Covering Sexual Diversity in A Closed World

Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights
 https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3291397/Yoshino_the%20new%20civil%20rights.pdf

This chapter deals with the pressures society places on individuals to conform to a standard regarding how a person acts or behaves in regards to race, beliefs, sexual orientation, etc.  The author, Kenji Yoshino, talks about his experience coming out as not only a gay man, but a gay Asian-American, and also the act of covering.  Covering, or cover, is to conceal one's true self, and perpetuate a false self in order to be accepted in society.  But just like any kind of armor, the cover is more likely to be stifling, resticting the body's (and the mind's) natural movements, and most of all, it serves as a barrier between our soul and the world.  In order to find our place in the world, we must be bold enough to place our true self in the world.

“Sexual Diversity” by Extra Credits
 http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/sexual-diversity

This episode of Extra Credits deal with the lack of gay lead characters in a video game, or at least the lack of gay lead characters that are represented with taste and quality.  Perhaps due to homophobia, or a fearful response from Washington, gay characters are rare in mainstream games.  A gamer, wishing to play a video game with a gay lead character or one the deals with gay issues, may have to search far and wide for less known and less marketed games.  Much like going into a video store and slowly, and non-chalantly, walking into the adult section, hoping the other customers not witness this foray into questionable territory. 

“A Closed World”
http://gambit.mit.edu/loadgame/summer2011/aclosedworld_play.php

A Closed World is an incredible game in that it deals with same sex relationships and the hatred and bigotry that comes with it.  Although in the beginning of the game the player is asked to choose male or female, the lead character is dressed in a hoody so details of sex are obscured, which, I feel, adds to the game.  The narrative details the lead characters anguish of a society that does not condone same sex relationships, and is described by another character in the game as "not normal".  The game shows that navigating life is like a trek through the woods, it is unknown territory and dark and forbidding in some areas.  The monsters withing seek to devour the traveler with hate and self-loathing, or at least turn back the traveler.  To fight against the monsters is to fight against society's norms, but also to fight inner doubts, and the lead character fights for the missing lover as much as for him/herself.