GLAAD to Nintendo: Lack of gay characters in new life sim is ‘hurtful’ and ‘behind the times’

Choice is a paradox. You would think that you could make people happier by giving them a lot of options, but Nintendo is finding out that the exact opposite is sometimes true — because while one of its next handheld games gives players a ton of ways to express themselves, it’s missing something important to many.

You cannot make homosexual characters in Tomodachi Life. The 3DS life simulator is due out June 6, and your character can fall in love, get married, and have children. The action centers around the drama that emerges as different Miis interact with one another. For example, I have former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Don Draper from Mad Men, and Bill Murray as Mii characters on my 3DS, and I’m really hoping they get into a love triangle. That is possible. What isn’t possible is for a gay person to fall in love with and marry their partner’s Mii.