LGBT Gamers Hold Massive Virtual Pride Parade To Celebrate In-Game Same Sex Marriage

The largest group of online gaymers takes over Final Fantasy XIV.

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Last month the Japanese game developer Square Enix announced that they would reverse a previous restriction and allow same-sex marriages between players in their massively multiplayer online roleplaying game Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Said the game's producer Naoki Yoshida: ""We discussed it and we realized...why should there be restrictions on who pledges their love or friendship to each other? And so we decided to go this way."

Over the weekend, as an expression of gratitude towards Yoshida and celebration of the decision, The Rough Trade Gaming Community, which describes itself as "the world's biggest LGBT guild" (a guild is a group of likeminded gamers), held a massive "Pixel Parade" inside Final Fantasy XIV. Dressed in rainbow motley, the guild ran through the game world of Eorzea, dancing and partying. You can watch the whole thing above.

The celebration is a reminder not just that attitudes towards same-sex marriage are changing throughout the world, but that online gaming communities can be places of enormous personal significance for the LGBT community.

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