Gender Respect at The Gaming Table

It’s no secret that tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) have become a huge part of LGBTQ+ socialising. As a non-binary player and GM myself, I can say why I believe this is the case. It allows for identity exploration, we can remove transphobia from our worlds, there are no limits to what we want our characters to look or sound like… as long as the people around us allow for it. 

Having creative control over the world is something Cameron told me they found incredibly useful when feeling safe in an RPG space. Due to the involvement of themselves and others, there was a diverse cast of NPCs created that allowed for a normalisation of non-binary and trans identities within the play setting. Once this is normalised in a wider context, your character is able to focus on development beyond a trans identity and can tell the stories they want to tell.

In fact, myself and Cameron share an experience that meant that we discovered our non-binary identities with the assistance of exploring them in a playing space. Being free to explore your own identity in a safe environment is absolutely crucial for anyone, but especially the LGBTQ+ community. Exploring your identity in an environment that fully accepts and validates you leads to better mental health and more confidence, not just in game, but in day-to-day life.

We couldn’t have had these positive, community building experiences without… well, our communities. Both of us play with people of different gender identities and sexual orientations, including cisgender straight people. A lot of people ask those in the LGBTQ+ community what they can do to make people feel safe and accepted in their games. There are a few things that are so simple to implement, but make all the difference in the world when starting a game or running a one shot.

Start sessions with a pronoun circle.

This should be led by the GM and it sets a very clear tone from the get go that trans and non-binary folk are going to be safe in your game. You can start it by saying ‘Hi, my name’s Nay, I’m the GM and my pronouns are She/They’. This is ideally done for player identities and character identities. Feel free to make a note of pronouns so you can ensure you get them right and correct yourself and others quickly and kindly if they accidentally slip up. Keep your NPCs diverse and make it common practice in your world that people introduce themselves with their pronouns! Why not? It’s your world, make it accepting of everyone… unless they’re burning down villages. You can respect pronouns and still beat people up because they’re doing horrible things.

Friendships forged at the table often lead to some of the most fulfilling and supportive relationships you’ll ever have away from the table.

RPGs bring people together and that should include everyone. Lives are changed for the better when people accept others for who they are and invite them into the fun.

Be part of it! You’ll be so happy when you are.