Overwatch Identifies Tracer As The First 'Openly Gay' LGBT Character; Comic Gets Banned In Russia

Blizzard Entertainment, the developer behind the team-based shooter video game, "Overwatch", recently released its web comic that confirms fans' speculations that a main character is LGBT. In a holiday comic released on Dec. 20, Tracer was revealed to be openly gay, as she kisses female partner Emily, after giving the latter her Christmas gift.

Tracer is a prominent face in the promotional branding of "Overwatch", and can very well be identified as the game's poster character. Making her openly queer was a monumental move in the developers' efforts for the "Overwatch" cast to be representative of all races, ethnicities, and gender.

In a report from Hall of Fame Magazine back in November, lead hero designer Geoff Goodman and artist Rachel Day have revealed that they are aiming to "build a very diverse game" and are also focusing on different body types for their cast. Lead writer Michael Chu echoes these sentiments and has been quoted to say that it's "very important for them to have diversity and inclusiveness of all types, which includes LGBT characters."

Furthermore, they disclosed that Tracer is not the only LGBT character in the web comic. There are "several" in the cast, and will be revealed in future issues.

The response from "Overwatch" fans have been largely positive, but the comic certainly had its fair share of detractors. In Russia, the comic has been banned with the message "In accordance with Russian legislation, we are unable to share this comic with our players in Russia." According to The Guardian, a national law has been implemented in 2013 that makes it illegal to equate straight and LGBT relationships and to distribute material that are supportive of the LGBT rights.

Overwatch was also slated to release a graphic novel entitled "Overwatch: First Strike", as per a report from Travelers Today. However, this project has since been scrapped as Chu and the writing team has disclosed that they will ultimately be taking the story in a different direction.