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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Nov 26, 2012 17:54:50 GMT 1
As I've mention before in my art thread, I'm writing a transgender character and it'd going to be one of the most challenging things to write about for me in the long time. I know there's some basic thumb rules from writing regular characters still applies here, but what are the other things I should be aware of when writing a LGBT character that I might have miss out on?
Because I don't want to fall onto the same mistake as BioWare did in terms of offensiveness, even more so with transgender characters.
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Post by Mister Buch on Nov 26, 2012 17:59:29 GMT 1
What mistakes did Bioware make in this area?
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Nov 26, 2012 18:02:42 GMT 1
Uh... Samantha Traynor from what I have heard in the forums. And I hear mixed feelings on Kaidan and Ash for some reason from other people.
and YMMV, but not many people are a fan of Steve Cortez.
But this isn't about BioWare, this about the difficulty in portraying the LGBT characters.so yeah, thoughts about this, especially you seemed to know the LGBT community I think.
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Post by Mister Buch on Nov 26, 2012 18:09:39 GMT 1
Ash is straight. Some people didn't like Kaiden hitting on them because his being gay or bi was not established in part 1. Steve Cortez is a wonderful character and an example of Bioware going out of their way to include gay characters and allowing Shepard to be gay. Traynor is the same thing, bit a bit dull.
I can't believe Bioware are now being criticised for writing insensitive LGBT characters! Bioware who have been including gay relationships and positive gay characters in their games for many years, despite taking huge flak for it from homophobic players. Bioware who made Steve Cortez all but a Mary Sue, just to make him look like a good gay role model. Of all the things Bioware can be criticised for, this is the one thing that they absolutely cannot be.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Nov 26, 2012 18:12:52 GMT 1
Let's not get into that. I have defenses that BioWare done something right, but frankly I'm so sick of this ME3 talk these days. I gotta stop myself derailing into that.
Can we please stay on the topic and talk about actual way to write LGBT characters? There's a lot of issues going around with it, especially in the yaoi and yuri section that irks me so much at times when it done it wrong.
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Post by Nord Ronnoc on Nov 26, 2012 19:48:24 GMT 1
Um...what's wrong with people in-universe not making a big deal with LGBT characters? Their sexuality is not their defining characteristic.
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Post by Clint Johnston on Nov 26, 2012 20:02:20 GMT 1
A valid point. The asari in particular seem rather ambivalent.
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Post by Mister Buch on Nov 26, 2012 23:19:36 GMT 1
Well I'm certainly no expert. But I would actually basically agree with the above point - it need not be an issue. When I've written gay characters in short stories, it has simply not been brought up. That's the kind of equality that we want - where a story can have gay people who are just gay and that's that. Mass Effect actually employs a similar thing - it's the future, so human ethnicity and sexual orientation clashes simply never occur. Steve is gay because he likes guys, Kasumi is Japanese because she's from Japan, it's not important. I like when stories are able to do that, but sometimes (i.e. dependent on setting) it's not possible. So what I mean is - if possible, just write LGBT characters exactly the same as anyone else. If your character was born a man and identifies as a woman, for example, have her act like any other woman. If the transgendered or homosexual quality is an important part of the character arc, then the plot itself should dictate how you write him/her.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Nov 27, 2012 5:42:30 GMT 1
I can see where this going, I guess need to be more clearer when asking this. They are valid points, but still gotta need more research notes on this, due to that one particular transgender group wasn't getting much attention with the artistic works. And I have seen how touchy it can be when done improperly.
Still I was hoping that someone might know a website that is dedicated to writing those characters as a starting point in research... But I guess not.
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Post by Cali on Nov 27, 2012 5:52:03 GMT 1
In Mass Effect: Cyan Steel, an OC, and minor character, an alliance corsair lieutenant commander Alec Proctor (who was going by the semi codename Greyjoy, during the time of the story) was homosexual, though I never got to write the chapter where it was supposed to be revealed in the fanfic. The revelation would come at a later chapter, and would hardly be a primary focus, nor would it be heavily mentioned again. That's the way I prefer it, at least. I just hate it when sexuality in general becomes a primary focus in a story or fanfic, regardless of who, who, and who.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Nov 27, 2012 6:02:01 GMT 1
Especially at the wangst part that usually stumbled into a yaoi/yuri fic by accident. Well, I can keep it short and brief, since there's a bigger fish to fry the whole plot, but not sure how short I can make this this would be, since it's an issue of sorts when I managed to get to the Hiararchy arc.Turians love tradition and also probably know for few baggage here and there, when comparing to human culture. But yeah, those are valid points and fortunately, I've managed to dig up from Battlechantress' writing resources archives. www.squidoo.com/writing-gay-charactersIt's a start.
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Post by Cali on Aug 12, 2013 6:51:15 GMT 1
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Post by jklinders on Aug 12, 2013 10:29:25 GMT 1
With The Marshall Plan Novel Writing Software, you can develop plots, subplots, twists and surprises that will have your readers on the edge of their seats. Then, you will weave them all together into a cohesive whole that will have publishers eager to buy your novel. What's more, it comes with a 30 day, money back guarantee. How exciting is that? YOU, a published author? Nice one Cali. Don't mind my edit, I was just removing the bot's links from your quote.
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Post by Warhammer Gorvar on Aug 12, 2013 11:12:51 GMT 1
There is a character in the new Dragon Age comic book series, Varric's cousin's wife, who is actually a transgender. And it took 4 issues for us to find out she was born a man. So although Bioware is a bit meh with EA nowadays, they are still pretty awesome story and character wise. Also my two cents, when I did ME; Noir i just wrote Shepard genderless so far all we know he/she could be Femshep or a Gay Manshep. Although this is a gender thing i thought i might throw my two cents in there.
Actually I want those two cents back, i need change for the bus trip home.
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Post by Warhammer Gorvar on Aug 13, 2013 10:16:02 GMT 1
I'm treading on Lily's area i know, but i didnt find any dinosaurs.
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