Hello there, you may call me Lael. I am a transgender girl interested deeply in the DND environment, but with the biggest concern all my fellow LGBTQIA members have, is it friendly and accepting towards us?
Now, I'm not here to start fights or debates, I'm simply looking for open arms and answers!
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¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
I think there are really two questions here: (1) If the game itself is LGBT+ friendly and (2) if playing the game is LGBT+ friendly. For anyone who has played D&D before, they might understand that distinction; but new players might not.
The game itself--the mechanical elements published by Wizards of the Coast--is LGBT+ friendly. The rules allow you to make pretty much any character you want and actively encourage you to create your own backstory. Wizards, as a company, has also been increasing representation in their art and character biographies, featuring more LGBT+ relationships and characters than ever before.
Actually playing the game, however, is going to depend entirely on the playgroup you are in. While the rules themselves are not restrictive, there does exist a large section of the D&D community that can be fairly intolerant (a problem that plagues all communities, but seems to be particularly present in fantasy communities). So there is no real answer as to whether playing the game would be LGBT+ friendly or not--I would recommend trying to play with folks you know are tolerant or join a group that specifically represents it is LGBT+ friendly.
The only rule at my table "is you must respect the DM/other players or you can go away" I do not care what your orientation is your welcome there all you have to do is respect the others and that goes for anyone at my table. I allow joking and fun but do not allow disrespect in any form. As shown above WotC has put forth statements on this topic.
I’m new as well, so I’m probably not the BEST person to answer this question, but as far as people I’ve listened to on podcasts, I agree that it is all up to your player group. Also, the (only) DND podcast I listen to is EXTREMELY good. And the DM and some of the players are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. That only accounts for one group, but I personally think that it shows something rather important: everyone who is willing can get along. Check out Mythical if your into Pokémon and DND.
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
For its part, in the community there is everything. It is logical, it is a community with many followers. Many years ago, back in the late '90s, I remember once trying to play a gay character in a role-playing club and they wouldn't let me. Those were other times, of course. Today I think it would be difficult to find something like that, but who knows.
I think D&D is very LGBTQIA+ friendly. Most of the published adventures have one or more LGBTQIA NPCs in them. Also, I think the community is very friendly too, at least in my experience.
I think there are really two questions here: (1) If the game itself is LGBT+ friendly and (2) if playing the game is LGBT+ friendly. For anyone who has played D&D before, they might understand that distinction; but new players might not.
The game itself--the mechanical elements published by Wizards of the Coast--is LGBT+ friendly. The rules allow you to make pretty much any character you want and actively encourage you to create your own backstory. Wizards, as a company, has also been increasing representation in their art and character biographies, featuring more LGBT+ relationships and characters than ever before.
Actually playing the game, however, is going to depend entirely on the playgroup you are in. While the rules themselves are not restrictive, there does exist a large section of the D&D community that can be fairly intolerant (a problem that plagues all communities, but seems to be particularly present in fantasy communities). So there is no real answer as to whether playing the game would be LGBT+ friendly or not--I would recommend trying to play with folks you know are tolerant or join a group that specifically represents it is LGBT+ friendly.
This about nails it, at least that’s my impression as a straight person.
The rules make no mention of sexuality or gender, and you can make an lgbt character as easily as cis het character. You just decide your character is, and they are. And the books have, recently, had art with same sex couples, so it seems like wizards is trying to make representation of lgbt in the game.
What happens with any group of players, however, may be a different story. So your play experience, if you run across a group of homophobes, might not match the generally friendly rules.
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
This is not how I would describe the game itself. The Players Handbook encourages players to play the characters they want to play, and does briefly discuss gender and sexuality as part of that, in a way that is intended to be LGBTQ+ friendly. (I’m cis and predominantly straight, so I’m not best qualified to judge if they were successful in doing so.)
Every adventure has at least a few NPCs who clearly* fall somewhere within the definitions of LGBTQ+. For example, in one adventure, a man is seeking his missing husband. If memory serves, there is at least one adventure where an NPC uses they/them pronouns.
per Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, elves with the “Blessed of Corellon” (optional) feature are gender fluid.
so there is definitely a clear intent to be open and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community on the part of Wizards of the Coast. Whether it’s supportive enough, I’m not qualified to assess. I will say I have appreciated those elements I’ve encountered.
as others have said, when it comes to individual players and tables, it varies widely some are open and affirming. Some are not. some of us (like me) desire to be open and affirming but no doubt fail to be at times due to ignorance or privilege.
*i say clearly because often in adventures, there are no clear indications either way about the sexual or romantic orientation of NPCs.
The first person that I met that plays D&D is from the LGBTQIA+ community, so I think D&D is pretty welcoming of all kinds of people, or at least it tries to.
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
This is not how I would describe the game itself. The Players Handbook encourages players to play the characters they want to play, and does briefly discuss gender and sexuality as part of that, in a way that is intended to be LGBTQ+ friendly. (I’m cis and predominantly straight, so I’m not best qualified to judge if they were successful in doing so.)
Every adventure has at least a few NPCs who clearly* fall somewhere within the definitions of LGBTQ+. For example, in one adventure, a man is seeking his missing husband. If memory serves, there is at least one adventure where an NPC uses they/them pronouns.
per Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, elves with the “Blessed of Corellon” (optional) feature are gender fluid.
so there is definitely a clear intent to be open and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community on the part of Wizards of the Coast. Whether it’s supportive enough, I’m not qualified to assess. I will say I have appreciated those elements I’ve encountered.
as others have said, when it comes to individual players and tables, it varies widely some are open and affirming. Some are not. some of us (like me) desire to be open and affirming but no doubt fail to be at times due to ignorance or privilege.
*i say clearly because often in adventures, there are no clear indications either way about the sexual or romantic orientation of NPCs.
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
Rime of the Frostmaiden has a married gay couple, then another character is explicitly told to the DM has no gender identification and isn't referenced to as a man or woman. That's just in the initial section - I only skimmed later parts so I don't know if there were more. The gay couple were pretty low key, though - I only picked up on it when I realised that a man was talking about a husband.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
There is nothing obviously inherent to the current published materials that seems hostile.
In some cases it is at least mildly supportive.
In Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, there is a Female to Male transgender NPC and a non-binary NPC. They are treated as just normal things that exist in the world, with no extra prejudice against them.
Hello and welcome! I'm part of the LGBTQ+ community myself and I have been lucky enough to have only gamed with my friends, who are all cool with us or are members of the community themselves. If you can get your friends into D&D I suggest that as a way to start, before branching out to gaming with new people, but if you do want to venture out into the gaming world and meet new people, just be on your guard a bit. The community is moving in a progressive direction, but there are still some people who are either ignorant or outright hostile. I think there is a huge wave of new players and most of them are probably younger and more progressive, brought in by such friendly experiences as Critical Role.
My own, completely unscientific, feelings about the ratio of LGBT friendly/unfriendly members of the community are something like 75/25?
Know, at least, that the official stance of the company is a welcoming one, though not necessarily one that's marching at the forefront of advocacy.
There are definitely some friends and members of the community among the Mod staff.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
This is not how I would describe the game itself. The Players Handbook encourages players to play the characters they want to play, and does briefly discuss gender and sexuality as part of that, in a way that is intended to be LGBTQ+ friendly. (I’m cis and predominantly straight, so I’m not best qualified to judge if they were successful in doing so.)
Every adventure has at least a few NPCs who clearly* fall somewhere within the definitions of LGBTQ+. For example, in one adventure, a man is seeking his missing husband. If memory serves, there is at least one adventure where an NPC uses they/them pronouns.
per Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, elves with the “Blessed of Corellon” (optional) feature are gender fluid.
One street detailed in W:DH has a Blessed of Corellon and a married gay couple, so it's definitely not nonexistent.
Hello there, you may call me Lael. I am a transgender girl interested deeply in the DND environment, but with the biggest concern all my fellow LGBTQIA members have, is it friendly and accepting towards us?
Now, I'm not here to start fights or debates, I'm simply looking for open arms and answers!
Hello Lael,
I believe the game is, especially in the last few years. More and more players are too. You would certainly find open arms at my table.
Short answer is it depends entirely on the people you play with.
D&D is a game in which just about every part of your experience will be in some way, usually quite significantly, affected by the people you play it with. It's a fantasy roleplaying game, meaning that it involves playing out fantasies. If those people are jerks then the fantasies they want to play out are probably going to be less than pleasant. If you're playing with people that are [by your definition] cool, then it will more likely be a friendly experience. There is a lot more to creating a fun fantasy experience than just being accepting to your gender identity, but if a group is hostile to you in that regard then that's going to make your experience unfriendly regardless of however else they play. Fortunately, it's also the kind of thing that you can determine right up front by just saying "I'm trans and if you aren't okay with that I'm not interested in playing with you."
I can’t speak for others and won’t get into advocacy issues, but as an openly bisexual male I haven’t had any issues in almost 30 years of playing D&D.
Hello there, you may call me Lael. I am a transgender girl interested deeply in the DND environment, but with the biggest concern all my fellow LGBTQIA members have, is it friendly and accepting towards us?
Now, I'm not here to start fights or debates, I'm simply looking for open arms and answers!
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
Like all collections of people you'll find most of us are wonderful people, but then they're are a small selection of less advanced thinkers.
This is a corporate statement, obviously, but it arguably shows that WotC is trying: https://dnd.wizards.com/news/diversity-and-dnd
I think there are really two questions here: (1) If the game itself is LGBT+ friendly and (2) if playing the game is LGBT+ friendly. For anyone who has played D&D before, they might understand that distinction; but new players might not.
The game itself--the mechanical elements published by Wizards of the Coast--is LGBT+ friendly. The rules allow you to make pretty much any character you want and actively encourage you to create your own backstory. Wizards, as a company, has also been increasing representation in their art and character biographies, featuring more LGBT+ relationships and characters than ever before.
Actually playing the game, however, is going to depend entirely on the playgroup you are in. While the rules themselves are not restrictive, there does exist a large section of the D&D community that can be fairly intolerant (a problem that plagues all communities, but seems to be particularly present in fantasy communities). So there is no real answer as to whether playing the game would be LGBT+ friendly or not--I would recommend trying to play with folks you know are tolerant or join a group that specifically represents it is LGBT+ friendly.
The only rule at my table "is you must respect the DM/other players or you can go away" I do not care what your orientation is your welcome there all you have to do is respect the others and that goes for anyone at my table. I allow joking and fun but do not allow disrespect in any form. As shown above WotC has put forth statements on this topic.
I’m new as well, so I’m probably not the BEST person to answer this question, but as far as people I’ve listened to on podcasts, I agree that it is all up to your player group. Also, the (only) DND podcast I listen to is EXTREMELY good. And the DM and some of the players are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. That only accounts for one group, but I personally think that it shows something rather important: everyone who is willing can get along. Check out Mythical if your into Pokémon and DND.
Call me Blond. James Blond.
The game itself is quite aseptic on this subject. No book of rules, settings or adventures that I remember touches on the subject in one way or another.
For its part, in the community there is everything. It is logical, it is a community with many followers. Many years ago, back in the late '90s, I remember once trying to play a gay character in a role-playing club and they wouldn't let me. Those were other times, of course. Today I think it would be difficult to find something like that, but who knows.
I think D&D is very LGBTQIA+ friendly. Most of the published adventures have one or more LGBTQIA NPCs in them. Also, I think the community is very friendly too, at least in my experience.
This about nails it, at least that’s my impression as a straight person.
The rules make no mention of sexuality or gender, and you can make an lgbt character as easily as cis het character. You just decide your character is, and they are. And the books have, recently, had art with same sex couples, so it seems like wizards is trying to make representation of lgbt in the game.
What happens with any group of players, however, may be a different story. So your play experience, if you run across a group of homophobes, might not match the generally friendly rules.
This is not how I would describe the game itself. The Players Handbook encourages players to play the characters they want to play, and does briefly discuss gender and sexuality as part of that, in a way that is intended to be LGBTQ+ friendly. (I’m cis and predominantly straight, so I’m not best qualified to judge if they were successful in doing so.)
Every adventure has at least a few NPCs who clearly* fall somewhere within the definitions of LGBTQ+. For example, in one adventure, a man is seeking his missing husband. If memory serves, there is at least one adventure where an NPC uses they/them pronouns.
per Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, elves with the “Blessed of Corellon” (optional) feature are gender fluid.
so there is definitely a clear intent to be open and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community on the part of Wizards of the Coast. Whether it’s supportive enough, I’m not qualified to assess. I will say I have appreciated those elements I’ve encountered.
as others have said, when it comes to individual players and tables, it varies widely some are open and affirming. Some are not. some of us (like me) desire to be open and affirming but no doubt fail to be at times due to ignorance or privilege.
*i say clearly because often in adventures, there are no clear indications either way about the sexual or romantic orientation of NPCs.
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The first person that I met that plays D&D is from the LGBTQIA+ community, so I think D&D is pretty welcoming of all kinds of people, or at least it tries to.
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I agree 100% with everything you said.
Rime of the Frostmaiden has a married gay couple, then another character is explicitly told to the DM has no gender identification and isn't referenced to as a man or woman. That's just in the initial section - I only skimmed later parts so I don't know if there were more. The gay couple were pretty low key, though - I only picked up on it when I realised that a man was talking about a husband.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
A lot will depend on the DM and other players.
There is nothing obviously inherent to the current published materials that seems hostile.
In some cases it is at least mildly supportive.
In Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, there is a Female to Male transgender NPC and a non-binary NPC. They are treated as just normal things that exist in the world, with no extra prejudice against them.
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Hello and welcome! I'm part of the LGBTQ+ community myself and I have been lucky enough to have only gamed with my friends, who are all cool with us or are members of the community themselves. If you can get your friends into D&D I suggest that as a way to start, before branching out to gaming with new people, but if you do want to venture out into the gaming world and meet new people, just be on your guard a bit. The community is moving in a progressive direction, but there are still some people who are either ignorant or outright hostile. I think there is a huge wave of new players and most of them are probably younger and more progressive, brought in by such friendly experiences as Critical Role.
My own, completely unscientific, feelings about the ratio of LGBT friendly/unfriendly members of the community are something like 75/25?
Know, at least, that the official stance of the company is a welcoming one, though not necessarily one that's marching at the forefront of advocacy.
There are definitely some friends and members of the community among the Mod staff.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
One street detailed in W:DH has a Blessed of Corellon and a married gay couple, so it's definitely not nonexistent.
I have a weird sense of humor.
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Hello Lael,
I believe the game is, especially in the last few years. More and more players are too. You would certainly find open arms at my table.
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Short answer is it depends entirely on the people you play with.
D&D is a game in which just about every part of your experience will be in some way, usually quite significantly, affected by the people you play it with. It's a fantasy roleplaying game, meaning that it involves playing out fantasies. If those people are jerks then the fantasies they want to play out are probably going to be less than pleasant. If you're playing with people that are [by your definition] cool, then it will more likely be a friendly experience. There is a lot more to creating a fun fantasy experience than just being accepting to your gender identity, but if a group is hostile to you in that regard then that's going to make your experience unfriendly regardless of however else they play. Fortunately, it's also the kind of thing that you can determine right up front by just saying "I'm trans and if you aren't okay with that I'm not interested in playing with you."
I can’t speak for others and won’t get into advocacy issues, but as an openly bisexual male I haven’t had any issues in almost 30 years of playing D&D.
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