![masculine gay men tumblr masculine gay men tumblr](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/member/2/d/b/f/member_302831711.jpeg)
No sooner would the game start than I would be getting called out via the online chat or sent private messages, all of which were laser-focused on my female identity, and none of it ever positive or appropriate. In my teenage years, I began playing more online multiplayer-based game modes through titles such as Call of Duty and Halo. It was placed upon me as though I was somehow throwing away my femininity and female identity because I chose to spend my time playing Mario Kart and Crash Bandicoot. When I first started playing video games as a young girl, my love for the medium immediately gave me the moniker of “tom boy” - a label that was placed upon me, I guess, to help adults make sense of the fact that I found myself gravitating more towards conventional masculine hobbies. We collectively need to push to remove negativity and hate, and focus instead on the capacity games have to be a pioneer for queer representation across all media. While its history may reflect a community and industry that excludes queer representation in gaming, the potential for truly great inclusivity and diversity is something that both developers and gamers need to champion. Whether it’s female characters, people of colour or LGBTQ+ folks, games seem to steer away from them in favour of straight white male figures. However, video games have always had a diversity issue.
![masculine gay men tumblr masculine gay men tumblr](https://i1.wp.com/fashionablymale.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/vance-13.jpg)
On the surface, games may seem like they provide the best form of media for people to embody and express their authentic selves. Inside video games, queer representation is a topic that is a constantly evolving narrative. Pride Month is upon us! And of course, with it comes a heightened discussion about LGBTQ+ representation across all industries and communities. A lack of LGBTQ+ inclusion impacts and inhibits the gaming community.