One of the biggest challenges of telling queer stories in large IPs is the difficulty of doing so w/ a global audience, where in some regions it is (abhorrently) illegal to do so. A confirmed queer character or storyline could put coworkers in legal risk / actual physical danger.

Diff companies have different approaches. Some fragment their stories so a character is queer in core canon and primary expressions, but omits this for specific regions. But this creates a fractured continuity for different audiences and undermines the sense of character truth.

Others avoid having queer characters in the main expressions of their IP (in the game, in the films) but try to incorporate it in auxiliary media. That often feels worse: like a non-commitment to storytelling, or that queer characters can’t ever be seen “on screen.” Queerbaiting.

As a creator, it’s immensely frustrating to have your hands tied in terms of how you can execute a story, and what you can confirm publicly without any doubts about a character’s perceived attractions. Love and attraction are core to many stories and characters’ journeys!

Despite all this, all you can do as a writer is write what you can, as authentically as possible.

Anyway, completely unrelated, please enjoy this story about Ezreal and Ekko

https://twitter.com/michaelyichao/status/1264613511864385538?s=21