(Image Source: PopCultureGeek.com)

 

BY LEAH BECERRA

 

In a galaxy a few clicks away... PC gamers will soon be able to simulate gay relationships in the ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ video game. PCMagazine reports...

“...the ability to have a same-sex relationship within The Old Republic … is on the horizon.”

Bioware -- the company behind the game -- released this statement:

“Due to the design constraints of a fully voiced MMO of this scale and size, many choices had to be made as to the launch and post-launch feature set. Same gender romances with companion characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic will be a post-launch feature.”

Many are surprised by the developer’s decision -- especially because of a 2009 message-board discussion where a Bioware moderator said terms like ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ do not exist in the ‘Star Wars’ universe. The Daily Mail explained reports ...

“The 2009 mention [was] to an online message board for the then-upcoming game that was closed by a moderator when its users published a threat on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender discrimination...”

And some are more than surprised -- they’re upset. Tony Perkins, president of Judeo-Christian non-profit Family Research Council, is speaking out. Kotaku reports Perkins’ said on his daily radio spot:

“In a new Star Wars game, the biggest threat to the empire may be homosexual activists!”

But a writer for Examiner.com argues Perkins has a history of hate.

“Anyone familiar with Perkins, and the Family Research Council, will not be surprised by their Christian hate and homophobia … [it] has a long history of demonizing members of the gay and lesbian community.”  

For now, players who choose to take part in same-sex relationships within ‘The Old Republic’ may only do so with companion characters which are not controlled by another person.