LGBT and the importance of Tracer (Papa Jeff responds) 🏳️‍🌈

General Discussion
69

I agree. It’s just her alone as a person just makes me smile because how optimistic she really is. Its good to have her be positive all the time, especially for me and others that takes away all the negative thoughts inside of our mind. And of course

KEEP CALM AND TRACER ON :+1:

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70

What I would like to see is people not telling others what should or should not be important to them. For some people, their race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc, has been made a huge part of their lives, either through their own actions or someone else’s. For others, it doesn’t mean much at all. Both of these are perfectly valid. For me, my nationality doesn’t carry much weight.

For me, for example, being an American isn’t a negative or a positive, it’s just there. For others, their nationality is a huge source of pride and so long as it’s not used to degrade others for being different, there’s nothing wrong with that. Being a lesbian has become very important to me because it’s something I struggled with since middle school, and it has shaped my life in ways both in and outside of my control. For others, it doesn’t really mean anything at all, it’s nothing special, not negative or positive, just there. And that’s fine too.

Absolutely, there is more than just that, it is just one facet of a character. But like I said, whether you like it or not a lot of people have spent a lot of time being judged on those ‘surface level traits’, and some aspects of their person are much more deeply ingrained than just the surface. It can be a point of solidarity or a reminder of what they’ve overcome. There are a lot of great stories, both real and fictional, shaped around how someone’s race, religion, gender, sexuality, etc etc have set expectations for them and how they’ve overcome that.

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72

Well, alright, fair point. But I just don’t personally understand why people choose to devote so much of their identity to things out of their control.

Like, my two best friends are a lesbian couple, but when I think of them I don’t think, “Oh yeah, those are my gay friends.” I think, “Oh yeah, those are my best friends. I’ve known this one since kindergarten. She’s funny af but a bit overprotective. Omg, this one time-” etc. right?

Like, from the outside looking in, I see so much more to those two friends than just their sexuality. That’s kind of a side note more than anything. Similar to what kind of ice cream flavor is their favorite, or what kind of music they like.

And, being disabled, I’d like to think that they don’t look at me as their “legally blind friend,” either. In fact they often forget about it and when I tell them I can’t see something, they’re like “Oh right, duh. XD”

So I’m not trying to come off as hostile or dictate what you should or shouldn’t care about. I just legitimately think that people put too much emphasis on these traits, when strength of character and personality have far more of an impact on who we are as people.

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76

I don’t necessarily think it should define who they are, either. There are people that wear it as a badge, which I don’t get. I understand pride, because of historic oppression and culture, but surely example person is more than what they are prideful of? Do you wanna be known for your redeeming qualities, or be known as that XYZ person? Convince me otherwise, but I think that’s just harmful.

Also, great post OP, thank you for sharing this. I may not respect Jeff as a developer, but he’s still a good dude.

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77

Uh I wouldn’t share my :bed: with my best friend.

78

Junkrat’s got his own bed in the trailer. Hence the pillow and blanket and all his personal belongings there. Anyone who seriously thinks he sleeps in the same bed as Roadhog is D E L U S I O N A L

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79

That’s what Blizzard wants you to think. :^)

80

That was a really well-written essay!

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81

Yeah if that’s the way you want to look at it then sure. I mean it wasn’t exactly what I was saying I was more trying to highlight that its been done, how many times now, and it’s beginning to become a bit of a ‘joke’ in its self. Not so much trolling as to trying to make a bit of logical, non-lgbt sense of it.

Point taken into consideration though and I’ll understand that I can’t highlight anything on my side, or that I have to be gay to write here or something.

82

Maybe they want us to think that because it’s true ¯_(ツ)_/¯

83

games were escapism tool some years ago. People played them to be someone else, now it’s all-inclusive policy everywhere, everyone should be represented and we end up with battlefield 5 and people of color on both sides in codwwii. Games.

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87

wow, you looked more into it to make yourself a victim than you should have. nobody makes anyone click these threads. you’re not a victim if you click on these threads to tell people theyre wrong.

89

Your right man, I commented on this thread with purposeful intent.

I came here specifically to state that someone is wrong, obviously I think they’re wrong and that’s what I’m saying, as clearly evidenced by… oh wait… where is the word wrong… I cant find it… can someone help me find the word wrong.

Anyway I think I’m done, whatever comes after this will most likely be ignored cause I’m not seeing the logical sense that I wish I could see.

90

Women of Valor: The Rochambelles on the WWII Front c:

91

you made it clear you werent listening for logic in the first pace.

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92

Awesome that a response was made, but for a game like overwatch, let’s not bring politics and social aspects to the game. A game this great doesn’t need it.

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101

That was very moving.

I’d have loved a character like Tracer when I was in high school back in the 90s for similar reasons.

I gotta admit I cried reading that because I was happy reading how this girl feels about Tracer but also because I felt more than a little sad that I didn’t have a character like her when I was a teen. I could have really used one at times.

I like Tracer today though for the same reasons this kid does. I mained her because that was how I saw her, but I never thought they would actually state that she is gay. Her eternal cheerfulness is the other reason. I can’t not be in a bad mood when playing her.

This kid’s letter is spot on, and Jeff’s reply was the best thing ive read today.

I know people get sick of hearing about how we want LGBT characters. Some days I roll my eyes and get why you’re sick of hearing it, too. It does get repetitive and some topics get a bit preachy and heated. But you really have no idea how important and rare GOOD representations of minorities and LGBT people are, especially transgender ones, like the girl suggests at the end of her essay.

I don’t think people want every character in the roster to be LGBT (personally, I have a view of soldier being the man who either has 3 ex wives or never married the woman he loves, who ever she was, because of his job, and would love to hear more about what has to be Torb’s chaotic family life with all those kids!). We just want to know more about them in general because we love all these characters, and having a few be like us would be great, too.

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102

Jeff just explained that games can be more than just games. This game is great because of this, because games like this can help people, I hope Jeff keep bringing social aspects.

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104

“We don’t need no homosexual heroes”, I’m happy that you understand. c:

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105

you seem overly sensitive to this stuff…

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