NOH8: A New Clan Providing Positive Change
by CheekyGuy, HSM team writer
NOH8 is a group that sends a positive message which simply sweeps across cyberspace. They are an LGBT clan gaming group that can be found through PSN, and currently regularly play Call Of Duty: Black Ops.
I found this group purely by accident, through the Playstation Gaymers Facebook page – which is also a friendly and safe place in which to meet and talk to other gay PlayStation gamers.
On this page was a YouTube video of a chirpy young woman that promoted her NoH8 (inspired by the photo campaign of the same name created by Adam Bouska) group to the world. The video was quirky and fun with a young woman presenting it; she’s a young lesbian named Chelsea Perez, who goes by the PSN ID GirlWhoDigsGirls. I was intrigued.
(Editor’s note: this video, although very endearing, contains mild profanity and other obscenities which do not meet HSM’s editorial standards. Proceed at your own risk. Oh, and there’s a Nyan Cat reference. Really proceed at your own risk.)
I left a message on PSN with the hope she would get back to me. Not even a mere twenty-four hours pass before I recieve a message from her. I was very excited, because I had not come across a group like it that openly invites people, regardless of their sexuality.
So. Here I am, speaking to Clan NOH8 and its leader and founder in a text chatroom, along with a few of the other clan members. One of the reasons for this was that she felt uncomfortable to use voice chat and the other was that she hadn’t created an avatar on Home.
CheekyGuy – Tell me a little about yourself and how you had formed NOH8.
Chelsea – I attend college as of now. I’ve been gaming since the Super NES. I created NOH8 because I ran into other PlayStation gamers that all happened to be gay. And I just thought it would be really cool to bring an LGBTQ QTFL (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer) gamer community together. I’ve never seen or heard of an all gay & lesbian clan group. So I figured, why not have a group like that out there?
I noticed some positive comments on your YouTube page; one in particular is from a young Christian.
Yes, I had noticed that. I do get comments sometimes that say things like, “I’m not gay, but I do like the idea of your clan.”
How has the Playstation Gaymer’s page helped in her promoting NoH8?
Well, it’s helped me a lot as I most definately made friends and clan members from there.
Does your group mostly play C.O.D (Call Of Duty) or other games too?
So far we play Black Ops, but Anti Su and Happy Wolfie (who were also in chatroom) play Modern Warfare 2.
Has NOH8 had ever competed in any tournaments, like the Fragdolls do?
For now it’s just all for fun. We haven’t played any tournaments.
Would any of you like to compete sometime?
Chelsea – I think it would be fun.
Moose – I’m always game to bark more orders, Chelsea.
Anti Su – I think it would be fun, but I’m not very good.
Chelsea – I think we (NOH8) make a good strategic team sometimes, but mostly we play for fun. Everyone in the clan is fairly good though, really.
I recall an earlier gaming session I had with Chelsea, where she brought out everything but the kitchen sink – attack dogs, airstrikes, napalm strikes, 9GNR – to the opposing team on Call Of Duty Black Ops and all I got to show for myself were four lousy kills.
To be honest, I’m not that good at Black Ops, but I love knowing that I brought everyone (NOH8) to play together.
What about the future of NoH8? Is there a direction you would all like to see this group go toward?
Chelsea – For now, I would say hopefully more members.
VDUBPBX – I can see it going all over.
Moose – I can see it branching out to more games. More games, which means more members. More people to shoot in the face in private matches (said with a smiley icon).
Chelsea – I agree with VDUB. I could think of more video ideas I suppose, someone suggested a follow up video to the one I had already done.
There are other gamers and game reviewers, like HearItWow and Urgent Fury, who have been heavily featured in Community Theater on PlayStation Home.
Chelsea – That would be cool if I could get a video of our own in there. I don’t use Home, but Anti Sue does.
Anti Sue – I haven’t logged in in a couple of days.
You know, there is someone who hosts gay pride events on Home.
Chelsea – Really? whats his ID? I’d like to find out more.
AntiSue – We should do a parade on Home; that would be fun!
I look up at my clock, I didn’t even know it got so late for me, being from another time zone halfway around the world. I thanked everybody for their time and patience. I had to write all this stuff onto a notepad and my handwriting is…well, it leaves a lot to be desired.
Meeting them has clearly given me a sense of who they are and their purpose. And to be honest, there aren’t that many clans or groups out there that have such a bold statement to make, and kick all sorts of asterisks all at the same time within the genre of FPS gaming. I’m sure it’s a break from a mold; that misconception that FPS gaming is mostly for the heterosexual male, when in fact in the pages of HSM we also discovered more and more women taking to FPS gaming. So as far as video gaming is concerned, times are changing. And I say this is good.
Groups like these are needed, and this will catch on more and more, from generation to generation. Whether you own an xBox or a PlayStation, there is always a group out there or organisation that you can fit into and just be yourself. And it’s just trying to find that group that works, or that you yourself would feel comfortable in. It’s like a drop-in group out in the real world, or a youth center.
NOH8 is a positive group that sends out a positive message that there are no barriers in gaming. In fact there shouldn’t be any barriers in gaming. It is a group that does not want to offend, but it is a group that wants to share experiences and promote inclusion in gaming.
I am very happy to be a part of that inclusion.
My special thanks goes out to all that attended this unique interview with NOH8:
GirlWhoDigsGirls (Chelsea)
MooseGrin
Anti Sue
Happy Wolfie
VDUBPBX
Lap45
JGK8
August 27th, 2011 by CheekyGuy | 7 comments
CheekyGuy is a loveable, mischievous Brit who first entered virtual reality via Second Life, and now frequents Home as a Grey Gamer to keep in touch with friends. In real life, Cheeky is a video editor who has just completed a Master's degree in screenwriting from Liverpool John Moores University.
I’m wondering so I’m sure others are. What’s the difference between Lesbian/Gay and Queer?
“Queer” is mostly reserved for those who may not necessarily identify as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or even transgender, but definitely do not fall into what is considered “the norm” in sexual identity, as the original definition of the word meant anything unconventional or out of the ordinary.
So, It would include individuals who are, for example, asexual (lacking sexual attactaction for either gender). Thanks.
According to Wikipedia the Q in LGBTQ can mean either Queer or Questioning.I’d encourage anyone interested to look on Wikipedia because there is a big definition difference between the 2 and someone comfortable with using 1 to describe themselves may not be so comfortable with the other.
OMG! So awesome! I feel so honored to be a part of the interview and featured in HSM. Thanks, CheekyGuy/Chris!
You might want to keep an eye on Home Chelsea. With the changes that are coming NOH8 might be able to expand it’s membership and increase community awareness. Community scheduled events might allow everyone to be informed on any LGBTQ events that are happening within Home.
Most definitely! I’ll have my eyes on the look-out.