[Commlist] CFP for a Special Issue on Queer Game Studies

CALL FOR PAPERS Special Issue: "Beyond Avatars: Exploring LGBTIQ+ 
Narratives, Representation, and Communities in Video Games" LGBTIQ+ 
Studies, Communication & Culture Journal
*Abstract: *The rise of video games in mass culture has established this 
cultural product as a key medium for exploring, representing, and 
experiencing LGBTIQ+ identities and narratives. From the inclusion or 
absence of queer characters and narratives that challenge traditional 
gender roles (Shaw, 2015; Phillips, 2020) to the ways in which LGBTIQ+ 
communities use video games as tools for expression, resilience, and 
self-discovery (Blanco-Fernández & Moreno, 2023), this medium provides a 
fertile field for critical scholarship. Traditionally criticised for the 
dominance of cis-hetero male users and behaviours, the development and 
evolution of the video game industry across its various branches has 
brought visibility to voices beyond heteronormativity (Ruberg, 2020). 
Academics such as Shaw and Friesem (2016), Ruberg (2017), and Belmonte 
Ávila and Encarnación-Pinedo (2024) have explored LGBTIQ+ representation 
in video games and gamer culture. This special issue aims to gather 
innovative research and interdisciplinary perspectives situated at the 
intersection of Queer and Game Studies. We invite contributions 
reflecting on the ways gender and sexual diversity are represented in 
video games; exploring how LGBTIQ+ individuals transform their gaming 
experiences; and interrogating the ways queer communities find a sense 
of belonging and engage in cultural activism through this medium. 
Reviews relevant to the special issue’s theme are also welcome. Should 
you have any questions, please address them to 
(lucia.rodriguez /at/ ucl.ac.uk), (sergiogu /at/ ucm.es), and (mvicent /at/ ubu.es).
*Topics of Interest* Submissions may address, but are not limited to, 
the following topics:

  *
    Representations of LGBTIQ+ characters and narratives in video games
  *
    Inclusive game design: challenges and opportunities
  *
    LGBTIQ+ gamers' experiences and gaming practices
  *
    Queer game mechanics
  *
    Problematic gaming and gender identity
  *
    Hate speech: toxicity, homophobia, and transphobia in gaming 
communities
  *
    Studies on avatars, character customization, and queer identity
    expressions
  *
    Use of video games in LGBTIQ+ education and media literacy
  *
    The impact of streaming platforms and LGBTIQ+ fandoms on gamer culture
  *
    Presence of LGBTIQ+ individuals in the video game industry

*Languages* Proposals in Spanish and English are accepted.
*Submission Guidelines* Editorial standards: 
https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ESLG/about
All research articles should follow the IMRaD structure: Introduction, 
Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.
*Timeline – Key Dates*

  *
    Deadline for research papers: September 15, 2025
  *
    Deadline for book reviews: December 1, 2025
  *
    Publication of the special issue: February 2026

*Special Issue Editors*

  *
    *Sergio Gutiérrez Manjón* – Lecturer of Audiovisual Communication at
    Complutense University of Madrid. Research focuses on Game Studies,
    digital communication, and media literacy. Secretary of the Spanish
    Society for Video Game Sciences (SECiVi).
  *
    *Lucia Gloria Vázquez Rodriguez* – Lecturer of Digital Media at
    University College London. Researcher in Feminist Media Studies and
    Queer Film and Television, with extensive publications on queer
    communication. Member of the ReMAP research group (UCL) and the
    UNESCO-UNITWIN Network on Gender, Media, and ICTs.
  *
    *Mireya Vicent Ibañez* – Lecturer of Video Games and Audiovisual
    Communication at the University of Burgos. Research focuses on Game
    Studies and digital media, with a particular interest in hate speech.

*Note:* No payment will be required from authors for submission or 
publication.


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