I agree that different games have different homophobia levels. I also don’t know what games the people who participated in the University of Illinois study played. Or how those communities have changed in the 3 years since the study was conducted.

Regardless, I think that those statistics are at least generally applicable to most games and most gaming communities, as well as the gaming community as a whole. The percentages probably vary between games, and I’m perfectly willing to accept that there are some communities that are way more inclusive and open, as you’ve said.

I know that Justin and the GLAAD team are interested in taking a look at the rules that surround communities, like the Lucas Arts incident that you mentioned. I can speak from experience that it can be a difficult line to walk.

I have never played WOW, so I can’t speak to their particular culture. I do know of women who play WOW that play as male characters so they don’t get harassed as much. But that’s a gender issue, and while certainly related, it’s not the same as a homophobia issue.

If you’re using Halo and WOW to make your statistics about homophobia in online gaming communities, you’re way off the map.

I am a member of a number of differet types of online gaming communities, mostly text-based, and we are much more open and much more inclusive than the mainstream offline culture.

In fact, these online gaming communities helped me come out and helped me find my sexuality.

Not long ago, a thread on the Star Wars gaming forum was shut down because they were discussing (extremely openly and extremely politely, I might add) homosexuality in the Star Wars universe. The uproar from the fans was huge, and Lucas Arts had to take back what they had said.

I also have many friends who play WOW especially who are out and they have had no problems with their sexuality.