I agree…No one’s attacking anyone here. I personally hoping things stay as they were planned from the author, so please don’t so start all of us accuse each other, we’re making a conversation here. I’m not gonna cry and throw a tantrum if things “don’t go my way”, please be respectful.
Edit: Btw this wasn’t intended to you, I just saw another reply and I had to add it.
That arguement does get used a bit to try to shut down even discussing the option of changing things, even when there’s no pressure against the author involved, and can easily seem dismissive or even aggressive. 
Not saying that’s your intention, of course.
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Sorry, I’m a bit slow. I don’t seem to understand the problem. Do you find it annoying that there aren’t many gay characters in these games or did I misunderstand?
Cheers,
Alex
If I sounded aggressive that wasn’t my intention, I’m just getting quite passionate…also english is not my native language. 
I was just stating my opinions and hopes about this situation, not forcing my opinion to anyone. In the end it’s the author decision and we shhould respect any decision of hers.
I agree with this. The two posts in question show that the renewed discussion once idonotlikeusernames reopened it here was squarely about Seven Heirs and that is a problem, especially since the author asked that the discussion as it related to her project be shelved for now.
The discussion once moved here opened on a too specific note. I had thought after idonotlikeusernames’ post that someone like yourself would post as you did in response to me but that is not important. More on this in a bit.
The first post by itself can be argued as being an attempt to discuss the manner in a general sense … the second post by directly quoting the first post and then naming the character I had referenced in general before specifically tied these two post together in redirecting the conversation back on the Heirs project. That is redirecting the discussion back to the direction it was before and is the reason I spoke up.
As my friend @ParrotWatcher says let’s focus on the points that are relevant to this general discussion - not focusing on one project or another.
Everyone should let the Seven Heirs project alone. In public and private - respect the author’s wishes in this matter for now. Once she has made a decision and presents whatever is done, a discussion there and not here should be ok.
I suggest we continue with the substance of TSSL’s and The_Lady_Luck’s post going forward … representation in all its forms in ChoiceScript games (in a general sense) for Gays …
When the author asks to stop discussion on an issue in heir project, we should respect their wishes - I think we all can agree to this.
Once the author reopens discussion on that issue all actionable feedback should be both encouraged and welcomed by the entire community.
Please let the discussion continue with:
and let’s drop anything related to Heirs here.
@ParrotWatcher, @idonotlikeusernames, @TSSL - I hope you guys know I am in your corner even when discussions don’t go perfect.
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Sorry, Eiwynn, you are saying a lot of good things in your post, and I’m a little confused. 
Is this a response to my quote above it?
'Cause that was meant very much as a general thing, and not at all about this specific issue. You know, discussing how we discuss things, so we don’t end up offending each other without meaning to. 
I’m not sure if that was clear. 
And yes, when the author asks for a discussion to stop, that should be respected straight away.
It might be me missing something obvious, but I’m really unclear who you are addressing?
Personally for me, annoying is not really the rright word, but I’d really like to see more gay characters, in these games and in general, yes.
I’d also like to point attention to my question in post 440, as it’s somethng I’m really interested in getting responses to, and I’m kinda afraid it’ll disappar in the earlier discussion.
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I’ve never really been a fan of flings in these sorts of games, and while I don’t think it would really be “poor representation” (at least if all actual ROs are bi/pan), I don’t think I’d enjoy it if the only exclusively gay romances were basically “fake” romances. 
Pretty much, yes? Sure, I can (usually) romance whoever I like, which is great, but it does sometimes feel as though gay content is only visible to gay players, and straight players can play through entire games without seeing anything non-straight. Representation isn’t just about letting gay players see the gay characters (etc); it’s about letting everyone see them. (And if gay players are blocked from certain romances, it would be nice if we got exclusive romances of our own.)
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Does it help if the bi/pan/etc characters mention past same-sex crushes/relationships?
('cause that’s how I was planning to do it.)
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Okay, I am not gay so I am supposed not be the target of the question. Still If there is something I hate, is when romances try to hard press their past over me. I just don’t want tell continuously whom banged my love interest for years. When it happens or directly skip button Or stop romance. Or you are with me… Or you are with them . Probably because I caught my bf in college banging a supposed friend in my own room.
So if a npc starting o i have dated entire city and did this and that… Good luck don Juan but you have five seconds to go bang elsewhere
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But doesn’t also makes sense that there are so few gays characters? After all 95% of the population is straight so it’s actually pretty realistic, no?
I’ m pretty sure, that there are much less straight people than 95%, as far as I know there a a lot of bi people out there. 
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Well, it would depend on the character, but that’s certainly one way to do it. There are issues with it, however. Not all characters will have exes; a bi character certainly doesn’t need same-gender exes to be bi. And, as @poison_mara says, not everyone wants to hear about their crush’s exes. 
Well, firstly, the proportion of straight people isn’t that high (as @Kaelyn says); I’ve seen estimates that 30–50% of people may be slightly bi (even if it is subconscious). And even if you assume a conservative estimate, the LGBTQ proportion of the population would be ~10%, which is a lot higher than the proportion of canonically LGBTQ characters in fiction.
But, honestly, the exact numbers aren’t really the issue here. It’s not about filling quotas, it’s about knowing that the writers acknowledge us, that we exist – are allowed to exist – in their stories. It’s about letting us be major parts of those stories, too, not just some minor background nobody.
And it’s not just to make us feel good about ourselves (although there’s nothing wrong with that). It’s also important; to show closeted LGBTQ people that they don’t have to hate themselves; and to show homophobes that really, we’re just like them, not some dangerous other species. 
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Narrative doesn’t have to conform to demographics, even if that 95% were the case. Representation and interesting story and characters is its own good.
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In real live there aren’t any dragons, superheroes, vampires, magic etc. either (at least as far as I know). And no one bats an eye if they appear in fictional stories. But when it comes to sexuality, (or gender etc.) it suddenly must be realistic? 
I’m very happy that female characters, gay characters and other minorities get to play important and/or prominent roles in CoG-stories and that the player has the choice to be lgbt. This inclusiveness is part of CoG’s image and unlike Bioware (Mass Effect Andromeda, I’m looking at you) they really mean and live it. In every official CoG – correct me if I’m wrong – you can play as woman and/or lgbt. This inclusiveness is also part of the reason why this forum has (compared to other gaming sites/forums) so many lgbt and/or female players. It’s because these stories make us feel welcome. They respect us and treat us equally to everyone else.
As a gay male I didn’t really had any gay role models growing up. They either didn’t exist or were minor characters who didn’t get lots of screen time and were often just stereotypes. I’m very happy that nowadays sites/companies like choice of games exist. They treat everyone equal and everyone gets the same opportunities. You don’t have to be the male knight who tries to save the kidnapped princess (not that anything is wrong with it). But you can also play as a female knight who goes on an adventure to save her princess. Or you can be a gay knight who saves his prince. This inclusiveness feels awesome. Never in my life did I feel as included in fiction as in Choice of Games stories. As a minority, this gives me and I’m sure many other lgbt or female players the feeling, that I matter, that I can be just as good and or important than any other person. That just because I might be gay, I still matter. 
Therefore I think making all players feel welcome is more important than realistic numbers.
@The_Lady_Luck
Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of flings either but I guess I don’t mind them too much. I’m just scarred that I end up liking the character with whom I can have a fling more than the actual romance option…which would lead to heartbreak In my opinion I prefer the 2/x/2 approach (1 straight male, 1 straight female, x bi/pan, 1 lesbian and 1 gay male). Preferably with characters who are all kinda equal in terms of importance.
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It’s not this recent survey has the rate up to 22% of Latino Americans and those things are likely under-reported because they rely on self-reporting. Also the US as a whole is still a conservative and religious country, so that likely depresses the rate of self-reporting at least somewhat too. Especially outside of urban-America.
In Amsterdam I think about 40% of post-millennials identify as some form of non straight and I expect the rate to be even higher if you were to only look at more progressive places such as the cities of California or New York in the US among young(er) people. As people tend to only self-report as non-straight if they feel safe doing so and know they’re not likely to suffer socioeconomic penalties for it.
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In fact I have discovered here that i am demiromantic? Is called that? It basically means that I don’t have sex interest except if I have a real confidence in that guy and trust. I have real problem to trust men due I have a terrible love life to point I am not really interested on it in real life.
I really believe that the pure straight doesn’t exist or is rare. Even if I never had desire for girls but I think i probably had been interested in nb in my youth. Nowadays I have zero interest in being cheated again so all my relationship are in fiction were is safe
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Honestly, in a way I feel like the ‘playersexyal/bisexual’ RO’s are pretty realistic, 'cause there’s maybe one or two people in my circle who would identify as straight, while for straight people it seems to be the other way around.
After all, I don’t go around sharing my sexuality with people I don’t get close to, so I bet they think I’m straight at work. Little do they know…
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Touché.
I understand. Maybe a reason for this lack of homosexual characters is because most of the authors are not, in fact, gay (I think), so it may be hard for the writer to portray such a different perspective than their own.
Just a thought.
Exactly.
I’m dating a guy, so most people assume I’m a straight cis-woman.
But the same people have no problem writing an alien, or an elf, or an older person.
They’re uncomfortable doing so, because it’s not really done so much yet, so the way to change that is to make it more normal by doing it more.
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It’s really not that different a perspective, though? I addressed a similar issue in regards to male writers writing female characters, and ultimately if a writer is so entirely incapable of writing a character of a different gender or sexuality to them, there are likely greater underlying issues for them as a writer, if not as a person.
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