Representation of LGBTQ Communities in the Grand Theft Auto Series

In recent years there have been increasing demands for visibility and representation of minority groups within the entertainment industry. Thishas coincided with a rise in legal and civil protections, and a greater societal awareness of minority groups within the United Kingdom(UK). However, representation and visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer(LGBTQ)communities is currently being contested within the UK. Protests across the UK, but primarily concentrated within Birmingham have focused on censoring LGBT visibility within education (Colliver, 2018). These protests signify a social climate which seeks to roll-back equality and diversity initiatives and render minority groups invisible. Although there has been growing levels of visibility of LGBTQ communities within a number of different social spheres, it is important to interrogate the accuracy of the representations andidentify harmful stereotypes which are perpetuated through mass media forms. Whilst issues of diversity and equality span a number of different identity characteristics, this chapter will be focusing solely upon issues of gender and sexuality within games