Emerging Technologies
Our Policy Positions
For LGBTQ+ individuals, innovations in the technology landscape offer unprecedented opportunities for visibility, community building, and self-expression. However, as technology evolves, so do risks such as privacy violations, algorithmic bias, and exclusionary design. Inclusive approaches to development and implementation are critical to ensuring these tools empower rather than marginalize LGBTQ+ users. Thoughtful design practices, robust privacy safeguards, and equitable representation are essential to building technologies that reect the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and promote equity across digital spaces.
LGBT Tech advocates for inclusivity as a cornerstone of emerging technologies. We advocate for policies and practices that prioritize LGBTQ+ representation, equity, and safety, ensuring that technological innovation uplifts and serves all members of our diverse communities.
XR/VR & Immersive Tech
Extended reality (XR) and immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), are reshaping how individuals interact with digital spaces. For LGBTQ+ individuals, these tools present immense potential to foster community, visibility, and self-expression. Virtual platforms can serve as safe spaces for exploring identities, connecting with others, and participating in events like Pride celebrations from anywhere in the world. However, these technologies also carry unique risks, such as privacy concerns from biometric data collection, harassment in virtual spaces, and a lack of inclusivity in platform design. Ensuring these platforms are accessible, secure, and arming is essential to unlocking their potential for LGBTQ+ empowerment.
LGBT Tech advocates for the development of inclusive and secure XR technologies. We support policies addressing privacy protections and transparency, anti-harassment measures, and equitable access, ensuring these innovations serve as empowering tools for LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.
Gaming
Gaming serves as a unique space for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore their identities, express themselves, and connect with others. Many games allow for character customization and inclusive narratives, offering LGBTQ+ players validation and representation that contribute to their mental well-being. The anonymity of online gaming can be especially valuable for those not yet out or in unsafe environments, enabling them to engage freely and authentically. For LGBTQ+ youth, gaming communities often provide much-needed support, acceptance, and a sense of belonging that may be lacking in their online lives. However, harassment remains a pervasive issue, with LGBTQ+ gamers frequently experiencing verbal abuse, hate speech, and targeted attacks that threaten their safety and participation.
LGBT Tech advocates for inclusive gaming environments through robust anti-harassment measures, user empowerment tools, transparency and representation. We support policies and industry practices that protect LGBTQ+ gamers, ensuring that gaming spaces are safe, equitable, and arming for all players.
Universal Design
Universal design principles prioritize creating products, platforms, and experiences that are accessible and inclusive for everyone, including LGBTQ+ individuals. For this community, universal design can bridge digital divides by promoting inclusivity in areas like gender representation, privacy protections, and equitable access to emerging technologies. Just as a wheelchair ramp benefits individuals beyond those with mobility needs, designing with LGBTQ+ inclusivity in mind benefits broader demographics, fostering equity for intersecting communities such as women, people of color, and those with disabilities. Thoughtful design elements, such as gender-inclusive forms, customizable avatars, and respectful data practices, ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals feel represented, valued, and safe across digital platforms.
LGBT Tech advocates for universal design principles in emerging technologies. By embedding inclusivity into every stage of development, we can create digital environments that reflect and respect the diversity of LGBTQ+ individuals and the intersecting communities they belong to.
