The 2024 GLAAD Gaming Report suggests that nearly 1 in 5 — or 17% — of active gamers are LGBTQ, up from 10% in a 2020 report.
“The lack of LGBTQ representation in video games is often explained by the assumption that the stereotypical core video game consumer is a white, heterosexual, cisgender man between the ages 18 and 34,” GLAAD stated as part of the report. “However, our data shows that 17% of active gamers are LGBTQ, a 70% percent increase from the 10% counted in Nielsen’s 2020 report.”
What accounts for the change? It could be a landscape that lets younger gamers accept and announce their identification as an LGBTQ gamer earlier in life.
“Notably, the percentage of LGBTQ gamers is even higher among younger age groups, with 23 to 28% of gamers under 35 identifying as LGBTQ,” GLAAD said. “The percentage of LGBTQ people in gaming far surpasses that of the general population, according to Gallup’s 2022 survey.”
A total of 24% of gamers aged 18-24 identify as LGBTQ, and 23% of those 25-34.
Despite these statistics, GLAAD says less than 2% of games have LTBGQ characters and storylines across the Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch digital libraries. Steam leads the charge with 2.5% of titles featuring such elements, but 0.8% of that figure is occupied by adult-only titles.
“Being able to play characters that match their gender and/or sexual orientation matters to LGBTQ gamers,” GLADD said. “72% of LGBTQ gamers say that seeing characters with their gender identity and/or sexual orientation represented well makes them feel better about themselves, and the percentage is even higher for younger age groups (78% of 13–17-year-olds).”
Of those surveyed, 52% of LGBTQ players have been harassed whilst playing online, compared to 38% of non-LGBTQ players. 42% of those surveyed avoided a game over fears of harassment, while 27% have quit games because of the scourge.
The report was conducted with Nielson, and based on 1,452 self-reporting PC and console games in the USA. You can access the full report here.
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