Read on Twitter
I'm a game developer at a AAA studio and closeted trans, so the entire framing of the conversation being a tough choice between "supporting the devs" and "not wanting to support HER" is... completely misguided, and I'm really sad to see friends and trans devs struggle with this. https://twitter.com/DerbyCityDerek/status/1306643869942116354
Lets review: Supporting HP is directly funding a woman actively working to hurt trans people around the world. Even if she is not involved, she is a part of the brand, and especially while living, cannot help but benefit from it. https://twitter.com/GameDesignDan/status/1306349498806005760?s=20
But what about the devs working on this game? ....what about them? I am sure there are queer folk and allies at WB very upset with HER and to be working on HP right now, and as a trans game dev my heart goes out to them. They do not deserve hate directed at them because of HER.
But if a AAA game in the careers of the talented devs at WB Games / Avalanche is not a huge financial success then, they will survive! Execs will miss a payday and job stability in the games industry will be as bad as ever depending on how those execs manage their studio.
But if we keep praising this HP game? Then no matter how indirect, we line the pockets of HER, and she uses her greater money and influence to make sure trans people are feared, attacked, and denied healthcare. This is incomparably bad to the impact of a single AAA game flopping!
Do not use sympathy for a few game developers to justify supporting a real threat to trans people worldwide. There is no ethical way to consume HP products. I've been through layoffs at AAA studios, seen friends leave games and suffer financially, but supporting HER is WORSE.
To other trans game devs, the internet can attack us for being game developers and for being transgender. In our bubble, its easy to jump to support arguments for defending both, for buying this dichotomy and meeting it halfway, because neither group deserves hate! But,
We cannot allow friends to support attacks on our gender because its more convenient to support us as game devs than as transgender. Remember the history of the fight for trans rights, and that this fight will ALWAYS be more important than any workplace project or video game!
