Hello, hello, hello everyone!
As Pride Month is coming to a close, we’re sharing our last (but certainly not least!) editor story for June. All month long, we’ve been showcasing the stories and lived experiences of passionate LGBTQIA+ folks who embrace authenticity and promote inclusivity in everything that they do. Through our theme of “Looking Back and Moving Forward”, we are focusing on the importance of understanding where we came from in order to get where we need to be. Learning and empathizing with queer stories is a powerful step to progressing toward a world of acceptance for all, so if you have not already checked out our previous stories from Bart, Sam, and Vinny, I highly encourage everyone to do so!
Today I am very excited to introduce you all to OishiiOnIno, aka Kurt. He is an incredibly talented Wiki Representative and even helped build out some of the LGBTQIA+ Wiki. You may have seen him lending a hand on various gaming wikis throughout the platform, but whether you’ve had the great pleasure of engaging with him or not, I hope you enjoy learning more about his journey!
Read on to find out how he got started on Fandom, what he loves most about video games, and why trans representation is so important in gaming.
Meet Kurt[]
OishiiOnIno
Howdy! I’m Kurt (he/him), I’m a gaming Wiki Representative. I’m an avid horror fan, metal/goth enjoyer, and video game obsessor. I’m also a queer, trans man from the middle-of-nowhere, rural USA.
1. How long have you been on Fandom? What specifically drew you to the platform?
- Around 4 years now, I believe, maybe a bit longer! I’ve always loved finding the gaps in lore, and trying to fill them in. Anywhere there’s a hard to get or “lost” piece of information pertaining to a franchise I’m obsessing over at the moment, I kind of made it my mission to figure it out. I really like to include the small details that usually get looked over, especially when it comes to rare physical media. I found that motivation applied really well to wiki editing and fell in love with it from there. Now, when I’m not working, I spend most of my time cramming lore into my head.
2. What do you love most about gaming wikis and the gaming community as a whole?
- Our love for strategy and complex problem solving. I really love nothing more than getting to rave back and forth with someone over the best ways to build our characters or get through certain fights. Let me hear about your methods and I’ll share mine. I’ve found a higher concentration of people I can have those conversations with on wikis than I have at conventions or game stores. I also just love scrolling through threads that go similarly, trying to find something I didn’t think of yet.
3. Why are video games so meaningful to you, and how have they impacted your life as an LGBTQIA+ person?
- The way video games are comprised of various art forms, writing and music, all carefully woven together to create something so immersive- it almost feels real. You just lose yourself in it, and time isn’t a thing to you anymore. When I was younger and had some difficulties “coming out”… games were always there for me. I could be whoever I wanted to be in a completely different world and that was liberating.
4. How do you think trans representation in games has impacted trans gamers?
- Representation has definitely come a long way, but it still has quite a ways to go. In recent years, more games have openly included transgender, non-binary and gender-non-conforming characters and even occasionally provided the room to play a transgender character. Any time I see a trans character done right, it brings a smile to my face. Now, If I’m learning I can PLAY a trans character or a character I really care about turns out to be trans? I’m not even gonna lie, I’m probably up skipping around. Might even do a little jig. I don’t think I’m alone in that, where it can just make you happy to see yourself in the games you care about. I also don’t think it would be unreasonable to assume video games can be some people’s first time being exposed to anything trans related. If that could get just one person to challenge their perspective or learn something new, a win is a win.
5. Our theme for Pride this year is “Looking Back and Moving Forward”. Thinking about where you are now and how far you’ve come, what advice would you give to your younger self?
- Don’t be afraid to take leaps of faith. It’s okay to make mistakes along the way, that’s part of learning, it’s necessary. What matters is that you always get back up again.
6. What do you hope the future holds for you, for gaming, and for the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole?
- Now is a better time than ever to include more LGBTQIA+ characters and stories. I’ve always enjoyed the boldness of the stories that games can tell, they have always covered difficult topics, politics and societal critiques. Let’s see more trans and gender diverse characters, have opportunities to play as them with rich stories behind them. There are many trans writers, artists and developers that can make this come true. This will provide us with refreshing avenues to explore as players, open us to new experiences never done before.
7. What actions can queer folks and allies take to promote forward progress for the LGBTQIA+ community?
- It’s really important to not forget the history of homophobia/transphobia. Learn the tools of it, how it came to prevalence. It will improve your ability to target and combat it. Be involved with your local politics, if you can. It starts in your backyard, protect it. Try to find (optionally: local) LGBTQIA+ resources, or mutual aid funds. If something like that doesn’t exist near you yet, maybe you could start something. For US folks, most colleges and universities have GSA clubs you can contact as well, many run fundraisers for clothing drives, women’s shelters and more. Raise money. Donate to GLAAD or ACLU. Every ounce of effort counts, let nothing go to waste.
Major thanks to Kurt for openly sharing his thoughts and advice with all of you! Now more than ever, it is so important to listen to and amplify trans voices in order to be an active ally. Whether it’s through immersive gaming experiences or real life conversations, making meaningful connections and understanding the experiences and struggles of LGBTQIA+ people are the keys to unlocking a brighter future where everyone is not only accepted, but truly loved, for who they are.
I hope everyone has enjoyed this blog series and hopefully learned something new along the way. Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to show Kurt lots of love in the comments!
Keep a lookout for our final Pride wrap-up tomorrow - you won’t want to miss it.
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