Gayming Awards 2023: Best LGBTQ Contribution to Esports Award

March 9, 2023

Our 2023 Gayming Awards edges ever closer, with our Broadway debut in New York set to wow and dazzle on April 18. So what better time to sit back and explore the award show’s many categories and the nominees that have been chosen?

For the Gayming Awards 2023: Best LGBTQ Contribution to Esports Award, we look to recognise the contribution of a person or an organisation who has done a significant amount of work in promoting, developing, and championing diversity in esports.

Esports has gained a reputation of being a boys-only club, with no room for marginalized folks to thrive and do well. These organizations and people are doing their utmost to combat that perception.

To celebrate the Gayming Awards 2023, check out all our nominees voted in by the public, and what they had to say about them.

Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association

The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association was first created to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks to participate in sports. The organization recently added an esports division to allow LGBTQ+ gamers to participate for fun or to compete with fellow community members.

XSET

XSET as an esports organization has made several active efforts to expand and embrace diversity. In 2022, the organization signed deaf, trans man content creator Ewok. Additionally, the org has fielded a diverse gender team in Valorant Game Changers, and has been consistent in supporting Pride efforts beyond the month of June.

Team Overture

Team Overture is a stream team comprised entirely of LGBTQ+/BIPOC folks who are interested in organizing esports charity events for their communities. They have held events primarily in the Apex Legends scene, but are also expanding into Valorant in 2023. Team Overture have already raised over $43,000 for charity since their inception in 2021.

Valorant Game Changers

Valorant Game Changers is Riot Games’ circuit dedicated to women and marginalized gender players who want to compete in the publisher’s tactical FPS. The mission is to give these players the chance to play and develop in a more supportive environment than the general ranked scene or Tier 2 and 3 circuits. Multiple non-binary and transgender players have gotten the opportunity to compete through this league.