Out Making Games Pillars for 2023/24
Out Making Games achieved significant wins for the LGBTQ+ community in 2022. This year, based on our desire to continually grow our support of the LGBTQ+ community, the games industry and our reach, not to mention the uncertainties on the global stage, OMG have set pillars which truly reflect our ongoing support and work for the LGBTQ+ community, in 2023/24.
These are: Community, Advocacy, Education and Transgender / Gender Diverse.
Each of our initiatives this year and next, are driven by at least one of these pillars, and underlying all of this we reaffirm our commitment to supporting everybody in the LGBTQ+ rainbow.
Last year, one of our pillars was intersectionality. As our work continued throughout the year, we realised the importance of intersectionality and allyship, much like ‘games industry’ transcended any individual pillar and encompassed everything we do. At the same time, we observed an ever-increasing need for help and support for those often find themselves most marginalised - the transgender and gender diverse communities. So, this year we are not only continuing our support for them, but we are also giving them their very own pillar!
Our mission remains the same - to connect and empower the LGBTQ+ community working in the games industry across the UK and remove the barriers that exist for both current and aspiring LGBTQ+ games professionals.
However, the political environment the LGBTQ+ community find themselves in, has given us good reason to slightly refocus our pillars, to ensure we are supporting who and what matters – our members, our community, and the industry.
2023 has already seen OMG write two open letters addressing the launch of Hogwarts Legacy, in support of the transgender and non-binary community. It has also seen us follow up our 2022 personal letters to the organisers of Pocket Gamer / Steel Media’s event in the UAE, with an open letter regarding their Dubai GameExpo 2023. This new event also clearly omits LGBTQ+ games industry professionals from attending due to laws in the country, whereby unfairly oppressing their professional growth.
With laws changing in other parts of the world, from abortion to homosexuality, our mission has never been clearer, and the continued support for OMG and the LGBTQ+ community from our sponsors never more vital.
We would therefore like to take this moment to thank all our supporters, big and small. With your continued help and support, Out Making Game’s leadership team of volunteers, are able to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, to educate society so LGBTQ+ individuals lives can be richer, and to stand up to oppressors, changing hearts and minds for the better.
If you would like to find out how you can become an official Out Making Games sponsor, and support our work with the LGBTQ+ games community, of Out Making Games, please visit our sponsorship page HERE.
James Dodd – Chair
Out Making Games
