Senior video games execs call for a more gay-friendly industry

Games representatives and social activists have called for an attitude of acceptance towards LGBT issues in the industry at an event in New York.

As reported byGamasutra, senior staff from EA, Kixeye, the ESA and US politicians discussed the issues facing members of the LGBT community when it comes to the games industry at EA’s Full Spectrum event.

The message the panels’ shared was for acceptance of LGBT people to transform society.

Speaking at the event was Ford Foundation president Luis A. Ubinas, who had a message for developers.

I want to emphasize the importance of the role you could play,” he said. The images you present and the interactions you allow, are going to help shape the future.”

He went on to draw attention to the importance that games help to free young people from the often intolerant judgements of the society they live in.

Somewhere in this country there is a young person… for whom being gay means isolation and secrecy. For them to enter fantasy worlds where they can be free to hold hands with a person of their choosing regardless of gender, or make a home with a partner of their choosing… that means they can move from the passive world of television, where they can see other people doing these things, to the active world of gaming, magnifying the impact that we know media can have.”

MCV’s sister site Develop has more details.