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{{short description|
{{otheruses}}
{{Update|date=February 2022}}[[File:Electronic Frontier Foundation video conferencing background gaymers (40124396591).png|thumb|[[Wallpaper (computing)|Background]] designed by the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] to represent gaymers]]
'''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. [[Bisexual]], 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 [[LGBTQ]] gaming and geek culture, [[GaymerX]], first took place on August 3 and 4, 2013, in San Francisco.
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=== Online communities ===
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''.
== Media coverage ==
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=== Trademark controversy ===
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 news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-11/apple-samsung-reddit-directv-intellectual-property.html|title=Apple, Samsung, Reddit, DirecTV: Intellectual Property|newspaper=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 re-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>
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=== Nintendo's ''Tomodachi Life'' controversy ===
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>
== See also ==
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{{LGBT slang}}
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