LGBTQ+ Youth Are Huge Gamers—Here’s Why

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Kaley Mullin | Youth and Trends Insights Lead, YouTube

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It would seem that gaming is a place where diversity would thrive, with players exploring many different worlds as characters that could look like anything. But there’s still a disparity between the people playing the games and the representation they’re seeing on screen. GLAAD’s 2024 Gaming report on LGBTQ+ players found 17% of active gamers identify as LGBTQ+, but less than 2% of console games currently available feature LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. YPulse’s own Gaming report data shows nearly all LGBTQ+ 13-39-year-olds?play video games in some capacity and 78% of LGBTQ+ who play video games agree: “I wish video games had more diverse characters.” ?

As avid gamers, this cohort is also spending plenty of money on the hobby. When we ask young people how much they would estimate they’ve spent on video-game related expenses in the last year, LGBTQ+ players estimate an average of $198, compared to $157 for non-LGBTQ+ players. As GLAAD highlights in its report, this huge gap calls for a pressing need for change within the gaming industry; if LGBTQ+ gamers are investing more than others, the industry should be paying attention to them, and what they want to see on screen. ?

And as both GLAAD and YPulse have explored, it’s clear that gaming not only serves as a source of entertainment, but also as a powerful realm for self-expression and community-building, especially for LGBTQ+ youth. YPulse’s LGBTQ+ Youth special report found that while gaming is a huge hobby for this young community, beyond playing them, it’s also something they do for their mental health.?

In this LGBTQ+ gaming spotlight, we’re unfolding how this young demo looks at gaming through a different lens than many of their peers. To understand what that means for brands vying to connect with LGBTQ+ gamers, these three stats show how young LGBTQ+ consumers engage with gaming even more than their peers:?

Nearly eight in 10 LGBTQ+ people tell YPulse they’re playing mobile games weekly or more, +10pts more than non-LGBTQ+ youth. Diving deeper, LGBTQ+ youth are way more likely to play on a daily basis, too with 43% saying they play mobile games daily compared to 37% of non-LGBTQ+. Even on other devices, LGBTQ+ are gaming much more than their non-LGBTQ+ peers: they’re +6pts more likely to play on a console weekly or more often, +9pts more likely to play on a computer weekly or more often, and +6pts more likely to use a virtual reality (VR) headset weekly or more often. These significant differences show just how active LGBTQ+ players are in the gaming world—meaning they should be a focal point for brands. ?

While most young people play video games in some capacity, fewer actually consider themselves “gamers.” But 68% of LGBTQ+ young people say they are, +3pts more than non-LGBTQ+ youth. YPulse has explained how this label signifies a deeper connection to gaming as a community space, and how associating with it leads to different gaming habits and preferences. For LGBTQ+ Gen Z and Millennials, we know community is incredibly important, so identifying as a gamer may provide the feeling of being a part of a group with a common interest. After all, YPulse’s Hobbies and Passions report data shows over one in five young LGBTQ+ people say they are part of a group devoted to a hobby online, more than the 15% of non-LGBTQ+ youth who say so—meaning gaming could have a big influence on this difference. ??

Playing games is something LGBTQ+ Gen Z and Millennials often do for their mental health, and one of the main reasons they play video games is for stress relief. Similarly, the 57% say they play video games to relax / wind down compared to just 48% of LGBTQ+ players, showing just how much LGBTQ+ value video games as a source for comfort. While all 13-39-year-old players say their top reason for playing video games is to have fun, 47% of LGBTQ+ young people say they play games to escape from reality compared to just 32% of non-LGBTQ+ players. As YPulse explored in our LGBTQ+ Youth special report, there’s a range of reasons this demo is looking to get away from the real world for a bit, and brands should be aware that gaming can be a part of that escape. GLAAD’s report also found that “66% of LGBTQ gamers say gaming allows them to express themselves in a way they don’t feel comfortable doing in the real world,” so of course playing is a major source of self-care for them.

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