CfP: Special Issue: "Beyond Avatars: Exploring LGBTIQ+ Narratives, Representation, and Communities in Video Games" LGBTIQ+ Studies, Communication & Culture Journal
Abstract: The rise of video games in mass culture has established this cultural product as a key medium for exploring, representing, and experiencing LGBTIQ+ identities and narratives. From the inclusion or absence of queer characters and narratives that challenge traditional gender roles (Shaw, 2015; Phillips, 2020) to the ways in which LGBTIQ+ communities use video games as tools for expression, resilience, and self-discovery (Blanco-Fernández & Moreno, 2023), this medium provides a fertile field for critical scholarship. Traditionally criticised for the dominance of cis-hetero male users and behaviours, the development and evolution of the video game industry across its various branches has brought visibility to voices beyond heteronormativity (Ruberg, 2020). Academics such as Shaw and Friesem (2016), Ruberg (2017), and Belmonte Ávila and Encarnación-Pinedo (2024) have explored LGBTIQ+ representation in video games and gamer culture. This special issue aims to gather innovative research and interdisciplinary perspectives situated at the intersection of Queer and Game Studies. We invite contributions reflecting on the ways gender and sexual diversity are represented in video games; exploring how LGBTIQ+ individuals transform their gaming experiences; and interrogating the ways queer communities find a sense of belonging and engage in cultural activism through this medium. Reviews relevant to the special issue’s theme are also welcome. Should you have any questions, please address them to lucia.rodriguez@ucl.ac.uk, sergiogu@ucm.es, and mvicent@ubu.es.
Topics of Interest Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Representations of LGBTIQ+ characters and narratives in video games
- Inclusive game design: challenges and opportunities
- LGBTIQ+ gamers' experiences and gaming practices
- Queer game mechanics
- Problematic gaming and gender identity
- Hate speech: toxicity, homophobia, and transphobia in gaming communities
- Studies on avatars, character customization, and queer identity expressions
- Use of video games in LGBTIQ+ education and media literacy
- The impact of streaming platforms and LGBTIQ+ fandoms on gamer culture
- Presence of LGBTIQ+ individuals in the video game industry
Languages Proposals in Spanish and English are accepted.
Submission Guidelines Editorial standards: https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ESLG/about
All research articles should follow the IMRaD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.
Timeline – Key Dates
- Deadline for research papers: September 15, 2025
- Deadline for book reviews: December 1, 2025
- Publication of the special issue: February 2026
Special Issue Editors
- Sergio Gutiérrez Manjón – Lecturer of Audiovisual Communication at Complutense University of Madrid. Research focuses on Game Studies, digital communication, and media literacy. Secretary of the Spanish Society for Video Game Sciences (SECiVi).
- Lucia Gloria Vázquez Rodriguez – Lecturer of Digital Media at University College London. Researcher in Feminist Media Studies and Queer Film and Television, with extensive publications on queer communication. Member of the ReMAP research group (UCL) and the UNESCO-UNITWIN Network on Gender, Media, and ICTs.
- Mireya Vicent Ibañez – Lecturer of Video Games and Audiovisual Communication at the University of Burgos. Research focuses on Game Studies and digital media, with a particular interest in hate speech.
Note: No payment will be required from authors for submission or publication.
Lucía Vázquez Rodríguez
Integrante del Grupo de Investigación Consolidado UCM
"Género, Estética y Cultura Audiovisual (GECA)"