Successfully roleplaying a gay character

[Trassk]

As a gay man, and someone honest and upfront about the fact, I often find myself inacting my roleplay from that point of view. My main being an orc shaman is, like the one who plays him, gay, and in love with another, someone who I know irl the same.

I got to thinking, given its often a regards to how we interact with others, and I'm certain most would just naturally play the characters who they see themselves, does your characters sexuality play an important part into the role you play as?

I don't go by a stereotype of effeminate male, my shaman is one who prepares to fight, wields his axes with pride and will cut anyone down anything if he see's a need to. I found myself walking around the city and saw an orc warrior and blood elf paladin rping from a husband and wife pov (inter-species relationships), and it occured to me these two player were expressing themselves in the roles of there sexuality, and I wondered how people would think if the fella I'm seeing and me were to rp in the same way.

To that end, when talking to someone rping an elder shaman, who was talking about his mate who had died on the field of battle, I told him about my characters mate in the same light, just as casually as he, and when mentioning 'him', the guys reaction and mood changed and he walked off.

I often also here how wow isn't a place to discuss ones sexuality, but the point I often make is I'm not discussing it, I'm just being what I am. Why then is that still looked upon with the kind of reaction the guy I just mentioned gave?

[lunarath]

Personaly i think RP'ing is hilarious, and its not something i take too serious.. It just kinda happens from time to time i find some random people to RP with. I once did some RP with a male friend of mine Role playing gays. Somehow it really offended people which i thought was hilarious, but at the same time disturbing. (Im not trying to offend anyone here. Everyone to their liking)

Personaly I dont care what people RP as or how they do it. Its a Massive Multiplayer Online 'Role Playing Game' and i find it disturbing that some people manage to get so offended over a game. Just relax and enjoy the game as you like.

[Malphaz]

The guy you mentioned probably thought you were mocking his roleplaying. Since generally thats how trolls go about it. ie calling roleplayers "gay" etc and baiting them as such. (not that this is what you did of course, but i hope you get what i mean i.e the same sentiment)

So he might have not known what to make of you at all.

It not the best of reactions sure but i can certainly understand why he walked away or his mood changed. I sincerely doubt it was because of a homophobic reaction or that he was, but the reaction to a not so subtle troll baiting him. (which you werent of course)

I have role played a gay character in my dungeons and dragons games about 6 years ago and i just played him as completely unrecognisiable to a straight character except for his choice of sexual partner. it didnt actually make or have and difference on the game or how i roleplayed at all.

All my gay friends (only 2 actually) have been completely "normal" in every mannerism except for their choice of attraction. As in there was little or no way for me to tell.

that would be how to successfully do it i think. I know very few people that enjoy the company of a complete flaming queen for more than 5 minutes regardless of orientation so it might be best not to go down that particular roleplaying route. Then again im not gay so i dont really know, same as if i roleplay ladies

[Eazy]

I'm sorry but I think something is wrong with roleplaying a gay character. That's hideous for me.

[Well]

Well...

If you (and that's what I understand) are asking advice on how to conceal your character's sexuality when rping a homosexual character to not "offend" (for god's sake) others, I am afraid that you won't find any way. If someone really wants to get offended (although that's rare: most people pretend to be offended and just laugh from behind their screens, seeing you are struggling to defend your very existence), he WILL get offended no matter how much of a cloak you wear there.

In the end, there is nothing to make up for in a homosexual irl man or a homosexual character. If people have their own problems, let them have them: you can do nothing about that. Find the people that have nothing to fear or get offended by yours and your character's sexuality, and enjoy your game.

And lastly, (about the wow's not the place to discuss sexuality and sex point), there are numerous instances where sexuality and sex are pointed out in WoW, and heterosexual characters who RP have also no problem in playing husband and wife. I don't see why a homosexual couple can't do the same, really.

In a nutshell, Play as you like, /ignore the people who have problems that you cannot resolve and enjoy playing with the people that are happy playing with you.

Yes, your RPing will get spoiled from time to time by this behaviour, but THIS behaviour ensures that your RPing will be as safe and enjoyable as possible.

[lightgil]

Hmm I'm not really into the RPing that much pretty much the entirety of my role play is that when playing my orc warlock I tend to act darker and more evil and when playing my playing my human paladin I act more just and valiant. That's pretty much the farthest that I take my RP with my characters sexuality doesn't really come into it at all.

[Arachnan]

I'm sorry but I think something is wrong with roleplaying a gay character. That's hideous for me.

You should stop being so narrowminded in that case

[Straamibuu]

I'd RP a gay character if I picked a male, but I like being a silly female gnome instead

Personally I rarely see relationships come into things, most people around me seem to RP conflict based things. And do no RP'ers ever notice anything RP anyway?

[Migas11]

Well to be honest, when you roleplay, you choose the entire personality and traits of the character. If you want it to have the same sexual orientation as you do in real life is completely up to you, and only you.

So in my opinion, unless you go around acting like the stereotypical effeminate and obnoxious gay (which you already mentioned you don't like; that could be too much "in-your-face" to some people) being gay shouldnt be any different a condition from rping a pirate, a warrior, a cook or a innkeeper.

[FlacidGladiator]

If youre gonna RP a gay character in a fantasy medieval setting prepare for the following:

Calls for you to be burned at the stake, stoned to death, or at the very least banished from all major towns and cities and given the equivalent of excommunication from your faction. Homosexuals of that period were either so deep in the closet theyre in Narnia or they were dead.

Insomuch as that isn't going to happen in the game, expect the following:

So long as youre not in everyone's face with your orientation, you'll probably be ignored or not noticed. Remember this is the internet and bigotry and other unpleasant social idioms are readily expressed behind the mask of anonymity. Expect to be laughed at, called every vulgar name imaginable both openly and in trade channel. Expect to be applauded by the like minded, but that will be the tiniest voice in a chorus of hate and ridicule. If youre too 'in-your-face' about it, expect those in the know to initiate spontaneous group kicks from LFR and LFG on you. Expect your request to join an adhoc PUG group to be ignored. Remember, most of the players in the game aren't adults that know better. Theyre juveniles and teens with no sense of tolerance. If youre going to bring your real world into WOW, do not expect it to go well.

[vizzle]

I don't understand your confusion OP. If you really want to immerse yourself in the RP, then you have to understand how the orcish culture would react to a gay member of the community. The elder shaman RPer who snubbed you could very well just be RPing, because that's how I see orcs would react if one of them admitted he was gay. Do you think a culture like that would embrace homosexuality? Of course not.

[parlaa]

Im a male playing a female tauren druid. I never really thought of her sexuality, but im pretty sure she likes

Jokes aside, but I really dont think gender and sexuality should be messed up in a video game. World of Warcraft has a big community and people with different play styles and we have to accept it because it wont change for better or worse.

Im really happy for OP because he plays the game the way he likes. Congratulations man.

[wilbbailey]

Im ashamed of myself for clicking this thread, reading it and then posting on it. Please forgive me John Wayne.

[Blayze]

Gays are not a part of orc culture at all.

But not being gay isn't a part of it, either.

"Honour your elders."
"But that one was gay!"
"And?"

[vindicatorx]

I got to thinking, given its often a regards to how we interact with others, and I'm certain most would just naturally play the characters who they see themselves, does your characters sexuality play an important part into the role you play as?

I don't think normally sexuality is high on the list for most people because we don't define ourselves by it. If I was asked to define myself in a sentence my sexual preference would not be in that sentence. The only people I have met who tend to as the ones who are insecure about it. I have met a good amount of gay people over the years and yes with in the opening 2 minutes of conversation they have made sure I know they are gay. I don't think much about it since it has no relevance to me but I generally wonder why they felt the need to share that information with me. When I meet someone I don't run up and say "Hi, I'm Vin and I am a heterosexual." I don't see why gay people feel the need to inform complete strangers of this.

[muslamic1]

I find this highly offensive...

[Summerwine]

While I rarely role-play myself, I do like to make backstories for all of my characters and many of them I consider to be gay or lesbian (I myself am a gay man) and it is great to see others who do the same. I think that you and all players have every right to play the characters as you want, and it should not matter about their sexuality. If someone has a problem with it, then they are simply not worth bothering with in my opinion.

I also don’t fully believe the idea that just because this a medieval setting that it does not mean there can be gay characters without a form of retribution. If that was true, why are women so accepted as warriors and leaders? Just because it is in a medieval style does not mean it has to follow the same rules to the letter. Besides, I can’t really see any homophobic nature in any of Azeroth’s religions or cultures ether.

[Mif]

I find this highly offensive...

I don't mean to be rude, but are we meant to care?
If you're offended that's your problem.

[quikbunny]

I'm sorry but I think something is wrong with roleplaying a gay character. That's hideous for me.

My grandma accepts gay people, yet you can't? Interesting...

[Summerwine]

One other remark, it was asked at the 2011 Blizzcon WoW Open Q&A whether they would add any LGBT characters in to the lore and game. Chris replied saying that as long as the story and characters were good and engaging, they had no problems with it.