The Character Romance thread (Official)

I don't have the reply to reference off, but I think that was meant in general, not with Bioware, but if you want those questions answered: don't know and don't know.

But it would nice if they did, at least to consult with or as beta readers.

so no first hand confirmation

And here's the defensiveness, rising once more like a phoenix.

Never have I said that it's impossible for a straight person to write something, whether LGBT or otherwise. They usually disappoint me, but there's never been the implication that I think straight people should all stop writing altogether. Hell, I constantly praise Sheryl Chee and for all we know she could be straight. I also like the writer of Coming Out on Top (don't know her sexuality, though).

All I can really say is try not to take it personally when we vent.

I don't see why you're hurling accusations of defensiveness when I'm arguing essentially a defensive point *shrug*

What I'm saying is that the implication that I, and certainly others, sometimes draw from this venting is that certain people in this thread think straight people are not up to the task of writing LGBT content.  That is an offensive notion because it implies either bellicosity or incompetence, neither or which are particularly friendly.

And I'm maintaining that its not necessary, as shown in other examples of outsiders being able to deal with a situation that doesn't directly involve themselves and receive monumental and long lasting praise for it, as evidence by my reference to To Kill a Mockingbird

Maybe they just shouldn't even try, though. I mean that seriously. There is a reason "write what you know" is a thing. We're not talking about living in a city you've never set foot in, or a career that you have no experience with. It's about people's lives and lived experiences. When it comes to LGBT issues, no matter how much of an ally a person is, even if they're the caring parent to such a child, they aren't ever going to know for themselves. The same is true for issues about race.

There are lot of themes in To Kill a Mockingbird, but Harper Lee never claims to speak for those minorities represented in her book. The importance of the work is the very fact that it is told from the POV of the white children, because racism, and its opposite, is learned behavior. It's very clearly shown that Scout and her brother are at the important stage in development where their views are easily influenced by the events and people around them. Luckily, their father is a force for good in this instance and they were positively influenced.

When it comes to writing gay stories, or racial stories, perhaps the straight white people just need to take a step back and ask, Do I really need to be writing about this? (No.) Is there someone else who can do it better? (Yes.) Have there been other such stories told by straight white people that show their perspective over the minorities? (Very many.) Is there value in adding another such wok to the pile? (No.) Can I write about something else I do know about? (I sure can!)

Take your pick, I detect an undercurrent of resentment towards myself in this thread and feel compelled to come in here and argue because of it, I'm bored, I'm a crusader for the rights of us horribly maligned straight people, a demon came from hell and told me to post in here or my house will be consumed in the eternal fire of the Inferno.

I disagree that familiarity and experience are necessary requirements when writing about something. 

Yeah, I think there's a huge difference between writing about a character that happens to be gay/bi that is undergoing a plot nearly anyone could undergo (like saving the world, solving a mystery, etc) and writing about a gay/bi character undergoing an LGBT hot button issue from a gay/bi peron's perspective (sexuality related discrimination, internalized homophobia, coming out of the closet). For the former kind of plot, I have no issue with a straight writer writing it, though I'll always consider it a huge bonus if the writer isn't straight and will tend to prefer gay/bi writers. For the latter, I'm gonna roll my eyes if the people behind it are all straight with no consulting any LGBT person.

It's about context.

Please tell me you're kidding.

Sure, nice, a bonus, a garnish, a cherry on top, lanyap, a second scoop of ice cream

not necessary, required, and there shouldn't be penalties against those who do not follow suit (within reason of course, not suggesting the WBC start writing gay self help books)

What penalties? No one here has been applying penalties to anyone just for venting about straight writers. Do you take people literally when they speak in hyperbole? I'm flattered you think we have that much power in the video game industry, but we really don't.

Penalties was too harsh a word I admit.

Let's take what Nightscrawl said, basically that amounts to a checklist of self censorship as well as a limit on artistic expression, things that I am not particularly in favor of.