Samantha Beart, who played Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, has spoken up in an interview about the current climate for diversity in gaming. In this era of Trump’s anti-DEI policies and an increasingly bigoted public, the actor states that LGBTQ+ and other diverse storylines are being removed from games when they might be needed the most.
Interview with Baldur’s Gate 3 Actor
In an interview with The Gamer, Samantha Beart was asked if a game with as much diverse content as Baldur’s Gate 3 would be greenlit in our current era where companies are afraid of Donald Trump’s anti-DEI rhetoric and there is increasing bigotry against LGBTQ+ people. They responded, “Without exposing devs, I know that’s happening. Their storylines have been cut . . . Historically, appeasement is a really bad thing.”
“A Non-Gendered Approach”
Beart also discussed their approach to their characters, saying:
“I’m non-binary, so I’m going to be taking a non-gendered approach to things. I’m not really thinking about it when I have to play more traditionally feminine characters, although in games, not so much. You play a lot of gender-nonconforming female characters.”
Beart also points out that, “Being inclusive doesn’t mean excluding others,” which is something people should remember when they are quick to complain about diversity. Frisk in Undertale being gender-neutral doesn’t mean the game is against people who identify as male or female. Orela in Dead by Daylight being trans doesn’t mean the game is making a statement against cis people.
Conclusion
LGBTQ+ storylines are being erased not only from games, but also from movies and TV, which makes it more important for LGBTQ+ people and allies to speak up. We need to show that we will not go back to being invisible. As we make our way through an increasingly prejudiced world, it is important to remember that we can help eliminate hatred by showing that we are human. Games like Baldur’s Gate 3 can help show people that a group they may consider an “other” is actually close to them.
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