Gay marriage in skyrim

10: This post has to come with a disclaimer.  I LOVE Skyrim.  I adore it.  I am in treasure with it.  I would grab an Amulet of Mara and romance it if I could.  

An in-game screenshot of Skyrim. Someone’s player-character is fighting a Frost Dragon. photo credit: culturemass.com

Skyrim was, when it was released on 11.11.11 a several years ago, one of those games that just had so much hype; to me, it seemed prefer everyone had it or was going to get it soon.  Bethesda, the company that produces the series of games to which Skyrim belongs (based in Bethesda, Maryland, close to American University’s campus) said that if any baby born on 11.11.11 was named “Dovahkiin” they would supply that kid with all Bethesda/ZeniMax games ‘past, show , future’ for being.  The challenge was accepted, and there is a kid named Dovahkiin out there in the world.

Dovahkiin is the name of the Dragonborn, the main character.  In Skyrim the player can create a customizeable character from a variety of races–including Orc, Argonian (similar to a enormous lizard), Khajit (similar to a colossal cat), Wood Elf, High Elf, Dim Elf, and various humanoid races.  You can

Bethesda vice president Pete Hines confirmed that there will be an option for same-sex marriage in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Replying to a fan on Twitter, Hines wrote, “Not making a huge deal out of it. You can marry anyone.” Some of you will recall that some BioWare fans were not pleased with the queer romance options in Dragon Age II. I’m curious to watch if Skyrim will elicit a similar reaction.

I love that this is an option in the game. It is, after all, role-playing. I think it’s superb that homosexual gamers have an option to play as a character that reflects their lifestyle. Same-sex marriages happen all over the world and it’s fantastic that a videogame reflects current society. I’m sure Bethesda will get some unnecessary heat for having same-sex marriage in a videogame…and I’m sure a lot of it will be based on stupidity.

What do you ponder about same-sex marriages in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?

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Imagine, for a moment, that a fantasy novel had recently been released.  The book gets tremendous praise in widespread media, and is driven by a successful ad campaign...some paid and in the mass media, the rest generated by an eager fan base.   It was a barnstorming, raging success, selling three-and-a-half million copies in its first two months.  It was such a success, in truth, that it was spawning internet memes and fan videos.   Not only that, but it's the kind of manual that trickles down to kids, so that many tweens and teens are reading it.

Now consider, for a moment, about the reaction of certain elements in American conservatism once they discovered that in this book, same-sex marriage was tacitly endorsed.

One would expect the usual response, the sort of silliness that was leveled against the really-actually-very-Christian Harry Potterbooks.    Some blogger, somewhere, would get mad about it.  Pat Robertson would say something.  I mean, Pat never misses an opportunity, right?  The Family Research Council would surely issue a stern missive.

But there's been nothing.   Nothing at all.

That's been the respons

Same-Sex Relationship Options in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, players are able to partner NPCs regardless of gender, as long as they have an Amulet of Mara and have met that NPC’s requirements for marriage. There is only one known explicitly queer couple in the game (in the Dragonborn DLC).

LGBTQ references in this game series:

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996): Jaciel Morgen and Deyanira Katrece

An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire (1997): Pun/joke about the Khajiiti Navy; NPC same-sex spouses; Lord Killbar

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002): Vivec; Uncle Crassius Curio; Argonians; Daedric Prince Boethiah; Mephala; Molag Bal; Buoyant Armigers

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011): Bjornolfr and Hrodulf, Homosexual Relationship Options

<games listed below are still being researched>

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006): Ahzirr Trajijazaeri; Viranus Dolton and Eduard Hodge; Dumag Gro-Bonk; Pelinal; City-Swimmer

The Elder Scrolls Online (2014): Bameli the Pure; Hadrill Diina; Jakarn; Arlie Edrald, Frederick and Dulkhi; Make-Many-Waves and Sendrasa Llarys; Goveled Herendas; Captain Linwen and Faenir; Hartmin and M