Games development is renowned for being a widely male dominated industry, and ours is of no exception. While the issues and support for female games developers have been raised and provided over the years, narrow-mindedness still remains in the games industry which still has a 'boys club' mentality.
Glenn Watson has written a very open and brave blog entry outlining some of the good and bad experiences he has had to endure in the Australian games industry as a gay games developer. It's an issue we've rarely heard much about, but Glenn is quick to assure us that this isn't about being gay. It's about the need for the games industry to step up a level of maturity and for game developers to have a greater acceptance and consideration for their fellow workmates.
(Glenn) I guess if someone is reading this and maybe deciding to become a games programmer and is gay, take comfort, things are getting better. I would say that the games industry despite my earlier problems things have gotten a lot better, it is a creative industry so people are going to be from all sorts of backgrounds...
Don't feel the need to be anyone but yourself, and realise that people have issues with being gay all the way in their 20s and I'm soon to see in their 30s I'm sure.
Also don't let being Gay define who you are. I am starting to learn that emotionally it has to be a part of you but don't let being Gay determine your actions.
Being such a fast and forward thinking industry, it's extremely disappointing to hear that such narrow-mindedness still prevails. Bravo to Glenn for your openness and your courage, and here's hoping that it's a catalyst towards better conditions in the local games industry.
If you have any comments and feedback to give, be sure to head on over to Glenn's blog from the link below.
Australian macho bs x games dev sausagefest = hostility squared
I would hope by now that something as minor as a preference for gender wouldn't be newsworthy, especially given my experiences in the industry. Glenn's mixed success in dealing with that in the workplace is nothing but a side-effect of the boy's club mindset that prevails above all else in the games business.
Tangentially, this is why long-term we need a greater representation of women and other games industry minorities - to afford us a different perspective and to keep us honest. For all this hoo-ha about being progressive and creative, we still suffer under some infantile mindsets and purile behaviour. For the individual, like Glenn and others, seek out like-minded people and the company of those who can appreciate you. Ignore everyone else and do not embrace their stupidity, you'll only get dumb all over your shirt.
Well most games are infantile
Well most games are infantile and peurile too, so unfortunately it's logical that the industry would attract the same.
I agree in the ideal world
I agree in the ideal world people's response would be to a news article like this "meh, so what he's gay, thats normal".
That's the response that I
That's the response that I have found to be when I told my colleagues, sure I get the odd Joke here and their but its water off a ducks back really you know they are just messing around.
Where did you work?
Where did you work?
People have lot of spare time
To be honestly Games or not, in our creative industry I don't see how people have the time to bother whether people are gay or not. The Best Man/Woman for the job guys!!!. What they do in their private life is their business!!!!.
This issue really needs to be addressed.
Being gay shouldn't make a difference if you work in our industry but unfortunately homophobic attitudes seem accepted as the norm in some companies.
I have attended high level meetings where an executive producer has referred to an idea, he did not like as: "that's just gay". If he had chosen a racial, relugious or gender based manner to express his belittling of the idea he would have been in serious trouble with hr, but apparently the hr manager accepted that "gay" and substandard were interchangeable words in the games industry.
I don't accept bigoted behaviour, if I see it going on, I condemn it on the spot. This may not make me popular, but I can live with that.
I agree that it shouldn't
I agree that it shouldn't make a difference if you are gay or not - if someone has a probelm with it, then its their own hangup.
However, 'gay' is a word which means lame as well. It doesn;t mean homosexual in this context. It has nothign to do with it.
"Gay" has never meant "lame"
"Gay" has never meant "lame"
Says who?
Definition 2 in the Macquarie Dictionary:
Colloquial: unfashionable; unstylish: that bag is really gay; don't be so gay!
It has absolutley nothing to do with being homosexual.
The third definition is being in a joyous mood. Again, nothing to do with being homosexual.
If a gay person was offended by my language I would try and respect thier wishes, (after all, I don't want to intentionally cause harm to anyone.) but in general, it is not constructive to take create offense where the context doesn't warrent it.
please try not to be so
please try not to be so closed minded about this... i'm sure hearing such a thing has negative connotations to you, but this is simply a common part of language now and when used in such a way has absolutely no homophobic undertones.
when i hear somebody referred to as "a wanker" i do not take this term as an insult to all people who masturbate.
honestly i know there are roadblocks out there for gay people, but if you choose to find things like this personally insulting, you will only be making things worse for yourself and multiplying the challenges that face you
I personally never had any
I personally never had any big hangup personally about people using the word "Gay", but I have some friends who do.
The friends just ask politely that the word not be used in that context, and then 99% of the time people are more mindful.
Simple easy problem solved.
- Glenn
According to my dictionary;
According to my dictionary of modern slang (yes I have a dictionary slang, I don't get out much), the word Can be used as a synonym precisely because of it's homosexual connotation.
Similar examples include the use of the word Jew to mean miserly or cheating and Irish to mean stupid and violent.
Words like these are used to marginalise and condemn sections of our society. Seriously next time you are tempted to use a word like this, stop for a second and really think of the effect it may have.
What...
...a load of crap. Really, we've moved on from this surely!
Krome was quite homophobic
Krome was quite homophobic when I worked there. ChrisG.
Still is.
Still is.
I've had some very good
I've had some very good reactions from ex-colleagues in regards to my article.
I've also had the practical joke mill start up, which anyone working for Krome would know about. That is as frustrating as anything.
- Glenn
Management need to take responsibility.
I've worked in the games and other industries where homophobia and indeed bullying are ignored by management.
At one point this became a serious issue for me and I had to seek outside help. One amazing thing that I discovered while doing this was how common a reaction it is for managers/leads/HRdepartments to take.
It is much easier for them to dismiss the issue as being the victim's hysteria and over sensitivity. No one wants to admit that we have bullys and bigots in our midst.
Remember if you are having problems like this:
You are not alone.
It is serious.
You don't have to tolerate it.
If managment don't deal with it, there are external agencies who can support and/or counsel you.
Out of curiousity do you have
Out of curiousity do you have the names of some of these outside external agencies?
Equal opportunities commission:
Do a search for your local branch of EOC, they have been very helpful.
If a matter is outside their scope they will put you in touch with the right people. ( for example if you have health or employment issues due to your situation you may need to talk to Worksafe or Fair Work Australia)