his essay came about because one day, while reading

reviews of RPGs, I saw one too many people claiming

that any fantasy world which is LGBT friendly is
completely unrealistic. That, apparently, LGBT people just
started in 1969 when Elton John dropped his first album and
before that no one of note in history was ever LGBT and no
country or region was ever supportive of LGBT people.
Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, I just got
Lilith Grishaw
tired of this and have decided to put together a collection of
LGBT facts and myths from history, along with ways that Irene D. Bassett
these can be used in your games as inspiration. I know such a Lilith Grishaw
book is unlikely to change any closed off minds, or convince Dejan Mandic, courtesy of Grim and
those people who got me to write it to agree that history can Perilous Studios
be very LGBT friends, but all the same I hope it helps Irene D. Bassett
someone. and Lilith Grishaw

This game product is powered by

™, a trademark of Grim & Perilous Studios
LLC, in the USA and other countries. Used with permission.
Original text content of ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
ZWEIHÄNDER Logo, content and original artwork are
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otherwise specified.
 This book is divided up into three sections, as follows. If you’re
Note this book goes extremely in depth, more so than it would viewing it as a PDF, you can click on the section you wish to
generally need to be for such things. This is because, as much jump to below.
as this is a nice little guide and advice for average people, I
especially hope even a straight, cisgendered person without an 1. LGBT in a Fantasy World Meanings, terms and ideas
in-depth knowledge of the LGBT community might find about LGBT stuff, along with certain pieces of advice for
some use in it. One of the biggest tragedies I think about the world building.
fantasy genre is a sort of straight-washing that happens, where 2. How Gay was History? Some examples of LGBT
people don’t really explore different societies ideas of gender or sections of History and Mythology, and examples of how
sexuality and instead kinda stick with a very basic view of it. you could use them as inspiration in a game.
3. Not Cool Dude Avoiding certain tropes and ideas in
It’s my hope that someone reading this might see an representation, and ideas for details to avoid such things.
opportunity to expand on their world some, and bring in some
more unique or interesting perspectives on this sort of thing
that people might not normally think of.

A Brief Warning: I am not an expert on LGBT history or

culture. I’m heavily involved in it, and I myself am trans;
however, my knowledge of such things are not that of an
expert or major in such things. I have done my best to research
and be accurate as possible in what is presented here. That said,
do not take me as an absolute authority on either history or
terminology and culture.

I’ve had people look over this for input and feedback, but I did
not send this into the Manager of LGBT affairs for review. I
encourage you to feel free to research those items which
interest you , and learn any mistakes I might have made or
facts I might have not known or left out.

Pronouns and creatures in this book: I will generally attempt

to stick with They/Them pronouns in this book, and will
attempt to be gender neutral as possible when referring to
most groups and the reader.

Additionally, you might realize when I bring up examples of

how things might be applied I tend to stick with non-human
ancestries. This is purely for ease of listing, as it's easier to read
3 completely different ancestries and mentally separate them,
and some have traits that might lend better to an idea. Most
ideas presented could be applied to humans just as well, and
making a human culture have comparatively unique views on
gender or sexuality is just as encouraged as it is for others.
 during the game, keep in mind commentary of the two being
“roommates,” “confirmed bachelors,” or “dear friends” are
much more likely from a historical perspective rather than
outright hostility. As much as humans can be weird, we are also
idiots at spotting anything not spelled out to us. This was
Despite the name of this chapter, this section does not just especially true in a time where being known to be LGBT
deal with fictional scenarios and facts. Several of the ideas could be a death sentence, meaning people would often not be
here apply to the real world, and some are almost entirely open about what they were socially, meaning very few people
rooted in reality. Some sections will almost entirely explore could actually spot any signs or tell that someone was LGBT.
comparing fantasy terms and ideas, and how they can be tied This meaning even borderline open LGBT people could still
back to the real world. I will do my best to keep clear what be relatively obvious in their sexuality and gender, and so long
applies to the real world and what should generally only as it was not too obvious to the wrong person most would
apply to the fictional, though keep in mind not all of this write off their behavior without thought. Even during the
applies to the real world. Renaissance charges of sodomy would generally only come up
at times when someone had made someone truly mad, as there
An Important Note: My greatest recommendation is, no was a fear of ruining reputation a lot of the time.
matter what, make your game LGBT friendly and to not
include queerphobia in your game. I feel it doesn’t really It was not a good life, having to hide what you were from
matter if you’re playing in a fantasy world, battling orcs and others and never truly be yourself under threat of
Corruption, or a historical game during the 30 Years War or ostracization or outright hostility, but it was not as horrible as
Dark Ages. While yes, these aspects might have been a part it could have been at times and not one impossible to live.
of history at the time, this is by and large a game we come to It is much better to just say “I am not bringing queerphobia
have fun. into a game” or at the least not making it a major problem, if
all players agree it might be brought in. One does not
Many people coming to these games might wish to either generally want to act out having hate crimes committed
play out their identities, or explore it in some way and have against them, and dealing with the fight for basic human
fun that way (playing a female Tiefling in D&D was one the dignity, and might rightfully object to a Game Master
first times I felt fully comfortable as a character), and might seemingly punishing them for a non-heterosexual/
not wish to experience the same vitriol they face in day to day cisgendered character.
life.

That said , there might be a place for such themes and LGBT is a general umbrella term everyone means, and I
problems during the game, depending on the players. A would be surprised if anyone bought this book not knowing
player might be fine during a more historical game to face the basics of that term. In generally it refers to the
Queerphobia, and be given the chance to rise above it, community of non heterosexual (like the opposite sex) and/or
though this is not for everyone nor should it be assumed so. cisgendered (identifies with gendered assigned at birth)
For this reason I recommend having your players fill out an people who live in this world, That’s a gross simplification,
RPG Consent Sheet as might be found online, and see what but the easiest way to put it.
they have to say on such things. If someone does agree for
you to explore these aspects, make sure they are portrayed as LGBT is generally considered a little short and does not
negative and to use tools such as the X CARD or some form cover everything it could, and a lot of times in the community
of safe word or phrase. LGBTQ+ is used instead. At times this is extended even
farther to LGBTQIA or LGBTQIA+, though this less
Note as well that just because LGBT people have largely had common and generally more saved for formal situations. I
their contributions in history and actions downplayed does have chosen to stick with LGBT purely because it’s the term
not mean they have not played an important part, or been the average layman is most familiar with and is the quickest
there. Millions of LGBT people throughout history have to write. In order of the longest of these, the acronym stands
existed and lived their life, and persisted despite what others for as follows:
have done. Ironically as well, many of these people lived right
in the open as their identity, sometimes only doing the bare L- Lesbian, generally women who like women.
minimum to hide their identity compared to what one would G- Gay, generally men who like men.
think. B- Bisexual, people who like two or more genders.
T- Transgender, those who do not identify with the gender
While you might get permission to play out queerphobia assigned to them at birth.
Q- Queer or Questioning, this depending on the person in If I suggest that perhaps in one fantasy world all elves are
question generally. Questioning referring to anyone who is genderless beings, who generally don’t identify as anything
currently unsure where they fit sexually or what they identify other than an elf, it might be easier for me to write and say
as in terms of gender. Queer generally means anything that “Elves are generally agender, and are confused by concepts
doesn’t fall under an exact label, and non-binary (those who otherwise” than anything else.
don’t exactly identify as either male or female fully or exactly)
is sometimes considered under this label, though many place Now that we’ve established the basics, we can move onto
it fully under Transgender all the same. Queer is sometimes ideas of how to incorporate certain aspects of LGBTQIA+
used as an umbrella term for all LGBTQ+ identities, into games, and how certain terms might apply to certain
especially in relation to Queerphobia (hatred against any people, or how some might not apply at all.
LGBTQ+ identity) though generally is not used outside
community and should generally not be used unless explicitly
told to as an identity. Human sexuality is weird, and there’s no real other way to put
I- Intersex, someone born with sexual aspects (anything from it. We just are creatures with weird sexual urges (except you,
organs, external or internal, to chromosomes) which generally asexuals) we might never fully understand or be able to fully
belong to the opposite sex as the gender assigned at birth. compartmentalize. Some people know exactly what they
A- Ace, generally either asexual or aromantic. Asexual people want, and are only really attracted to that one thing, while
tend to not have sexual attraction, though may or may not be others might fully think of themselves as only being attracted
sex repulsed. Aromantic people tend to not seek or have to one thing with a few exceptions.
romantic attraction, though some might still form Once you get into it historically as well you get several points
attachments and some forms of relationships. where it seems sexuality was a much different concept than
+- Anything else. This includes Pansexual, who feel what it currently is, and rarely in history as a whole has
attractions to all genders, to demisexual, who need to form an sexuality ever been as black and white as most would believe
attachment before feeling sexual attraction, to genderfluid, it now. The Greeks are rather famous and infamous for their
who’s identity might change with time, to a hundred different views on sexuality, where it was considered the most
things. We all experience our sexuality and gender in different masculine thing to have sex with another man, so long as you
ways, and there’s generally a term or idea that can help were on top and these “men” often being adolescents.
express that. Additionally according to some writings by historians of
from the time period, same sex relationships were so common
Note that the word “generally” was used a lot above as terms in ancient China that it regularly caused strain among
are not universal. Lesbian generally means a woman who married couples.
loves women, though some non-binary individuals who
primarily love women will use the term lesbian. In that same Neither of these would be perfect examples of accepting
vein, someone might be nonbinary and prefer men might cultures, as the Greeks for as common as it was based on
identify as gay and be just as valid. ideas of masculinity and were often exploitive, while in the
later individuals were still considered responsible for getting
Additionally people can and do identify as multiple things. married and having kids. What these do give us though is
Someone might be a transgender women who is also lesbian, examples of sexuality being a non-definitive thing, and
a non-binary person who is bisexual, or similar. Someone something worth exploring in some way.
might be attracted to all genders, and still go as bisexual.
Some people might be Bisexual, but homoromantic, or After all, how could we convert this into the basis of
heretosexual and biromantic. Humans are weird, and something in other cultures, and adapt it somewhere needed?
everyone is different, meaning you can’t put any term in any Perhaps Ogre culture is known for having very open
one box 100%. sexualities, and sees sex more as something one does when
they want to feel good, and don’t understand why one would
Why go so in depth on this one point? Simply put, as limit themselves to one half of life. Perhaps elves, as
generalized as a lot of this is already, it’s because it gives us a androgynous as they look, don’t really often have the same
based point to work off of when discussing fantasy worlds ideas as what sexuality means and instead tend to have
and how such things can apply. A lot of these terms might attraction more towards certain features. Maybe Orcs are
come back to stuff described, and might give a good jumping largely and surprisingly demi-sexual, tending to form bonds
off point for researching or understanding how certain races over years as they fight together before pairing off.
might see sexuality and gender in unique ways to them.
In the same way though humans born in a society of binary-
gender and heterosexuality might not fit into the culture’s
ideas of such things, ancestries born into other ideas of are assigned often based on the profession of the person
gender might not fully fit into them. Using the above (soldiers are masculine, accountants feminine, ect). Maybe
examples of how you as a player might explore going against elves, eternally androgynous, don’t really see themselves as
the usual grain. How might an asexual Ogre might fit into having genders and get confused how other races divide
their culture? An Elf who grows attached to a single gender themselves up like that. What about Dwarves, who are all
wandering among other ancestries? An orc who is largely bearded and gruff looking? How much they approach gender,
aromantic and is attracted to others regardless of how well where the outer differences might not be obvious.
they know them?
On the idea of additional genders, or third genders, there is a
lot of room to explore there as well. What if Gnomes
Gender, like sexuality, is a spectrum and kinda weird to generally have a third or fourth gender, for those who don’t
explain. We all experience it in different ways, and it all feel comfortable with normal labels? What if priests of the
means different things to different people. If you ask a 100 Demiurge often come from this third gender, as it’s closer to
people what it means to be their gender you will get 100 the god’s own? What if Grendel, connected to the fey as they
different answers in how they describe it and what it means are, have broken gender down into an extremely complicated
to them. To some it’s based on an appearance, to some a alignment chart with a hundred different possibilities
quality, and to others a feeling. depending on a thousand different details?

Most people find a balance somewhere in their life between As before with sexuality, perhaps someone just doesn’t fit into
how they perceive their gender, themselves, and their body. the preconceived notions of their culture. In the cases above,
Some find that a part of themselves is incompatible with what would it look like to be a gnome that just doesn’t like
another, and might seek to change something to match their the callings of any gender? A priest of the Demiurge, all
true identity. This is generally where we get into transgender rights seen as a third gender by their culture, who identifies
issues. with another? A Grendel who feels connected to several
different genders of their culture, even as others claim they
Someone might or might not experience dysphoria, a don’t match any of them.
disconnect between the body and mind in how it perceives
gender and identity, and still be transgender. An unease with
the whole body, or even just a part, is not needed for someone To put it simply, what is in a person’s pants is only important
to realize that one’s body doesn’t fit their true self, and for between them and whomever they might be currently sharing
them to want to change it to make them happier with it. their bed, or possibly a back of a wagon or darkened park,
with. In a fantasy setting this issue is even more moot, as we
Throughout history transgender people have rarely had deal with people turning into snakes, or calling down fire
completely clear cut representation, as it was often in a time from the sky, with no real complaint. In a tabletop RPG,
before they could be fully accepted or we could better where it is unlikely you are actually seeing a live play by play
understand lot of these sort of things. For that reason, while action, this issue should be completely non-existent. Once the
there are still clear cut examples that can be pointed to, many genitals of an NPC primarily only pictured in your head
such people either had more ambiguous presentations or fit becomes a topic that needs a clear cut answer or description
under genders past the usual two most people are familiar for your players, you are probably playing a game different
with. than intended by the system.

In ancient Egypt we have found evidence there was at least a Additionally genitals do not define the gender of a person,
third recognized gender, which we haven’t been able to find and should not be used against a player if they do decide to
much information on. Several North American Indigeonous play a character of any gender. If they wish to have something
tribes might have had up to four or five genders, these now involved, you might bring in opportunities for magick,
often put under the umbrella term “Two-spirited”. Samoan alchemy, or some other system to allow such things, but
culture has historically, and even still today, has had a third overall it is not needed. Stop worrying about what’s in your
gender known as Fa’afafine. character’s pants, and worry more about the game mostly, as
that doesn’t need to define you and can be as much an issue
Exploring a culture which has unique genders or loose ideas or non-issue as everyone agrees.
on what gender means could be interesting, and add depth to
your world that could lead to some interesting exploration or Intersex, Hermaphrodite, and Others: I should prephase this
interactions. Perhaps Ogre culture has a very loose idea of subsection by stating that humans, no humans in fact, are
gender, and one can change it at any time, but these genders hermaphadites. Hermaphroditic creatures are ones containing
both sex’s reproductive organs and being able to reproduce
either way. The closest human idea to this is Intersex, which is Remember that, above all, this is a game. We come
different and should not be treated or called the same thing here to have fun, and to get out of our own world as we fight
no matter what, and is surprisingly common with about 2% and struggle in one not our own. We often don’t want to
of humans being born Intersex. come here and roleplay out the problems we face in the world
and have to deal with them all over again as we’re supposed
The said, as this is a fantasy worry it is possible there might to relax. No matter what you should make sure the game is a
be some ancestries which could be considered place the players can be comfortable and have fun, and not let
hermaphroditic, the Zweihander Core Rulebook calling out the historical points or perspectives get in the way of world
Demiurge, certain forms of Demons, and Orx as all being building.
such. At Game Master fiat certain other ancestries might History was a horrible place, and one we have
bear similar traits, or these races mentioned before might not rightfully moved on from over time. While some might wish
bear the aforementioned traits. to explore these horrid aspects of history, and beagle to rise
up above them, many others will wish to not bring the
Additionally, some creatures might bear traits that don’t really horrors of history, and our current times at points, into the
place them in any normal category of sex. Some ancestries, game.
like clownfish, might change sex over years, starting life with The table should be a safe place to have fun, explore
one sex trait and then slowly transistioning to the other ourselves, and overall have a good time among friends. Don’t
naturally after a certain point. Others might not really have let anything get in the way of that.
sex traits at all, and instead asexually reproduce through
removing sections of themselves, with each part growing into
a full person. Perhaps, like a certain annoying little species of
fluff balls, one ancestry is born full grown and pregnant and
once it gives birth it doesn’t have any further children.

Such creatures as mentioned above, while having

comparisons to the real world, would not really fit into any
preconceived notion of sex that humans generally have and
would be much harder to distinguish as belonging to any one
group. Such points also adding questions of how might a
person of such an ancestry perceive such things as sex and
gender. If Orx were born with what is generally considered
male sex organs, but after 30 years developed generally female
sex organs, would they percieve themselves as changing
gender too or would gender not be an issue to them
generally?

Note as well, even in such cases, some players might not be

comfortable with certain labels no matter the statement.
Some might not wish for demons and orx to be referred as
hermaphrodites, as this term has often been used as a
pejorative for intersex individuals for years, and some might
be uncomfortable with its use.

This is okay, and one should accept this as it is important that

all players are comfortable at the table. If using any terms
you’re afraid might be of problem with your players, or unsure
of how best to phrase a certain choice, feel more than free to
bring it up with your players before the game and talk it out
with them first.

Communication is important.
 1. LGBT themes and stories among gods have always been
common in myths, with many having had same sex
relationships at different times. Including mentions of
different gods having had relationships or similar interests
can help pad out the lore of your world and add a layer to
such things.
Very is the short answer, though if we were just to stick with 2. If such an above myth exists, how might it influence the
that short answer there wouldn’t really be much of a book, now world and their perceptions? Would she perhaps be
would there? LGBT people have always had some place in considered a patron god of same-sex marriage, or might
history, even at times where the world didn’t fully understand people think when a solar eclipse happens such displays as
what it meant and when the world would often apply labels above should be held.
that were not 100% correct or encompassing of what they were 3. What would the priesthood look like if a goddess was
trying to say. known for preferring women, or a god preferring men?
Why don’t we learn more about this then, and why Would the idea of vows of chastity and the like be
isn’t this something we hear about? Well, it’s mostly that replaced with the general understanding that these priests
history has been written and rewritten so many times, and generally only have same sex relationships and so aren’t
especially by people with very strict ideas on gender and seen as ones who will have kids?
sexuality, that a lot of these unique points between societies
have been scrubbed from the books.
Below is a listing of just a small sampling of the
LGBT people and myths in legend, and how you could use
them as inspiration in a Zweihander game. When going
through such things it’s important to understand that most
cultures did not have a perfect idea or presentation of LGBT
ideas, even as they did have some forms of presentation. These
should mostly only be used as inspiration, and as seeds of
worldbuilding or character aspects. Ancient China, as little surviving information we have on
Note, as mentioned before, I am not an expert on most aspects of it, seems to have been surprisingly open to
history at all and am not intending to write a scholarly essay same-sex relationships, even as there were aspects of sexism
on any of these aspects. I am presenting the basic information and a need to still marry within them. One writing from the
and stories behind these aspects of history, giving some ideas time period mentions they were so common that marriages
on translating them to Zweihander, and leaving the rest up to were relatively strained and unmarried women were upset they
you. could not find husbands.

The Passion of the Cut Sleeve is a story from ancient China,

Amaterasu was the Kami of the sun in the Shinto religion. In which gave rise to the aforementioned phrase to mean same-
one of the most famous myths involving her she gets into a sex relationships. The story goes that the Emperor at the time
fight with her brother after he throws a horse in her hair, had fallen asleep with his noble lover, when he was called into
leading to her moping in a cave. As you’d expect happens when an important meeting. The man had fallen asleep on the
a sun god hides in a cave, this leads to a lot of darkness and bad emperor’s sleeve, so instead of waking him up by moving his
things, and people realize they needed to get her to come out sleeve, the emperor cut his sleeve so that his lover could
of her cave so the sun could shine again. continue sleeping.

In order to get her out of the cave the other Kami threw a huge Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on
party, which she mostly ignored. It wasn’t until Ame-no- your world:
Uzume, goddess of the dawn and revelry, did a strip dance
(more or less literally described as a dance where she took off 1. The main thing I would use the above mentioned
her clothes) which attracted Amaterasu’s attention and led to information for, as mentioned before, is to make one’s
her leaving the cave. Once out, they used a mirror to distract fantasy world to have LGBT aspects and relationships be
Amaterasu with her own brilliance, and rolled a rock in front mostly accepted and common.
of the cave. 2. It’s possible, as was so common among Emperors at the
time in China and other places, that it’s just a well known
Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on fact most kings or emperors have sort of consort of the
your world: same gender as them.
3. There might be some similar story and phrase in your Julie d’Aubigny: An opera singer and sword instructor from
world, originating from some similar event, to refer to the 17th century, Julie d’Aubigny was both famous and
same-sex relationships. Perhaps it’s the same as the above infamous in her time for her various deeds and crimes
mentioned, or perhaps there is some other phrase with its committed. One the most famous of these being when she
own story of origin. joined a covenant, took the vows of a nun, only to sleep with
another nun, place a dead body from the crypts in their bed,
and burn down the room as they ran off together. They were
later found out, though the King of France pardoned her citing
that she was too entertaining to let be killed.

When she wasn’t lying her way into nunneries to get to her
girlfriends, d’Aubigny was also a prominent socialite in Paris.
While attending a royal ball wearing men’s clothes, Julie
The Galli, Gallus for a singular member of the order, referred proceeded to kiss a woman on the dance floor, leading to her
to a sort of Priest in ancient Rome which worshipped the being challenged to a duel by three men there. She proceeded
goddess Cybele and Attis. Attis was a eunuch god, and as part to beat each one after the other, and then fled the scene as
of their oath to this god the Galli would castrate themselves as dueling was illegal in France at the time. A crime she’s
well. If this was the end of such things, they would not be reported to have broken over 10 times in her life. A crime she
included in this pamphlet, and there is some ambiguity to was also pardoned for by the king, as the law only specified
what might have been the Galli at their time. men were not allowed to duel.

Some theorize the Galli might have been an order of Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on
Transgender priests, with these definitions restricted by the your world:
time period. As, on top of the aforementioned castration, the
Galli would from then on out wear women’s makeup, clothes, 1. As a player Julie d’Aubigny poses probably one the
and jewelry, and begin to travel the world as that. While texts greatest templates you could hope for for a more roguish
from the time period still use masculine pronouns when or noble character hoping to have some fun there. Afterall,
referring to these priests, interpretations differ and we have Julie’s exploits read very well as a descriptor of what some
pretty much no in depth knowledge on these priests. For the Knave character got up to over the course of their game.
purpose of this pamphlet I’ve gone with the interpretation 2. For Game Masters a character like d’Aubigny could very
mentioned before and gone under the assumption of them easily pad out a campaign as an NPC, and act as a good
being an example of a transgender priesthood. contact between the world of the nobles and the world of
the criminal or lower class, or just a down to earth
Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on connection in such things.
your world: 3. If anything the above should help make clear that, as
horrid and deadly these times could be for LGBT people,
1. An obvious way would be to make the priesthood of a there were 100% people who openly lived their life like
god, or at least a subset of one, made primarily up of that still. It should be noted Julie was mostly allowed to
transgender individuals. Possibly the god either being do this because of her connections to the court, and how
trans themselves, or representing change in such a way no one could think of what to do with her legally, though
that trans individuals especially are considered it should still be kept in mind.
representative of them.
2. t’s possible that in one culture changing gender is a
religious experience or ceremony, and that there are entire
days or festivals during holy holidays to celebrate this. The
Galli had such events afterall, why not others?
3. Player characters might be part of such an order, and may
quite openly talk about it. This could especially make for
interesting story hooks if the player character is from an
area outside the campaign’s focus, where this order might
not exist.
Most people know Loki mostly just through comic books and The Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite army in ancient
movies, and some have heard a couple of the myths involving Greece of 300 hundred men, each one paired off into a couple.
Loki. What some others might know is that Loki was, more The idea being that if you were to be fighting alongside a lover
or less, Gender-fluid, with him having been mentioned a few you would fight much harder and victory would be more
times as having changed their gender regularly in the various certain. Throughout the existence of their order, they won
stories. several battles and repeatedly protected the city of Thebes
from invaders, including from the Spartans.
Loki was both mother and father at various times in myths,
and while the myths often referred to them with he/him It should be noted the Sacred Band of Thebes, and Greece in
pronouns most gods accepted the fact that Loki regularly general, while seeming a very accepting organization for
changed around their gender. One the common LGBT individuals at first, was a very regressive organization
interpretations of this in the modern day being that Loki was and should not be considered a positive portrayal as is. The
either not attached to their gender, or were fully gender-fluid. Sacred Band of Thebes and Greece as a whole was filled with
pederasty and homophobic toxic masculinity even as these
Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on practices were common.
your world: Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on
your world:
1. An obvious point might be to make one god or more in
your world Gender-fluid, or a common shapechanger. If 1. A similar organization, without the horrid aspects of the
any players are uncomfortable with the idea of using the real one, could be an interesting organization or group to
term hermaphrodite, one might be able to keep the idea have as an elite unit in the world. Afterall, who fights
of the Demiurge being both genders by making them better than two lovers side by side?
Gender-fluid. 2. In cultures with more open ideas on sexuality this might
2. A god who is gender-fluid would be sure to have some be considered common practice, for couples to form
form of influence on the culture as a whole. Possibly among fighting soldiers, in order to boost morale and
giving an understanding and gateway for LGBT keep people feeling close.
individuals, with it being possible Gender-fluid 3. There might be some famous concept among one the
individuals are seen as blessed by this god. cultures for this sort of thing. Perhaps an elvish word that
3. A certain race might naturally bear powers similar to Loki more or less literally means “two soldiers in love” or the
and be able to regularly change their sex either at will or like.
over time. Possibly a trait of androgynous races like elves
or dwarves.

Matelotage was a practice among seamen in the 1600 and

1700s, which started out as an under the table deal between
sailors in the navy, where upon death property would be
transferred to the partner. Pirates, already breaking the law by
virtue of their profession, took this and many began using it as
a form of marriage aboard pirate ships.

Matelotage ceremonies would often involve the exchanging of

rings and would mean that each would share any loot gained
during pirating, and upon death of one partner property would
exchange to the other.
This got so well known one French Governor even sent
prostitutes to the pirates, in the hopes they would stop sleeping
with each other if he did. It didn’t work.
Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on
your world: your world:

1. Matelotage could be a practice among sailors and, yes, 1. Perhaps the idea of death and rebirth is so interwoven
pirates of your world. Possibly being the name given to an with a culture, that trans individuals often “die and are
informal wedding done by commanding officers rather reborn” as their preferred gender. This could either be a
than priests. false showing, and more theatrics, or a literal drowning
2. Adding relationships is one of the easiest ways to and resuscitation, with you being considered reborn
humanize NPCs. Mention of such relationships someone new as you come back.
happening among sailors or pirates, and treating it as a 2. An NPC like Public Universal Friend could be
humanizing trait, can quickly help make such characters interesting, and add a kind hearted non-binary public
feel much more three dimensional. friend of all people to the game. Giving the players an
3. In the same way sailors and pirates could form such bonds emotional crutch to lean on when they need it.
over time on a ship together, adventuring groups or the 3. As a Player Character Public Universal Friend could be
like might form similar bonds. Informal weddings and the the influence of an interesting option. Someone who
like, such as this, might occur especially in those cases has separated themselves from all attachments to
where one might be a type of person the church wouldn’t gender and who heavily fights for the rights of others
marry, like a wizard. through the power of the church.

Sappho of Lesbos was a Greek poet whose poems were so

gay that she spawned literally two different terms women
liking women from her title. Sapphic, taken from her name,
and Lesbian, taken from her home island. Some like to argue
Public Universal Friend was a preacher from the 1700s who, that she might have been bi or straight even, as there are
after suffering a horrible illness, claimed to have died and been reports of her having a husband. This idea is questionable to
reborn as a genderless evangelical named Public Universal say the least though as her supposed husband, Kerkylas of
Friend. From then on out they began to throw off all gendered Andros, is not a real name and translates loosely to “Penis
pronouns, wear gender neutral clothes, and proceeded to spend from the Isle of Man”.
much of their life preaching against slavery and supporting
women’s rights. Sappho’s poems are famous for their subject matter even
today, with such lines as, “may you sleep/ on your tender
There is some debate of who or what Public Universal Friend girlfriend’s breasts,” and, “Sweet mother, I cannot weave—
was, with some claiming they might have been a woman or slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl”.
some form of fraudster. Many additionally believe they may That said, some people try mis-translating many of these to
have been non-binary or even agender in some way, and used be about men, and say that her poems weren’t what they
the story about their death and rebirth to gain a platform to be appear on the surface.
themselves and fight for human rights.
Below are a few of the ways you could use this to expand on
your world:

1. LGBT subjects in poetry are very common, and poets

often appear where art flourishes. In a place where the arts
are common, brief mention or an NPC known for poems
with such subject matter might be interesting.
2. Perhaps if such a poet were famous before they would
have some definitive impact on the culture of the people.
Maybe in one the cultures of your world it’s noted that
same sex couples oftenwrite poems for eachother as the
main method of proposal.
3. Sappho had a fake husband, as mentioned above, who had
an obvious joke name. Perhaps something like this is
common among LGBT nobles, expected to pass down
their family name and have children. Claiming openly to
have spouses of the opposite sex, though any peaks into
this revealing an obviously fake or joking name.
 This is one of my favorite tropes (to hate) as it is one that for
some reason way too many people believe and spread. The idea
that all lesbians are butch as hell, and big muscular short haired
woman wearing flannel and jeans, and all gay men are
feminine fashion obssed men with dramatic mannerisms. Stop
it. Get some help. It’s just overall harmful and not a good thing
to say or spread at all, and doesn’t add anything to anything.
Now, gay men can be feminine and lesbians can be butch, the
Throughout the history of media there have been several problem here though is where that is treated as either a
tropes and ideas that have propped up which should be universal or the norm in some ways. A problem arises as well
completely and utterly avoided. These are harmful to spread, when you go the completely opposite direction and start
and even if done as “positive stereotyping” or on a positive making every lesbian the spitting image of feminimity and
character still spread harmful stereotypes and ideas. every gay man suffer from testostron poisoning in terms of
masculinity. LGBT people are human (in the case of
Note not all such tropes need to be avoided entirely, and Zweihander intelligent humanoids), and are diverse and
instead should be watched carefully or approached with the complicated as humans. We don’t realize our sexuality or
right sort of mindset. These tropes will be called out, and gender and suddenly become a carbon copy of the stereotype
explained when they come up, while others will be mentioned associated with it. When making LGBT NPCs and characters
as “best to just avoid these entirely. keep in mind that they’re not defined by that, and should be
built as a character who is LGBT rather than an LGBT
character.

This is a trope straight out the 80s and 90s, where we were just
starting to be half accepting of LGBT people, but not really.
It’s a trope that we all know, where someone has a best friend
One the most infamous tropes out there, Bury Your Gays (usually a side character and not even a secondary) who is
refers to the habit of movies and tv shows to make sure that flamboyantly gay and often offers life or relationship advice.
any LGBT characters introduced during the course of the The problem here does not come so much from the character’s
story will either be dead by the end of the story, or tragically sexuality, so much as it is the presentation and often
not long for this world. This trope more and more has become background nature of such characters. Instead of being a
tragically obvious with time, and been a tragic mark in many character who is gay, these friends are often written as gay
pieces of media over time over and over again. This has all the characters with little depth. Their job will be to wait for the
unfortunate implications one would expect from it, and also main character to have a problem, and then offer wise life
often ties back into a bad habit of LGBT people being killed advice in a sassy and flamboyant tone while occasionally
off for emotional impact on the often straight and cisgender mentioning how cute a guy is. The solution to the problem
individuals that act as main characters. Avoiding this is easy, with this trope is two fold, with both being very important. As
and does not mean an LGBT character can never die. What it always one should make sure they make characters who are gay
means is that LGBT NPCs should not be the only ones to die, instead of gay characters, to avoid the worst of stereotypes and
nor should the only LGBT NPCs of the game be the ones to implications with these characters. The second is to make sure
die. the LGBT NPCs of your game are not all background
characters, and that at least some are secondary or primary
NPCs.
While this trope applies to Gay Men as well, it is most often A lot of the time in more queerphobic media will attempt to
seen in Lesbian couples due to a habit of media to assume use a trope of Transgender individuals being portrayed as
women always want kids (when was the last time you saw a either crossdressers or the like. Many trans individuals being
male character be tragically infertile). In some cases this is true, portrayed in media by cisgender actors of the opposite gender,
and it can come to pass that a lesbian character might decide and with no real effort being put into making them look like
that they want kids or adopt someone. As with other such anything other than a man in a dress or woman in a suit. This
tropes the trick to this is representation, and avoiding is a harmful trope used against transgender individuals, and
portraying it in some way as the norm. If you do have a lesbian one that has contributed to portrayal of them either as
NPC who wishes to have kids it is important to show others predators or confused tomboys. When describing transgender
who might not have such a desire. Additionally the NPC who individuals it is important to keep this in mind, even in times
does not have or want kids shouldn’t be portrayed as unfulfilled long before hormone therapy, and avoid accidentally
or living an unhappy life, while the one with kids is happier for describing them in harmful ways such as this. It is probably
all purposes. best to, instead of risking creating descriptions that might
come across as queerphobic or harmful, to keep such
descriptions light. Even as terms such as pointing out a “strong
jaw” on a transgender woman or “soft features” on a trans man
doing nothing more than calling attention to details used to
Do I even need to explain the first half of this one? Don’t do often delegitamize or victimize these individuals. Instead
this, don’t imply it, just don’t. It’s a harmful trope and think of just describing them as you would any other person of
stereotype that should never have existed, and should be their gender, and focus on other aspects of their character in
allowed to die alone and in a hole where it is never heard from the description.
again. The second half of this trope refers to when LGBT
characters are presented as sexual deviants who will
aggressively flirt and lech on members of the same gender,
even as that person might not be of a compatible sexuality.This
is generally associated with villainous characters, and has poor
implications, with the trope often being used throughout the
years to harass and abuse LGBT people. Let it die, kill it if you
must.

This is a trope a lot of people haven’t realized is popular in

different media, or haven’t thought much about. Essentially in
a lot of media involving same sex couples one half the couple
will be positioned as having more stereotypically masculine
traits (sports player, muscular, loud and outgoing) while the
This one is a tricky trope, and one that sounds a little more other will be given more feminine ones (artistic, smaller
restrictive than it actually is. Some people here “this is bad, and framed, soft or introverted). While these couples can happen,
you can never have LGBT villains”. Others will hear this and and often do from a position of opposites attract, they are
spend a while working over how to do an LGBT villain often over represented in media to a point. Oftentimes a more
without falling into normal pitfalls. Overall, the trick here is feminine character, usually the one in a position of
two fold. The first is that the villain should not be the only metaphorical power, having a relationship with a more
LGBT character, nor should they be a corrupting force on masculine character of physical power. While this is okay to
another character in some way related to their identity, nor have, especially if it develops naturally over time or is just one
should they be defined by their identity or an aspect of it.There example of such couples, over reliance on this does feed into a
should be more than one other LGBT NPC, and the villain harmful trope. This trope is mostly meant, overall, to replicate
being LGBT should be one the humanizing aspects attributed the average stereotypical straight couple, one masculine and
to them instead of one made to make them seem different. one feminine, and often sends a message like such couples are
Additionally, you want to be careful not to accidentally imply supposed to be like this and replicate these couples.
an aspect of their identity is what makes them villainous. For
example there, if one NPC is a gay man who is more masculine
and the villain is a gay man who is more femenine this can
easily send the wrong message, with the reverse being true as
well. Balance is key, and avoiding Unfortunate Implications is
a must.
A trope you might have noticed before in media is the fact that The weirdest trope that I have no idea how it came about, but
media almost never portrays bisexuals, and when they are there’s something where Media decided that Trans women (as
portrayed they almost never use the word to describe them, or it’s usually women) will often enough be hookers in movies,
only show the character dating one gender. Often times these and often act as a moral center of those around them. This
characters will be seen flirting or ambiguously interacting with trope has a few problems, and feeds into multiple different
members of the opposite sex, without explanation for what problems all around. First, off it feeds into the fetishization of
sort of interactions these are. Additionally at times a character, trans people, which is a huge problem overall and something
especially a heart breaker or casanova who might go through horrible many members of the community are faced with.
several love interests, will only be shown to date one gender on Second, making it where Trans people are often in a job
screen, with only mentions otherwise. Often times this being generally known for ill-repute (as much as that’s another talk
characters who only have straight relationships, with same sex to have) makes it seem like Trans people are connected to the
relationships being mentioned as having happened in the past idea of ill-repute. The last point that makes it overall bad is
or off screen. While someone who is bisexual might end up that this role not only usually puts the woman (as it is always
primarily in relationships with a single gender, and is still valid a woman in media) in a position as the emotional support for
as can be, this trope is often wrong for the same reason as another, often ignoring any plight of her own, she will almost
Queerbaiting (see below) and another issue entirely. always serve as an emotional martyr and die at some point in
the story. Feeding into the Bury Your Gays trope mentioned
above, and often putting them in a position as disposable for
the usually cisgendered straight character of the story. I will be
the first to admit that, in the long term across hundreds of
games, this trope is literally impossible to completely avoid
and at some point someone is going to play a prostitute who is
transgender. This is fine, what’s important is establishing it as
Queerbaiting is an umbrella term for when a piece of media not being the norm and keeping away from falling in the other
decides to make it where two same gender characters always pitfalls of this trope.
seem right on the border of being in a relationship, without
this ever coming to pass. The difference between this and a
character being ambiguously gay or teasing a relationship is
that the latter might be used in the future and turned into an
actual relationship or part of the character. Queerbaiting, on
the other hand, is using this to just attempt a half appeal to
LGBT people and get people invested in the idea there might
be a relationship, without ever paying off on it. While this
might be hard to do in a tabletop RPG, it is still possible and
you should keep it in mind. If players realize there’s hints of a The biggest trope of all, saved for last as it’s the one that made
relationship going on you shouldn’t continue to tease it and me make this little booklet in the first place. Above all, as
tease it just to keep them invested in the character, only for you much as there are tropes to be avoided and implications to play
to then kill them off or never even address the idea past the with, one the worst assumptions you can make in a game is
basic flirting. that everyone is straight and Cis. For too long history and
fantasy has been heavily straight washed and “sanitized” to
attempt to make it more appealing to more conservative ears,
and that effort has passed onto the writings and games of
many. It’s my hope that, through the reading of this short
book, you’ve found something you could use to help not only
expand your game, but expand the culture and ideas of the
worlds you make. For too long fantasy has been simplified,
sanitized, and the unique views on sexuality and gender across
cultures has been forgotten for more basic aspects and ideas of
a culture fantasy originated in.