If you are an LGBTQ+ gamer, you are far from alone. According to GLAAD’s first-ever report on the state of LGBTQ+ gaming, one in five gamers identifies as LGBTQ+. GLAAD partnered with Nielsen Games to gather information from LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ gamers about representation, demographics, spending power and more.
“We cannot move what we do not measure,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in the new report, which joins the organization’s other vital reports like “Where We Are on TV” and the “Studio Responsibility Index.”
Like those long-standing annual reports, Ellis shared: “This report was created to educate the game industry on the current state of LGBTQ representation that exists, make a facts-based business case for LGBTQ inclusion, and provide a playbook for more authentic representation.”
Spearheaded by GLAAD’s Associate Director of Gaming Blair Durkee, the report takes a deep dive into the world of gaming, how LGBTQ+ players fit into the landscape and the importance of representation in gaming.
By the numbers
According to the report, around 17% of gamers identify as LGBTQ+. That percentage climbs to 23 to 28% when just looking at gamers under 35 identifying.
While LGBTQ+ players account for one-fifth of all gamers, games with LGBTQ+ characters or storylines account for only 2% of all games.
LGBTQ+ gamers play more hours a week, with 69% of LGBTQ+ players playing more than four hours a week, vs 64% of their straight counterparts.
Buying power
GLAAD suggests that one of the reasons the gaming industry is behind other media in representation is concern for pushing away core audiences that they assume are resistant to LGBTQ content. However, this survey debunks that myth.
While 68% of LGBTQ+ gamers are interested in more prominent LGBTQ+ storylines, 21% of straight non-LGBTQ+ gamers and 29% of gamers overall wish that games were more inclusive of LGBTQ storylines in games.
“This sentiment is largely driven by younger gamers (under 34) and heavy/medium spenders,” the report said.
Fifty percent of non-LGBTQ gamers and 65% of LGBTQ+ gamers feel that game developers and studios are responsible for making more inclusive games and welcoming spaces. Quality of representation also matters to LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ players. A vast majority, 70%, of LGBTQ gamers and 46% of non-LGBTQ gamers are less likely to spend money on a game that contains harmful LGBTQ+ representation.
Having the option to play as an LGBTQ+ character can have a significant financial benefit.
“Notably, LGBTQ gamers are 4–5 times more likely than non-LGBTQ gamers to buy or play a game because it allows them to play as an LGBTQ main character,” the report said. “The buying power of the LGBTQ community and our allies far outweighs any detractors.”
Representation matters
A higher proportion of LGBTQ gamers, compared to non-LGBTQ gamers (80% versus 67%), value gaming as a medium through which they can express their true selves. According to the report, 74% of LGBTQ gamers seek gaming experiences that allow them to explore their identity.
The data also reveals the therapeutic aspect of gaming for LGBTQ individuals, particularly those residing in states with a higher concentration of gamers. Here, 65% of LGBTQ gamers rely on video games for emotional support during difficult times, and 75% view gaming as a safe space for expression that they don’t find in the real world.
Over a third of LGBTQ+ gamers credit video games with helping them navigate their sexual orientation or gender identity. This figure increases to 41% among LGBTQ gamers of color.
Online harassment
When it comes to online and multiplayer gaming, 52% of LGBTQ gamers report experiencing harassment compared to 38% of their non-LGBTQ counterparts. That harassment has pushed 42% of LGBTQ+ gamers away from playing a game because of the threats of harassment. Nearly a third of LGBTQ+ online players have quit a game due to harassment from other players.
“LGBTQ gamers also experience alarming levels of harassment,” said Ellis. “This must change. GLAAD, together with game companies and industry leaders on our Game Advisory Council, is committed to not only increase LGBTQ representation in games, but create a safer gaming
culture for LGBTQ gamers.”
To check out the full report, visit GLAAD Gaming.