I’ve dedicated half a decade to diversity and inclusion in games. I am the managing director of Queerly Represent Me (a charity focused on improving representation in games and the industry), I’m co-chair of the IGDA LGBTQ+ SIG, I’m an ambassador for inclusion initiatives as part of my role at Sledgehammer Games, and I have written more articles and given more talks on this topic than I can even count anymore.
I have studied many forms of marginalisation because to work in diversity requires us to think intersectionally, but I started out looking at representations of queerness. Because of this (as well as my own bisexuality), Pride Month holds a special place in my heart.
Dedicate five years to anything and you’ll learn a thing or two. I’ve been documenting my experiences while watching universities, indie developers, and AAA studios approach diversity in vastly different ways, and have also conducted a bunch of my own research. Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned.
People use the same words but mean different things.
‘Diversity’ is a term that has been used in games for so long now that it’s completely lost its meaning. Two people can be talking about diversity in games but actually be having two entirely different conversations. There are many words with similar baggage-like ‘marginalised’, ‘representation’, or ‘queer’.