Pixelated Pride

One of the world's biggest gaming communities toasts its LGBT members for a Pride celebration.

By Hugh Ryan

When most people think about online video games, they think of teenage boys and Angelina Jolie dressed as Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. But a growing number of LGBT adults are taking to the (virtual) streets, carving out a home for themselves in what are commonly known as Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games, or MMORPGs.

With 11.5 million subscribers, the most popular MMORPG is Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft, or WoW. Players can be one of two genders, 10 classes (such as Warrior or Death Knight), and 10 races (like Blood Elf or Human). They can also join guilds, which are like online social clubs (kind of like the houses in the ballroom scene, as depicted in Paris Is Burning ). The second biggest guild in the game is the Spreading Taint, one of a number of LGBT (and ally) guilds. For the fifth year running, the Spreading Taint is organizing an in-game World of Warcraft Pride, scheduled for June 20 at noon. This year it's themed around recognizing the contributions of female-identified LGBT people in the game.

What is the place of Pride in a world of anonymous avatars that can't even have sex? The Advocate caught up with one of the WoW Pride organizers over IM to find out.

Advocate.com:What's your full name?
Benjamin Hardin: Benjamin Hardin in the real world. Bigheadben in the game.

How old are you?
Bigheadben is level 80 in World of Warcraft [80 is the highest possible level a player can reach]. In what passes for real life, I hope to be there someday.

What do you do in your regular life?
Wrapping up a master's in psychology, starting a doctoral program in it this fall.

How long have you been playing WoW, and what do you like about it?
Started playing it five years ago in beta and haven't stopped. It is obvious even after only a short time playing the game that the people at Blizzard who designed it have an awesome sense of humor. There is also so much to do, and all of it is fairly robust and entertaining. But it's the other players that make the game. I would have stopped playing years ago if I didn't have Tainters to daily entertain me.

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Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Lauren
Date posted: 6/21/2009 6:44:00 AM
Hometown: NJ

Comment:
The game is quite fun and I think the people who play are more diverse than the stereotypes make them out to be.
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Name: Kylenne
Date posted: 6/20/2009 12:10:00 PM
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Comment:
Awesome! I rolled up a Death Knight on the server just for the parade. If anyone sees a fetching Undead gal named Zaratha, be sure to /wave! :)
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Name: Zach
Date posted: 6/18/2009 4:07:00 AM
Hometown: Buhl. Idaho

Comment:
LOL! Ah, dammit, I shoulda organized a Pride on my server. Oh, btw, I also read something about blizzard banning advertising LGBT guilds in trade chat. Ha, good luck with that. Read trade sometime blizz, you'd be banning a LOT more. I love blood elves. They are soooooo gay. /flirt: Hey, why don't you come over here, and...HEY! WATCH THE HAIR!
Back to top
Name: Randall Reynolds
Date posted: 6/17/2009 4:03:00 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:
I love Warcraft and have been playing since May 2005! I have a Blood Elf Mage named Rauston on the server, Spinebreaker. Look me up, boys! ; )
Back to top
Name: Jason
Date posted: 6/11/2009 8:02:00 PM
Hometown: Sunnyvale

Comment:
Hey! I'm a member of this guild!! And I am goofy!

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