Sashay down the pink carpet at the world’s first LGBTQ+ video games awards show

July 21, 2020

We are proud to announce the 2021 Gayming Awards, the first video games awards ceremony to celebrate the advancements in LGBTQ video gaming. The Gayming Awards, supported by Ukie, Out Making Games and Games London, aim to commemorate the achievements of the wider, global gaming industry and how they have championed LGBTQ people through the creative medium of videogames.

Critically-acclaimed comedian Suzi Ruffell will be hosting the evening from a to-be-announced venue in Central London, February 2021. Best known for her appearances on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and more, Suzi Ruffell has also had five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival with stand-up shows racking up critical acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike.

All games released in the calendar year of 2020 will be eligible for the Gayming Awards and voting will take place through November and December 2020.

“LGBTQ+ people make immense contributions to the global video games industry and it’s my honour to be able to acknowledge and celebrate their success through the Gayming Awards.” says Robin Gray, editor of Gayming Magazine, on the announcement of the Gayming Awards, “This event caps off a hugely successful period since the launch of Gayming Magazine last year and I’m so excited to share this moment with the world.”

The Gayming Awards are supported by Ukie, Out Making Games and Games London. A range of sponsorship opportunities are available for companies wishing to support this world-first and join Gayming Magazine in making history.

You can find out more information on the 2021 Gayming Awards at gaymingawards.com

Categories

The Gayming Awards will be broken up into 9 separate categories, presided over by an esteemed global panel of LGBTQ judges. All games eligible for these awards will have been released in 2020.

Game of the Year

The Game of the Year Award celebrates the best game released in 2020, as chosen by our diverse panel of judges.

The judging panel oversee nominations and voting for this category. Nominees will be announced in December.

Authentic Representation Award

Authentic representation of the LGBTQ experience is an important part of the modern entertainment world. This award recognises the best example of authentic LGBTQ representation in a game.

The judging panel oversee nominations and voting for this category. Nominees will be announced in December.

Best LGBTQ Character

The inclusion of LGBTQ characters in games is hugely important and can be a bold step for visibility. This award recognises the best LGBTQ character (playable or significant NPC) in a game.

The judging panel oversee nominations and voting for this category. Nominees will be announced in December.

Best LGBTQ Narrative

Telling an authentic LGBTQ story can be highly impactful and meaningful. This award recognises the best example of an important LGBTQ narrative in a game.

The judging panel oversee nominations and voting for this category. Nominees will be announced in December.

Best LGBTQ Indie Game

Indie games allow more personal and diverse stories to be told, yet regularly are overlooked for awards. This award acknowledges the best indie game made by an independent developer which is focussed on telling an LGBTQ story, or heavily features an LGBTQ element.

For the purposes of this award, we define an ‘indie game’ as a game developed by an independent developer who is an individual or small group that is not owned by another company that makes games.

Nominations are now open for Best LGBTQ Indie Game – click here

Best LGBTQ Streamer

Streaming is one of the great new entertainment frontiers and LGBTQ streamers play a huge part in bringing together communities of likeminded people. This award is for the most popular LGBTQ streamer, as chosen by the watching public.

Nominations are now open for Best LGBTQ Streamer – click here

Industry Diversity Award

Greater diversity in the games industry makes for greater diversity in games. This award celebrates the organisation (studio, publisher, etc) who has done a significant amount of work in promoting, developing and championing diversity in their company.

Nominations are now open for Industry Diversity Award – click here

Special Recognition Award

This award is reserved for a person, team or company who has gone above and beyond in the eyes of the judges to champion LGBTQ representation, inclusion and equality in games in 2020.

The judging panel oversee nominations and voting for this category. Nominees will be announced in December.

Gayming Magazine Readers Award

This award celebrates Gayming Magazine readers’ favourite game of 2020.

Gayming Magazine’s freelance writers will nominate a 10 game shortlist and readers will be able to vote in December.