Whilst it’s currently popular to pick holes in the industry’s major publishers, EA have done some good today by standing up against the Defense of Marriage Act, commonly referred to as DOMA.
EA, along with many other US employers, have signed an amicus brief against the act, which defines marriage as purely between one man and one woman, leaving no room for homosexuality.
That said, the official line is fairly square:
“DOMA presents a number of problems for businesses like EA,” says the press release issued today, “as it creates regulatory, tax, and discrimination complications for employers, and that’s why we’re standing against it.”
“The underlying lawsuit impacts all employers no matter how big or small, and no matter the industry, and we encourage other business to join these efforts.”
More information on the act and those opposing it can be found here.
YOURMUMANDME
Good lads, clearly supporting the ‘Runescape’ players of this world ; )
rht992
Well done EA!
TSBonyman
Good work EA.
Oldboy
LTRFTW
Hmm… no “Alex C”, actually I’d say it was more a matter of opinion rather than given fact whether or not this is a “positive” or “good” move.
I’m very dissapointed that The Sixth Axis allow their writers to submit articles which shove the author’s bias on such deeply sensitive and divisive issues as this down their reader’s throats, regardless of who may be offended?
Secondly, I thought this was a games site not a mouthpiece for those who wish to further the Lesbian/gay/transgender/bisexual agenda.
Please, please, please in future if you have to cover this topic again, will you just present the facts as they are and allow us to form our own opinions on the subject matter, as a proper journalist should.
Thankyou.
PS: Defend The DOMA!
Peace.
a inferior race
I have to agree with the thrust of Oldboy’s comment in that asserting opposition to “DOMA” is a positive act is purely subjective and that it should not have a place on a gaming website.
However, I have no issue with reporting the stance that EA have taken in this matter.
bunimomike
What I don’t like is that we live in a world where people don’t even bat an eyelid at words like “throat” and “thrust”.
Defend ‘Bigoted Leanings On Websites Jabbering Online Bitterly’.
zb100
Oldboy, much like “f*ck off” – thank you is actually 2 words.
Don’t like it? Go read your bigoted “games news” elsewhere, somewhere like Fox News or CNN.
Bravo Mr “Alex C” – although how very dare you be open-minded on (what was originally) your own website. ;)
Down with DOMA and viva to free expression & people willing to stand up to antiquated viewpoints!
hazelam
it’s a matter of opinion whether EA opposing something that denies a group of people their rights is a good thing?
really?
would you have had the same opinion about the civil rights movement in the 60s?
or the suffragettes at the turn of the last century?
a inferior race
I firmly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and as a result when any organisation tries to change this definition of marriage I believe it is a negative and destructive act.
Boomshanks
Just out of curiosity, what do you think of the term Gay Marriage then?
And if they had a different term for marriage for gays, would everything then suddenly be ok?
a inferior race
Gay marriage is an oxymoron.
Civil partnerships already provide all the legal benefits of marriage so there’s no need to redefine marriage.
KeRaSh
So you have no problem with a civil partnership as long as it’s not called a (gay) marriage? That just seems childish to me. There are people fighting against discrimination and we’re discussion the use of a stupid word. An arrangement of 8 letters. Nothing more and nothing less.
zb100
@KeRaSh – for somebody who’s username should technically begin with “an” I’m not actually surprised.
@a inferior race – of course, you’re perfectly entitled to your own opinion. Whilst I may completely disagree with it, I’ll defend to the death your right to express it!
a inferior race
My username is the result of the character limit on xbox live and I thought that I would just use the same name on here.
zb100
Ah right, that makes much more sense!
zb100
Marriage (also called matrimony or wedlock) is a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that creates kinship. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but is usually an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged. Such a union is often formalized via a wedding ceremony.
In terms of legal recognition, most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to two persons of opposite sex or gender in the gender binary, and some of these allow polygynous marriage. In the 21st century, several countries and some other jurisdictions have legalized same-sex marriage. In some cultures, marriage is recommended or compulsory before pursuing any sexual activity.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage
MrAffinitys
I guess your one of those people who still think homosexuality is a choice even though its genetic
The Lone Steven
I rather see Uwe Boll make a MGS film then defend that piece of garbage that is the DOMA act. Why should gays be refused their right to get married? Surely if two people want to spend the rest of their lives together, then they should.
If you want to see anti-gay news, go to the Daily Mail or Fox’s sites as i think they are more suited to your tastes. ;)
Plus opinions are way overrated and i wish every TSA writer would just report the news in the generic style and ban opinions. /sarcasm
a inferior race
News should be reported in an unbiased manner.
zb100
News, like history, is NEVER reported in an unbiased manner. Just from the spectators viewpoint.
zb100
PS For a LTRFTW, you really don’t know very much about the history of this website? I’m also a LTR, although just an erratic contributor. The reason I’ve stuck with this site is singularly because of the open-minded attitude of the main contributors.
zb100
Perhaps LTR stands for Let’s Troll Randoms?
In which case, bravo.
Crocadillian
Erm, journalism is also about opinion, so long as you can separate the fact from opinion it’s fine. If you can’t, then you’re in Daily Mail territory.
xdarkmagician
I’m all for fairness and equal rights for all , but marriage IS between one man and one woman. It’s the very definition of the word. I support civil unions were all the rights of marriage are supported. But until I can call something “gay” or someone a “fag” (not to describe sexuality, but merely an opinion of their personality or inconsiderate actions) without being criticised or called homophobic, gays shouldn’t be allowed to use the word marriage to describe a partnership. If it’s ok for certain social groups to own certain words then marriage Is our (straight) word and until everyone can just say whatever words they like without persecution, marriage belongs to the straights. That being said, it sounds like EA is only against it because it’ll cost EA money, since they list discrimination after regulations and tax complications. They talk more about it impacting business then them supporting their gay employees, leave it to EA to decide traditional marriage isn’t profitable.
zb100
You weren’t following the plot for Mass Effect 3 then? (An EA IP.)
xdarkmagician
not sure where you’re going with this. I refuse to play ME mostly in part because I never played the first while my 360 still worked, and I don’t start massive stories of any medium if I can’t get the whole story- it’s an all or nothing thing, but I’m aware it was published by EA, that the 2nd was very good, and the ending of ME3 was considered disappointing by enough people that they added DLC to fix it.
zb100
xdarkmagician – I’m implying that actions speak louder thn words. ME3 had the option to have homosexual relationship – both between 2 women (which is somehow deemed more acceptable than) and 2 men.
Whilst the official “press release” details employment/financial reasons to the fore, I’d suggest that “reading between the lines” this has been prompted most for shareholder reasons – look at the bombing that ME3 had on Metacritic once news of the relationship became public knowledge…
zb100
PS It’s a shame you didn’t pick up Mass Effect for those reasons – most PS3 players would be alienated for the same reason! TBH there’s a good section of catch-up on the PS3 version which I’m sure you could watch on YouTube.
zb100
Just to clarify – the movement by EA wasn’t “prompted by shareholders” but the official press release was. I’d suggest the higher-heided ones at EA are doing it for their own, valid reasons – ie they’re not bigots.
xdarkmagician
Same sex relationships in a game don’t bother me, as long as the game isn’t entirely about same sex relationships I don’t care. Interesting enough in the fallouts and skyrim games I play through multiple times as both male and female, but always chose a female wife or prostitute.. It doesn’t bother me because because you’re given the choice to either support or refuse gay marriage. Unfortunately, IMO, in the real world the choice is being made for me by. As far as playing ME, I’ve been told that same thing, alot :) I figure sometime next gen MS will sell the rights back to EA for ME1 and EA will release the ultimate omega deluxe edition and I’ll just play it then.
hazelam
you know, that’s hardly the same thing.
using words like those because the person using them sees homosexuality as being bad, and so uses those words as an insult, is nothing at all like two people who love each other wanting to get married.
if it’s just about the word, well, gay couples can now legally get married in many places, something like 8 states in the us, so using the word married or marriage is perfectly valid.
but i get where you’re coming from, all those years of persecution suffered by straight married people, just for the crime of being heterosexual and in love.
it’s tragic.
o_O
it’s funny how you don’t see people wanting to be able to use racist insults, like the one beginning with a W, or antisemitic words, like the one beginning with a K.
why would it be ok to use derogatory terms aimed at homosexuals?
when the gay community starts using marriage as an insult then maybe your argument would have some merit, but now, not so much.
i do agree with you on one thing though, ea make it sound like this is more about the financial side.
but i do know they are roughly in support of equality, at least in their games.
ea probably have more games that have the possibility of gay characters than probably any other publisher, it’s one of the few areas i do believe they deserve praise.
the games do mostly come from bioware of course, but ea have publicly supported them against people trying to get the gay content removed.
zb100
Us “hettie breeding scum” are a fickle lot, Hazelam.
Better still, I absolutely adore still being called a ginger on a daily basis in the workplace, it’s perfectly acceptable in this day & age.
Hurrah for bigotry in all forms. Not.
xdarkmagician
I think the definition of the word is irrelevant, it doesn’t matter if it’s a slur or an everyday word, I’m more focused on the act of changing the word. Theres alot of people that consider marriage a sacred act, changing the meaning is an insult to their faith and opinion. Surely that’s as negative as changing the word gay to describe something unpleasant and considering gay was once used to describe happiness, it’s not that unusual to reverse a words meaning. So why is it ok for gay people to redefine marriage, but I can’t redefine the word gay, especially since gay didn’t even start out as the definition of same sex relationships.
xdarkmagician
IMO wanting to use the word marriage is more about creating controversy then the fight for equality. Whats more important the love and benefits of a relationship or the word used to describe it? More people would support civil unions if people weren’t so concerned about naming it “marriage”. And then once everybody (or mostly) supported civil unions, after 20 or 30 years people could just slowly start refereeing to themselves as married and nobody would care. But like abortion people want to take only the extremes of the sides. You can’t just pass a law and change peoples opinions, because people feel threatened when you remove their freedom of choice and people start to rebel more then the would have normally. At the end of the day people are fighting harder for the word then the acceptance, which is completely stupid because words change meanings. So I’ll say it again, if you want to change the meaning of a word twithout any regard to feelings of those it affects- fine, but I want the same right.
Minion4life
First, I think this is relevent to a GAMING site since it is concerning a GAMING company. And rampart homophobia is one of the GAMING community’s biggest problems.
Second, since the Defence of Marriage Act is denying gay people the right to marriage, in other words, creating inequality, opposing it is unilaterally a damn positive move.
KeRaSh
People who support DOMA are like console fanboys when it comes to exclusives. Why the fuck do they care if a franchise / marriage also comes out on a different console / is allowed to same sex couples? They can still play the damn game / get married to their opposite sex partner.
http://media.tested.com/uploads/0/6768/29725-jackie_chan_meme_super.png
Sad Panda
Standing up to discrimination can only ever be described as a good thing so I applaud Alex on the article and EA on the stance they have.
Zephyre
EA object to a US law that’s going to cause them probelms from a business perspective. The only games angle is cos it’s EA. It’s not as though they’re even saying they disagree with the law from a moral point of view.
For the record, I don’t give two hoots who marries who.
Tuffcub
‘Gay Marrige’ existed in what is now the USA before everyone from Europe invaded, the Native Americans used to have same sex pairings.
Historically, in many tribes, individuals who entered into same-sex relationships were considered holy and treated with utmost respect and acceptance, said Dr. Gilley. “Prior to European contact, sexuality was not a determining factor in someone’s identity,” he said. “It was the role in the community. Gender was tied to that role. Who you had sex with was not a concern. The Europeans come, Native American societies are thrust in rapid change, and some societies incorporate European ideals quickly
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/nyregion/17spirit.html?_r=1
Now that’s a twist I’d like to see in Assassin’s Creed III, the final scene is Connor giving his husband a quick slap on the arse :)
Crocadillian
Much like Japanese culture before European influence. Fucking societal ideals… :l