LGBT | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 01 Jun 2022 16:23:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png LGBT | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Xbox is giving away a free game for Pride month https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/xbox-is-giving-away-a-free-game-for-pride-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/mustafa-mahmoud/xbox-is-giving-away-a-free-game-for-pride-month/#respond Wed, 01 Jun 2022 16:30:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=562574 Each year across the world, millions of people celebrate Pride month. Xbox has outwardly been a supporter of the cause in the past, and this year is no different, with the console manufacturer giving away a free game on Steam while also donating to charities. Making the announcement on their blog, Kate Rayner, the Vice …

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Each year across the world, millions of people celebrate Pride month. Xbox has outwardly been a supporter of the cause in the past, and this year is no different, with the console manufacturer giving away a free game on Steam while also donating to charities.

Making the announcement on their blog, Kate Rayner, the Vice President and Technical Director at The Coalition and Member of Team Xbox LGBTQIA, said:

“Celebrating Pride this year, we invite LGBTQIA+ communities and allies to unite in their support for justice and equality, and to amplify voices that combat discrimination around the globe. Team Xbox shares our support for the LGBTQIA+ communities within gaming, while raising awareness of current issues impacting these communities.”

With that, it was revealed that Tell Me Why, the “award-winning narrative adventure from Dontnod Entertainment and Xbox Publishing” is being given away for free across both Xbox and Steam for the entire month of June, adding that in “[acknowledging] that this year has seen a sharp rise in anti-trans sentiment in the United States, Xbox Publishing is accompanying the free period with donations of $25,000 each to Transgender Law Center and Trans Lifeline, two non-profit organizations offering resources and support to trans, non-binary, and genderqueer people.”

Alongside some in-game Pride items, new Xbox Pride merch, and a custom Pride themed Xbox controller, Microsoft has announced that they will be donating “an additional $170,000 to OutRight Action International, African Rainbow Family, National Center for Transgender Equality, Mermaids, Lavender Rights Project and Fulcrum UA to help in the fight for LGBTQIA+ equity and equality”

Each year during Pride we see companies paying lip service to the LGBTQIA+ community without offering any real support for this marginalised group. Being a $2 Trillion company, $170,000 sounds relatively paltry, but regardless it is a welcome move.

Tell me Why can be added to your library HERE, and the full statement from Kate Rayner can be read HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you played Tell me Why? What did you think of it? Let us know down below.

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Tim Cook lashes out at US religious freedom laws https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/tim-cook-lashes-out-at-us-religious-freedom-laws/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/tim-cook-lashes-out-at-us-religious-freedom-laws/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2015 11:30:49 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=242672 Head of Apple, Tim Cook, has spoken out against US based religious freedom laws, which let individuals ignore anti-discrimination laws as long as their religion allows it. Cook however believes that the laws, which as many as 20 US states have instigated, are merely a sanctioned lack of tolerance, often specifically used to discriminate against people …

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Head of Apple, Tim Cook, has spoken out against US based religious freedom laws, which let individuals ignore anti-discrimination laws as long as their religion allows it. Cook however believes that the laws, which as many as 20 US states have instigated, are merely a sanctioned lack of tolerance, often specifically used to discriminate against people who identify as LGBT.

Writing a guest piece in the Washington Post, Cook said that the religious freedom laws allow people to circumvent anti-discrimination law just by stating that someone else's sexuality or gender is against their personal beliefs. In some states, that legislation is allowing for people to refuse service to people of differing sexuality or gender. Texas has plans to go even further, with a proposed law that would cut the salary and pension provisions for clerks who issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, even if the ban on same sex marriage is rescinded in the state.

These bills Cook said, are an attempt to discriminate, whilst hiding it with the language of ‘defending' someone's beliefs.

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Tim Cook himself came out last year

“At Apple, we are in business to empower and enrich our customers’ lives. We strive to do business in a way that is just and fair,” he said. “That’s why, on behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation — wherever it emerges.”

He then called on other companies to join him in standing up for open rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of their sexuality or gender.

However, just because his views and own personal sexuality clash with the thoughts of many religious individuals, doesn't mean that Cook himself is against the practice. Indeed he was baptised as a child and describes his faith as being an important part of his life. That said, much like his company, Cook believes that religions should be open to everyone.

“Our message, to people around the country and around the world, is this: Apple is open. Open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love,” he said.

As he puts it, this isn't a political or religious issue, it's simply a case of treating everyone else with the same dignity that you wish to be treated with.

KitGuru Says: While I'm fully on board with Cook's decision here, I would like him to consider looking more into the manufacturing companies that Apple does business with, as many of them don't exactly treat their workers fairly either. 

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GaymerX rebrands, launches Kickstarter https://www.kitguru.net/channel/event/jon-martindale/gaymerx-rebrands-launches-kickstarter/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/event/jon-martindale/gaymerx-rebrands-launches-kickstarter/#respond Tue, 26 Aug 2014 07:53:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=208903 GaymerX, a gaming convention with a decidedly inclusive ethos when it comes to sexuality and gender, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help it continue running next year. On top of that, to better reflect its ongoing focus – not just gay gamers, but everyone – it's rebranding to GX: Everyone Games. Due to hitting …

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GaymerX, a gaming convention with a decidedly inclusive ethos when it comes to sexuality and gender, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help it continue running next year. On top of that, to better reflect its ongoing focus – not just gay gamers, but everyone – it's rebranding to GX: Everyone Games.

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Due to hitting a bit of a ceiling in terms of size, money required to run another and several other factors, it wasn't clear whether a new, third GX convention would ever be held. The organisers are able to come up with a fair amount of funds on their own through advertising, sponsors and tickets, but they need you guys to provide the rest.

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We've become more and more aware that not all of our attendees identify with the ‘gaymer' label,” reads the official campaign page. “And while we love all our gay dude friends, we realize there are more people than that who want an awesome space to hang with their friends in a safe and diverse environment. We want to make sure we represent everyone who feels like they've been left out of mainstream gamer culture.

Rewards for helping out range from the usual thank yous, stickers and Tshirts, right through too discounted tickets and table space to showcase your indie game. Just bear in mind however that if you want to attend, the event isn't expected to take place until November/December 2015, in the Bay Area of California.

If you're feeling especially generous and want to make sure more people can attend, even if you can't, you can ask for your $60 ticket to be donated and GX will make sure it gets into the right hands.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Considering one of the biggest complaints about events like this (other than the moral preaching) is that it almost feels too niche, you have to applaud GX for pushing its “Everyone Games,” ethos, as that really is the point of conventions like this. 

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EA might be hated, but not by its diverse staff https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/ea-might-be-hated-but-not-by-its-diverse-staff/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/ea-might-be-hated-but-not-by-its-diverse-staff/#comments Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:04:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=166877 The gaming industry often gets a lot of flak for not being a gender neutral workplace and alongside that negative comparison, EA games has been similarly voted the worst company of the year several years in a row based on online voting, so it's somewhat of a surprise to hear that EA received a perfect …

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The gaming industry often gets a lot of flak for not being a gender neutral workplace and alongside that negative comparison, EA games has been similarly voted the worst company of the year several years in a row based on online voting, so it's somewhat of a surprise to hear that EA received a perfect score on its workplace equality rating. And this is for the second year running.

This comes out of the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, which has rated EA Games as one of the best places to work in the world. The study takes into consideration internal policies and the management structure of giant corporations and twice in a row now EA has been given 100 per cent.

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Got to give it to EA. It might have turned PopCap and other studio's IPs into a money machine, but it's all inclusive

Much of this was to do with EA's Diversity and Inclusion Team, which while sounding like a sitcom creation, is a real team that has helped promote gender and sexual equality in the workplace by taking part in local gay pride parades in different EA offices around the world and even hosting its own event to highlight some of the issues faced by people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangender (LGBT) in the gaming industry.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUNdbgVdGEg#t=24′]

The Human Rights foundation was also impressed by EA's work with charity. When it twinned with Humble Bundle earlier this year to offer many of its Origin enabled games (so there was some benefit for the publisher), all the proceeds went to charity, which ultimately raised over $10.5 million over just a couple of weeks.

“We’re very proud that EA has been named a ‘Best Place to Work’ by HRC again this year and that our organization has been recognized for providing a workplace that is inclusive and where everyone feels welcome,” said Andre Chambers, head of Diversity & Inclusion at EA. “We look forward to continuing that tradition in 2014.”

KitGuru Says: This is a really smart move by EA. While it might not have the best reputation with gamers for its business practices, with the current climate of women and differing sexualities struggling to find acceptance in the industry, they're likely to flock to a business that offers acceptance, meaning EA could be poised to see a big uptake in highly talented gay and female developers in the future, without needing to compete with as many other businesses for their applications.

[Cheers GamesIndustry

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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender games conference set for August https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-games-conference-set-for-august/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-games-conference-set-for-august/#respond Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:42:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=143266 Known as GaymerX (formerly Gaymercon), the conference, set to take place in San Francisco between the third and fourth of August, is planned as a typical games related event, but with a focus on the LGBT community. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $90,000, GaymerX, will feature booths, panels and the standard game …

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Known as GaymerX (formerly Gaymercon), the conference, set to take place in San Francisco between the third and fourth of August, is planned as a typical games related event, but with a focus on the LGBT community.

Funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $90,000, GaymerX, will feature booths, panels and the standard game release parties of other conferences and is expected to be supported by EA Games, Microsoft (via its Xbox branding), gay rights group GLAAD, anti LGBT suicide group The Trevor Project, LGBT professional network Dot429 and pro-sexual-equality campaigners, Straight But Not Narrow.

The organisers, Kayce Brown and Matt Conn, spoke with Mashable about the conference and said they hoped to help tackle homophobia in-gaming, as well as give gay geeks an event that was designed with them in mind.

So far over 2,000 tickets have been sold, though more will be available at the door, priced between $45 and $60. Red carpet VIP tickets are also available for $135.

gaymerx

The official site describes GaymerX as a “weekend of fun and socialising,” suggesting that, “until now, there has never been a safe space for queer geeks and their friends to come together, discuss queer theory in games as a community, and party as one.”

While gay characters aren't a common thread in gaming history, they've become more apparent in recent years, with the introduction of a “gay planet,” in Star Wars: The Old Republic and with options for same sex coupling in the Mass Effect series.

Kitguru Says: What do you guys think of these sorts of specific events? Do they help raise awareness and bring people together, or do you feel like the highlight and segregate groups from one another?

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EA is hosting a negative chat about sexuality in gaming https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/ea-is-hosting-a-negative-chat-about-sexuality-in-gaming/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/ea-is-hosting-a-negative-chat-about-sexuality-in-gaming/#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:19:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=127540 EA Games is set to host a talk today called EA Full Spectrum, that looks to find out what Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) think of the current state of gaming. Or at least, that's what you'd think they'd be asking, instead according to the event's site, it already knows that gaming is full …

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EA Games is set to host a talk today called EA Full Spectrum, that looks to find out what Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) think of the current state of gaming. Or at least, that's what you'd think they'd be asking, instead according to the event's site, it already knows that gaming is full of homophobia and EA wants to know how to combat it.

“EA Full Spectrum will bring together leaders from the LGBT and videogame community to talk about the state of hate in videogames, the origins of homophobia in games, the development of authentic LGBT characters and whether our industry is doing enough to combat hate,” says the event's site.

It continues by saying, “The event will also feature panels that discuss how we define the problem of hate in videogames and another discussion about our responsibility and going about enacting real change.”

This sounds like complete pandering. Instead of actually asking LGBT individuals for their opinions on the industry, EA is already assuming it's a mine field of “hate,” and wants everyone that identifies themselves as part of the LGBT community, to know that it's already whipping itself for its poor behaviour.

How desperate can you be?

EA Games
The EA published Mass Effect series famously had same sex relationships. Image Source: GamesIndustry

EA has of course had quite a strong history of supporting same sex relationships in Bioware games; the Mass Effect series being a prime example, as well as the famous gay world in Star Wars: The Old republic. But with that being the case, why such a negative outlook on the industry before the conversation has even started?

Kitguru Says: I think it's great that a talk like this is being held, but it's completely ridiculous to go into it with a weighted agenda – whichever way the scales are tipped. Actually ask these people what they think, instead of suggesting that the industry is full of “hate,” before the first words have even been spoken.

It's actually insulting to LGBT individuals, to suggest that they can't figure out the state of the industry without EA pointing it out for them. Look for an honest response EA, not one that makes you look like a saviour.

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