Respecting individual choices and way of life are the most crucial steps towards acceptance of marginalized communities in video games and esports: Pranav Panpalia, Founder, OpraahFX

Q. The Indian esports community can indeed be very toxic towards other genders who do not identify themselves as cis-male. What steps do you think are necessary for helping and spreading LGBTIQA+ awareness and acceptance in the industry?

Pranav: The Indian online gaming community enjoys a massive fanbase of young minds. Therefore, it has an unbelievable potential to create awareness and increase the acceptability of the LGBTQ+ community.

But today, online has become synonymous with bullying. Behind the screens, in the comfort of one’s abode, many have actively taken to bullying someone who has a different lifestyle orientation and an altogether different thought process.

Since digital-native audiences comprise 60% below 25 participants, it is unfortunately observed that youngsters are fostering this bullying culture. Being a 25-year-old gaming enthusiast myself, I strongly condemn this behavior.

Respecting individual choices and way of life is the first and most crucial step towards accepting marginalized communities. For the gaming community to honestly declare itself as universal, awareness and inclusivity must happen in society at a grassroots level.

With a broader aim to bring in positive cultural change, gaming companies need to unlearn their notions about heteronormative gender and have a landscape view on the industry, which still stimulates stereotypes, bias, and phobia against the LGBTQ+ community.

The creator and streaming community also must be careful of the homophobic slang they may use knowingly and unknowingly.

As gamers and as basic human beings, we must consciously work towards creating an inclusive and conducive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.

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Q. In what way do you feel influencers should be using their profile and platform to help spread awareness on LGBTIQA+.

Pranav: I believe that to spread awareness, influencers themselves have to be cognizant of the virtues and vices of society and understand the gravity of certain subjects that need immense support and empowerment today.

Being ignorant is not something anyone who calls themselves an influencer can afford. More than creating content, they must first take substantial time to read, research, and analyze conversations and opinions on the marginalized community. It is only then that they can voice, represent and spread awareness on LGBTIQA+ individuals.

Encapsulating a few immediate actions influencers and content creators can take:

● Mention their identity pronouns in the bio (to make people aware)

● Use gender-neutral language in their content and conversations with their audience set

● Indulge in live-chats with influencers or people from a marginalized community, thereby allowing them to get their voices heard

● Normalize homosexual romance/friendship through their content

● Influencers often develop various characters, but can we recall LGBTQ+ characters created by any influencer so far? Isn’t this something we must take up actively? While this might hit a chord with some influencers reading this, it is essential to keep in mind not to end up further stereotyping LGBTQ+ characters while impersonating them

● Talk about gender-neutrality and gender-progression while actively breaking gender stereotypes and gender biases regularly, up until all genders are accepted and normalized in society

● Don’t worry about losing followers due to supporting LGBTQ+ influencers. Your vibe will attract your tribe