Pride Makes The Sims!

Like you, The Sims™ believes in making a better world, both virtual and real. For us, that means a world built on connections and creativity, filled with the joy, smiles, and confidence that comes with finding (and being) your true self. So let’s celebrate that and stand together this Pride Month! Whether you’re a rock star, a mermaid, a parent of two hundred, a boy or a girl or neither or both, be proud. Because you make The Sims; Pride makes The Sims!

The Sims community is a beautiful and diverse group filled with love for one another. Ahead, we’re catching up with a few Simmers who identify as LGBTQ+ to chat about the importance of community in general and how they’re empowering others to be their true selves. Wherever they’re from, whoever they love, however they identify, these Simmers are all making The Sims proud.

eyAnton (he/him)

Based in: Sweden Playing since: 2000

eyAnton was six years old when he first stumbled upon The Sims. Despite a rough start (the Goth family may have met an unfortunate, fiery end), today he spends his time building Lots on his Twitch channel—and building friendships. “I love to be a part of the community,” he says. “I love when we help each other out or give each other inspiration.”

As an LGBTQ+ streamer and Game Changer, eyAnton is no stranger to being an inspiration himself. “I was assigned female at birth,” he says, “but I really never felt like that was me. I have pretty much always felt like I am male. I am now an adult and proud to be a transgender man.” Playing The Sims actually helped him escape gender dysphoria. “The Sims really do[es] normalize that love is love and doesn’t have to be restricted by genders or identities. My favorite gameplays have been romancing Bob Pancakes and [having] his babies, as The Sims allows you to create transgender males that are still able to get pregnant!”

eyAnton’s advice for the community? “Be sure to encourage and help each other out. Play fair and have fun!”

BeyondSims (he/him)

Based in: United Kingdom Playing since: 2002

You might recognize BeyondSims from his eponymous site BeyondSims. “The Sims franchise has been one thing in my life that has remained constant and has always been present,” he says as he explains why he started the site in 2011. “[It] allowed me to play in a world and create storylines that had no boundaries or discrimination—just love and acceptance. Where I grew up wasn't the most open-minded area, so the first experiences of realizing I was gay were negative. The Sims was one of the things that helped me eventually come to terms with my sexuality once I had accepted it and understood it. Without being able to see positive representation or being able to explore in that way, perhaps my story would be different.”

Now, BeyondSims has brought that representation out of the game and turned it into a conduit for community. In addition to running BeyondSims.com, he has also hosted the Simmers Meetup in the UK. “I have always felt at home and accepted in this community, no matter what. The thing that makes me most proud is how supportive the community is of everyone, and I think that's such a rare thing to find in the gaming world. If you need help with something, someone is always there to assist, and if you just want to share your latest build, there's always someone there to celebrate it!”

Simfan923 (he/him and she/her)

Based in: United States Playing since: 2002

Simfan923 remembers watching his dad play The Sims when he was a kid, and he’s been playing ever since. “It’s probably been the biggest part of my life and honestly my go-to game whenever I’m feeling anxious or sad or just when I want a good laugh,” he says. “The Sims was originally the only place I felt safe to be 100% myself, and that included being gay.”

Growing up, Simfan923 reflects, he didn’t feel able to live that part of his life, but the community around the game really impacted him. “Being a part of such a large group of people across the world who feel that they can share their stories and their creativity with everyone is just amazing,” he says. “Over time, I grew as a creator, and while I used to be very shy in real life, The Sims gave me countless moments to share my voice and be who I originally felt I couldn’t be outside of the game.”

Whether he’s creating Sims in honor Black History Month or building a single-dad house, that creativity and community support “fills [his] heart.” “I love being part of a community that embraces everyone. I’ve grown confidence, and last year, while it wasn’t a huge shock for me, I realized that I identified as non-binary. So I’m grateful I’m able to be myself both in-game and out of game.”

CaroloVazquez (she/her)

Based in: Argentina Playing since: 2000

CaroloVazquez spends a lot of her time nowadays creating herself and her girlfriend as Sims. “We laugh because our Sims are so accurate!” she says. “We love to plan our future house in the game and post it on our social media.” Recently, she and her friends even hosted a contest in Argentina where Simmers designed a home for the two.

She remembers being 7 when she first began playing the game—and how it impacted her. “I really think The Sims was my first approach with same-gender relationships, and that was awesome. I was a 7-year-old girl in [the] early 2000s, so nobody was talking about LGBTQ+ issues.” Being able to experience that in-game meant a lot to her. “Representation is very important, not only on TV shows and movies, in video games, too,” she says. “I think the first time I kissed a girl was playing The Sims (actually, it was my Sim version hahaha), and everything worked fine, so here I am now, very in love with my real not-Sim girlfriend 😂.”

As for her community, building a home for CaroloVazquez and her girlfriend isn’t all they’ve accomplished. “Everyone [in The Sims community] wants to help you and teach you how to improve in the game, make it more realistic, how to create amazing houses. I think that's the best thing about The Sims community: everyone wants to share their work with you! I'm proud that we are a part of a community that encourages people to live their lives as they want, to be free and love anything (or anyone) they want in a very wholesome way.”

Dimissauro (he/him)

Based in: Brazil Playing since: 2004

Content creator Dimissauro found The Sims at 13 and immediately knew it was the game for him. “The LGBTQ+ characters [on TV] were always portrayed in an unrealistic way compared to the other characters, as if they only existed for comic relief,” Dimissauro reflects. “The Sims was the first time that I could build a relationship with anyone that I wanted, boy or girl. An LGBTQ+ Sim looked like and was treated the same way as a non-LGBTQ+ Sim. That freedom and respect that the game showed me was very powerful, and I was able to finally understand that it was okay being who I am and offered me much-needed representation.”

Growing up in Brazil in the ‘90s, there wasn’t much of that in media. Dimissauro found comfort in the game, and when he started streaming, The Sims helped him overcome his shyness and connect with others. “My YouTube Channel and Twitch live streaming are only happening today because of how accepting The Sims community is,” he admits. “I love how diverse the community is. They inspire me by sharing their own stories and creations, both in-game and real life. None [of the] other game communities I've ever been part [of] created such a comfortable environment for each person's individuality.”

DOTsim (he/him)

Based in: Poland Playing since: 2000

“Creating Sims and telling their stories actually helped me gain my confidence,” says DOTsim, the founder of Polish fansite DOTsim. “In my country, being part of the LGBTQ+ community hasn’t always been easy. When I realized I was gay, I couldn’t share it with others. I think that the opportunity to freely express myself in a safe environment of the game has given me the courage to finally come out.”

Now, he dedicates himself to the community of DOTsim. “I’m trying my best to encourage the visitors of my site to be proud of themselves and to help them with self-acceptance,” he says of the project. Almost ten years ago, he started it by writing news and guides for just a few people, and now it’s one of his greatest achievements. “Thanks to DOTsim, I belong to a fantastic community, which is an important part of my life. I think it was the accepting community that contributed to my coming out. Without the passion, comments, and ideas that we share, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he met his partner through DOTsim forums, either! “It all started with talking about The Sims, then we started spending more time together, and today, we can celebrate a long-time relationship. It’s really beautiful!”

EnglishSimmer (she/her)

Based in: United Kingdom Playing since: 2000

Known for her YouTube channel and being part of the runner-up team on The Sims Spark’d, EnglishSimmer views her Belong There series as her biggest achievement. The series, dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ stories, reinforces the need for more representation in the world.

“Simmers deserve to tell their own journeys through their Sims and deserve to see themselves represented in the game,” says EnglishSimmer. “I never thought I’d feel comfortable enough to put my sexuality out there enough to do a full story dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ stories, but every single time I get a comment telling me that it’s someone’s comfort series, or it helped them feel seen because they had never seen themselves represented and included in traditional media, my heart soars.”

EnglishSimmer picked up The Sims at a young age, so “LGBTQ+ relationships have been very much a norm” for her. “The game definitely gave me time to come to terms with my sexuality and explore it in a very safe environment between my Sims, at my own speed, without feeling any pressure,” she says. “Ever since I’ve embraced it, LGBTQ+ themes have been a pillar of my channel because I aim to be the representation I wanted, so it has helped with how I approach my content. I hope people never want to stop seeing positive changes for The Sims and it can continue to evolve to be the most inclusive life simulation it can be.”

maedi (she/her)

Based in: Australia Playing since: 2001

“As a bisexual woman,” maedi says, “playing The Sims is being able to try on a million different lives and the freedom to experiment without judgement.” This sense of creativity and freedom has permeated her entire life. From playing with dolls to streaming The Sims, maedi has “always wanted to play with life.”

“I remember going to my friends’ house and playing [The Sims] House Party during sleepovers instead of talking about boys,” she says. “It helped me realise that sexuality is a spectrum. The thing I treasure most about my LGBTQIA+ journey with the Sims is that my Sims can be as fluid as I am.”

maedi also acknowledges the sense of freedom she gets from The Sims community. “[It’s] so welcoming, supportive, and inclusive. I’ve never felt more at home with a vast community of people who are actively trying to make the game a more inclusive space,” she says. “The imagination that goes into The Sims is incredible.”

Whether she’s inspiring others to play or pushing boundaries herself, maedi keeps her sense of humor and pushes on, because, “if a Sim can become a surgeon with no experience, I can do anything,” she jokes.

Mprin (he/him)

Based in: Spain Playing since: 2000

“At my 28 years old, [The Sims] is still my refuge and my inspiration,” says Spanish YouTuber Mprin. “I can say that the first time I was myself, it was in The Sims. It helped me through the process of self-discovery without fear of anything or anyone. While the real world around me rejected me, I felt accepted by the Simmer community.”

Today, Mprin uses his platform to inspire his viewers as they inspire him, “taking advantage of [his] position on the internet to give visibility to the LGBTQ+ collective.” He hopes his videos are a “window to the world” and reach people who need to see themselves represented or even those who just need something to smile about on a bad day. “I still remember how I played in The Sims 2 with my LGBTQ + Sims and thought, ‘I too want to be that happy someday with my boyfriend and my dog,’” he says. “And to this day that I have achieved it, I want my followers to know that it can be done! Thanks to projecting my feelings into the game, I knew it was time to stop wasting time and dare to come out of the closet with my family and friends. It was incredible to feel that it was time to be happy like my Sims were!”

Mprin considers The Sims community one of “the most varied” out there. “There are all kinds of players here and they all have their place in the game,” he says. “But above all, I am inspired by those people who fight to make the game more and more inclusive—for example, the black community. Being part of the Simmer community is undoubtedly a source of pride and satisfaction.”

Who else inspires you to play with life? Tag The Sims social channels to share your favorite LGBTQ+ Simmers. You make The Sims, after all, and we’re thrilled to amplify your voices and contributions.

Check out The Sims Forums for even more amazing Simmers; catch up with us on Twitter and Instagram; like us on Facebook; and subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can also sign up for The Sims 4 newsletter to get all the news as soon as it’s announced.