| date=5 August 2013 }}</ref> The event has received support from [[Electronic Arts]] and [[GLAAD]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/30083/ea-becomes-first-major-game-company-to-join-gaymercon | title=EA Becomes First Major Game Company to Join GaymerCon | publisher=[[GameTrailers]] | date=September 20, 2012 | access-date=6 September 2013 | author=Danny Gallagher}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gaymercon/gaymercon-everybody-games|title=GaymerCon: Everybody Games on Kickstarter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/gaymercon-and-glaad-team-spirit-day-video-contest | title=GAYMERCON AND GLAAD TEAM UP FOR SPIRIT DAY VIDEO CONTEST | publisher=[[GLAAD]] | date=September 25, 2012 | access-date=6 September 2013 | archive-date=26 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126022908/https://www.glaad.org/blog/gaymercon-and-glaad-team-spirit-day-video-contest | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In April 2007 Chris Vizzini, owner of the gaming site ''Gaymer.org'', sought to trademark the term ''gaymer'' with respect to online communities<ref name=joystiq>{{cite web|url=https://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/gaymer-org-looks-to-trademark-gaymer/|title=Gaymer.org looks to trademark 'Gaymer'|author=Alexander Sliwinski|date=2007-05-08|access-date=2011-06-05|work=Joystiq}}</ref> and obtained it in March 2008.<ref name="bloomberg"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://boingboing.net/2013/01/24/eff-and-gay-gamers-strike-back.html | title=Gay gamers strike back at "Gaymers" trademark | publisher=[[Boing Boing]] | date=Jan 24, 2013 | access-date=6 September 2013 | author=Rob Beschizza}}</ref><ref name="trademakr">{{cite web|url=https://www.gaymer.org/forum/topic/20358-trademark-went-through/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414222939/https://www.gaymer.org/forum/topic/20358-trademark-went-through/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-14 |title=Trademark went through |publisher=gaymer.org }}</ref> In 2012, he sent a [[cease and desist]] letter to [[Reddit]]'s /r/gaymers ''subreddit'' forum, for alleged trademark infringement.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite webnews|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-11/apple-samsung-reddit-directv-intellectual-property.html|title=Apple, Samsung, Reddit, DirecTV: Intellectual Property|publishernewspaper=Bloomberg|date=11 September 2012 }}</ref><ref name="neoseeker">{{cite web|url=https://www.neoseeker.com/news/20736-reddit-issued-cease-and-desist-for-rgaymers-subreddit-due-to-trademark/|title=Reddit issued cease and desist for r/gaymers subreddit due to trademark|author=Lydia Sung|publisher=neoseeker.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://gaygamer.net/2012/09/rgaymers_under_attack.html |title=Gaymer.org's official response to r/gaymers |publisher=gaygamer.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913002409/https://gaygamer.net/2012/09/rgaymers_under_attack.html |archive-date=2012-09-13 }}</ref> Vizzini has been criticized by the reddit and gaymer communities, who cite examples of use from as early as 1991,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups=#!topic/alt.personals/H1K9vGh5u18|title=Gaymer (a gay role-playing enthusiast)|publisher=Google Groups}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/11187/20120910/r-gaymers-sub-reddit-s-future-uncertain.htm |title=r/gaymers Sub-reddit's Future Uncertain Thanks To Gaymer.org's Cease And Desist Letter |publisher=iDigitalTimes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920062327/https://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/11187/20120910/r-gaymers-sub-reddit-s-future-uncertain.htm |archive-date=2012-09-20 }}</ref> and a [[Yahoo Groups]] online community with that name created in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gaymer v. Reddit|publisher=lizerbramlaw.com|url=https://lizerbramlaw.com/blog/2012/09/18/gaymer-v-reddit/}}</ref><ref>[https://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/gaymers/ Yahoo Groups - gaymers] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918085143/https://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/gaymers/ |date=September 18, 2013 }}</ref> Vizzini's website was taken out of service in September, 2012; he has claimed that this was due to a [[Denial-of-service attack|denial of service attack]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/gaymer-website-gets-taken-offline-after-trademark-scuffle-with-reddit|title=Gaymer Website Gets Taken Offline After Trademark Scuffle With Reddit|publisher=egmnow.com|access-date=2012-09-11|archive-date=2019-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405232419/https://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/gaymer-website-gets-taken-offline-after-trademark-scuffle-with-reddit/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On two occasions Vizzini posted new threads to the /r/gaymers forum explaining his position<ref name="reddit1">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/znqsd/regarding_reddit_cease_and_desist_from_gaymerorg/|title=Regarding Reddit Cease and Desist from Gaymer.org}} reddit.com</ref><ref name="reddit2">{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/1182a4/to_clear_up_a_few_things/|title=To clear up a few things|date=10 October 2012 }} reddit.com</ref> and apologizing for "hurting his own people", but not for filing the trademark.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/1182a4/to_clear_up_a_few_things/c6k6s6v|title=Comment by Chris Vizzini|date=10 October 2012 }} at reddit.com. ''"I guess I could have worded it better when I said I didnt owe an apology. I meant I owed none in terms of my trademarking gaymer. ''[...]'' What I do feel badly about is hurting my own people, meaning you guys. So for that I do apologize. It wasnt ''[sic]'' my own people I thought I was dealing with. I thought it was a company called reddit who was swiping traffic to my site."''</ref>

On January 24, 2013, members of /r/gaymers, supported by [[pro bono]] lawyers from [[Perkins Coie]] and [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]], filed a petition at the [[US Patent and Trademark Office]] to cancel Vizzini's trademark on the term, on the basis that it was used with that meaning since the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Reddit gay gamers to fight Gaymer trademark |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/25/reddit-gaymers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128011831/https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/25/reddit-gaymers |archive-date=2013-01-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Gaymer" trademark has to go, say reddit's gay gamers|date=24 January 2013 |publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/gaymer-trademark-has-to-go-say-reddits-gay-gamers/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reddit 'Gaymers' Fight to Protect Online Forum from Bogus Trademark Claims|date=23 January 2013 |publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/reddit-gaymers-fight-protect-online-forum-bogus-trademark-claims}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Update! /r/gaymers is fighting back; the Trademark Issue|date=23 January 2013 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaymers/comments/174ooy/update_rgaymers_is_fighting_back_the_trademark/}}</ref> Vizzini reinstatedre-stated his intent to defend the trademark on the site's name, that he started as an online community on 2003 as a way to build a positive brand from a term that had negative connotations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Owner of "gaymer" trademark says he's an underdog, not a bully|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/owner-of-gaymer-trademark-says-hes-an-underdog-not-a-bully/|date=2013-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Help Save Gaymer - Erase the Hate|publisher=Gaymer.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210201547/https://www.gaymer.org/index.html/_/site-news/help-save-gaymer-erase-the-hate-r72|archive-date= 10 February 2013|url=https://www.gaymer.org/index.html/_/site-news/help-save-gaymer-erase-the-hate-r72}}</ref>

On June 25, 2013, it was announced that Gaymer.org was being officially closed down.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaymer.org Officially Closed |publisher=Gaygamer.net |url=https://gaygamer.net/2013/06/gaymer-org-officially-closed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630010533/https://gaygamer.net/2013/06/gaymer-org-officially-closed/ |archive-date=2013-06-30 }} "The reason I’mI'm closing the site is because the goals were accomplished but also because I feel disconnected from gay gamers having seen their ugly side though all of this. I know it’sit's not all gay gamers from the members of my site but it was enough of them saying hurtful things so loudly that it has put me off. What was once a source of passion has now become a source of pain and it’sit's time to walk away and say goodbye." - Chris Vizzini</ref> On August 22, 2013, the US Patent and Trademark office officially canceled the trademark after Vizzini decided to surrender the mark.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/filenode/gaymercancellation.pdf | title=Cancellation No. 92056705 /r/gaymers subreddit v. Chris Vizzini | access-date=1 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eff.org/press/releases/big-win-gaymers-blogger-surrenders-bogus-trademark-claim | title=Big Win for 'Gaymers' – Blogger Surrenders Bogus Trademark Claim | publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] | date=August 22, 2013 | access-date=1 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/08/reddits-gay-gamers-knock-out-gaymer-trademark/ | title=reddit's gay gamers knock out "gaymer" trademark | publisher=[[Ars Technica]] | date=Aug 22, 2013 | access-date=1 September 2013 | author=Joe Mullin}}</ref>

In 2014 [[Nintendo]], and their life simulator videogame, ''[[Tomodachi Life]]'', which allows for the creation of avatars called Miis to interact with one another came under fire for only allowing opposite sex Miis to flirt with one another or become married leading to disappointment amongst LGBTQIA+ fans of the company. Nintendo responded by stating that "Nintendo never intended to make any form of social commentary with the launch of 'Tomodachi Life,'" Nintendo of America Inc. said in a statement. "The relationship options in the game represent a playful alternate world rather than a real-life simulation. We hope that all of our fans will see that 'Tomodachi Life' was intended to be a whimsical and quirky game, and that we were absolutely not trying to provide social commentary."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nintendo-game-tomadachi-life-not-allow-gay-couples/ |title=Nintendo life-simulation game doesn't allow same-sex couples |website=[[CBS News]] |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=2014-09-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915025358/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nintendo-game-tomadachi-life-not-allow-gay-couples/ |archive-date=2014-09-15 }}</ref> Nintendo later apologized for the incident and disappointing their fans stating "We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life," Nintendo said in a statement released Friday. "Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game's design, and such a significant development change can't be accomplished with a post-ship patch."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nintendo-apologizes-after-same-sex-controversy-over-tomodachi-life-game/ |title=Nintendo apologizes for response to same-sex controversy |website=[[CBS News]] |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=2014-09-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221043102/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nintendo-apologizes-after-same-sex-controversy-over-tomodachi-life-game/ |archive-date=2015-12-21 }}</ref>

{{Portal|LGBTLGBTQ|Video games}}

[[Category:LGBTLGBTQ and video games]]

[[Category:LGBTLGBTQ portrayals in mass media]]

[[Category:LGBTLGBTQ terminology]]