Jennifer Hale reflects on the queer representation of the Mass Effect series, and how we can thank BioWare’s Canadian roots for bringing it about in the first place.
Speaking with TheGamer, Hale says that the romance between female Commander Shepard and Liara in the first Mass Effect was “really risky” at the time, but she was not discouraged by the backlash from Fox News. In fact, she wants the fact that BioWare persisted despite that backlash to be remembered as we fight against bigotry today.
Mass Effect Pushed Queer Romance In The Noughties, And Jennifer Hale Says It’s A Canadian Thing
“If you’re 30 now, you’re like, what? What’s the big deal?” Hale tells me. That speaks to the success of what we did.”
But of course, it was very much a big deal back in 2007. “Fox News got so pissed off, they would not stop talking about the Liara and femshep romance. I’m like, sweet! Free publicity. Let’s go,” she continues. “We have lived in a time where we could feel the rightness of representation. And I hope we hold tight to that reminder as we move through this time we’re sitting in right now.”
Sadly, Mass Effect 2 did scale back on its queer representation. Jack was going to be pansexual, but this was apparently scrapped due to the Fox News controversy. However, this was a minor setback because the Dragon Age series only upped the ante, and then, Mass Effect 3 gave us queer romances once more.
“I think you can’t underestimate the fact that BioWare is a Canadian company, and Canada does things just a little differently,” Hale explains. “I’ve lived in the US most of my life, but I’ve been back in Canada for five and a half years now. Fairness and representation are steeped deep into the Canadian ethos.
“It was a very Canadian thing to do, and it was very Canadian to do it quietly and matter-of-factly and not make a big deal about it and let everybody else freak out. We’re just doing what we do.”
By the time of Mass Effect 3, queer guys and gals had two romance options to choose from each (or three for the ladies, if you hooked up with Kelly Chambers in Mass Effect 2). Meanwhile, Dragon Age had a couple of bisexual characters in its first game, and continued that trend throughout, even in the face of increased attacks by the time of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Much has changed and improved over the years as well. For instance, while Hale was “honoured” to play Krem, a transgender man, in Dragon Age: Inquisition, she says she would turn down the role if she were asked now, in favour of a trans actor playing the part.
- Released
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November 20, 2007
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 3
- Cross-Platform Play
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doesn’t have cross-play between PC and consoles,
- Cross Save
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yes
