As mom always said, “You can’t have your dessert if you don’t eat your veggies.” And now we’re going to apply this life lesson to queer content.
Indulge us!
Back in 2013, Russia passed restrictive and repulsive legislation that labeled any LGBTQ+ materials as “gay propaganda.” No matter how innocuous, every coming-out story was deemed harmful to impressionable youth.
Because every kid wants to suffer even more alienation and harassment during adolescence, right?
Welp! Now the consequence-train is on the move, and it’s headed straight up Putin’s pie-hole. Choo-choo-EW!
Due to Russia’s obstinacy, gamers are taking their proverbial ball and going home. In this case, the “ball” in question is the Sims 4 game pack entitled “Wedding Stories”. The narrative features a same-sex couple named Camille and Dominique, but Russkies aren’t invited to the nuptials.
“We were excited to introduce you to Dom and Cam,” declares game developer EA in a recent statement. “Their love story reflects the lived experiences of so many members of our community and team.”
But every party needs its pooper, and the feces flow liberally from Russia’s oppressive regime.
“As we moved through our development and brand storytelling process, we became aware that the way we wanted to tell Cam and Dom’s story would not be something we could freely share around the world.”
Sims 4 isn’t just a facsimile of the world; it’s a fantasy of what we can achieve when we strip away the constraints of bigotry.
“We are committed to the freedom to be who you are, to love who you love and tell the stories you want to tell,” the creators explain, “so we have made the decision to forgo the release of ‘My Wedding Stories’ where our storytelling would be subject to changes because of federal laws. Regrettably, this means that members of The Sims community in Russia will not be able to purchase this game pack.”
Icing their cake with a fruity burst of inclusion, the statement concludes, “To our Simmers around the world, we are grateful to have you in our universe.”
Utopia may be an impossible goal, but it is a wonderful escape. To bring humanity to the next level, just press play. Haters not welcome.
Last modified: February 19, 2022
