Gamers know that anything queer was once frowned upon, so this is a huge development.
Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, has finally made its stand on LGBTQIA+ issues clear. Some people may think it’s only rainbow marketing, queer baiting, or virtue signaling. But actually, Riot Games has been welcoming towards the queer community for years.
League of Legends held its first Pride Event from May 17th to June 30, 2021. The event’s goal was to end biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia in gaming. Riot Games then released Pride icons in the form of various flags. They represented a variety of identities and sexualities.
But that’s not all. League of Legends also spilled the tea on Leona and Diana. They became a canon lesbian couple in the game. That was a big break for those eager for more queer representation in gaming. Let’s not forget the people who have been die-hard shippers of ‘LeoDia’ for a while.
The cost of representation
But this didn’t come without a cost. Many loved the idea and were all on board with this development. Yet, thousands of League of Legends incel players were not happy about this. Some said, “It’s unrealistic that these two characters are gay. It doesn’t affect the game at all. So why put it in?” Others stopped playing the game altogether.
But that didn’t stop Riot Games or the people who have been waiting for this representation. Not long after that, Riot Games released the animated hit series Arcane on November 6, 2021. It featured champions like Caitlyn and Vi, who have been sus for quite some time. In the series, the sexual tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. In a Pride Month post, Riot Games confirmed they were, indeed, a couple.
League of Legends is now an ally
On June 1st, 2022, the game released new icon designs for people to enjoy. This included a not-so-shocking reveal involving two characters.
People know Graves and Twisted Fate to be criminals who scout Runettera for some easy cash. Well, guess what, folks. They’re gay! Riot confirmed this in a short story titled “The Boys and Bombolini.”
This followed an official statement that mid-laner Neeko is a lesbian! She’s not the only queer character. There’s non-binary Kindred, Taliyah, who’s transgender, and Varus. The latter is actually one of the first champions rumored to be gay. This was due to his lore, which showed a gay couple and demon combined. But the gaming community labeled them as “best friends” or “brothers.”
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We’re here, we’re queer, so get over it, incels! League of Legends is now an ally and we can’t wait for more queer content and more champions. Champions that show the world that we deserve to exist, even in video games!
Featured Image Macky Arquilla
