There are many ways to join Pride Month events online, and one of the most inclusive platforms at the moment is Twitch. Queer Twitch streamers and creators are often great beacons of the LGBTQIA+ community that everyone can follow to find a safe space, a refuge on the Internet for all minorities. ZombaeKillz is one such beacon, and they have created a great community where queerness is not only welcome in all its shapes and forms, but also celebrated. Game Rant spoke to ZombaeKillz about what it means to be an openly queer parent, why Fortnite is the perfect LGBTQIA+ game, and more.
Last year, Game Rant started a Pride Month Streamer Spotlight, which we’re happy to continue this year with several fresh streamers.
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The Impact of ZombaeKillz’s Queerness on Parenthood
Creating a safe space for others online is a small milestone compared to what ZombaeKillz, Natasha in real life, has achieved with their family and friends. One of Natasha’s kids came out as trans, and they were quick to comfort the child by explaining that there is nothing wrong with being queer. Natasha themselves has known of their queer identity from a very young age. Zombae’s parents were very straightforward when they were growing up, to the point that they provided their kid with condoms to use for safe sex.
Natasha tries to do the same for their children, showing constant support and talking about important matters like what it means to be black in the southern U.S., specifically in Mississippi. The reason why Zombae worries about their trans child’s future is not tied to the kid’s identity itself, but rather to the fact that being an individual of color who’s also queer can be difficult. But Natasha finds relief in the fact that the child’s siblings immediately started using the appropriate pronouns, and even correct others who don’t.
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What Pride Month Celebrations Can Improve
Zombae is also conscious about what needs to change when it comes to Pride Month celebrations, starting with the way consumerism became part of Pride products. Natasha wants to see more accountability from the companies that sell Pride-related stuff in terms of healthcare policies for their employees, more diverse new hires, and overall representation of minorities - especially when they are the targets of marketing campaigns. However, Zombae learned that even Pride consumerism can be a good thing when their trans kid got to have gender-affirming items, or even something as simple as a trans flag.
It’s also important to Natasha that the queer community does more work to validate everyone and learn more about different identities. An example is how some southern states, have several ways of rendering people with daily speech, which is hard to let go when its influence is so widespread and deeply rooted. Still, Natasha tries their best to do that regardless and to be wary of others’ cultures and identities.
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The Joys and Hardships of Being a Queer Twitch Streamer
Life as a Twitch streamer is not always easy, although it can be very rewarding when other LGBTQIA+ individuals use Natasha’s space to come out and to express themselves freely, which is what Zombae appreciates the most about their job. It’s also a way to provide others that same space Natasha didn’t have growing up because there was no such thing. However, being openly queer online has its challenges, and they can take a huge toll on anyone.
Natasha said they used to be better at dealing with trolls and haters while streaming, and that their streaming career didn’t revolve around Twitch alone, but also around other apps like Twitter, which they used to get more opportunities. The cost of these things became too much when Zombae was hospitalized, and subsequently had to take a step back and find personal peace that their life wasn’t offering.
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ZombaeKillz’s Opinion on Fortnite
On a more lighthearted note, Natasha believes that one of the best LGBTQIA+ video games at the moment has to be the battle royale, Fortnite. This is because Fortnite offers a lot of customization options, and it is extremely inclusive when it comes to real-world events and people (such as Martin Luther King and black history), as well as fandoms. These fandoms are quite often places where queer communities find their foothold, and thus the Fortnite community is made of individuals from all backgrounds.
Natasha is neurodivergent, living with both autism and ADHD, but the fact that Fortnite has so much going on at all given times is an incredible relief for those like Zombae who need multiple stimuli. Yet, there is room for improvement for Fortnite too, and Natasha would like to see Pride skins and maybe the options of using skin tone shaders on existing skins so that one can feel truly represented by any given character.
Check Out More Pride Month Streamer Spotlights
2021 Pride Month Spotlight: MermaidRoyal on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: PikaChulita on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: JeffBrutlag on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: LuxieGames on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: Breadwitchery on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: QueerlyBee on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: AshleyRoboto on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Spotlight: TaylorRynai on Twitch 2021 Pride Month Recap 2022 Pride Month Spotlight: Toph on Twitch 2022 Pride Month Spotlight: blizzb3ar on Twitch 2022 Pride Month Spotlight: Nikatine on Twitch
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