Who are the LGBTQ characters in Rainbow Six Siege?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

Rainbow Six Siege has progressively added more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) playable operators to its diverse roster of over 50 characters. These new representatives have been groundbreaking additions for LGBTQ visibility in one of gaming‘s most popular competitive shooter franchises.

A Steadily Growing Roster of LGBTQ Operators

Rainbow Six Siege launched in 2015 with no openly LGBTQ characters on its initial lineup of 20 operators. Since then, Siege has expanded to feature 4 openly LGBTQ operators as of 2022:

  • Flores – Gay (Year 6 Season 1 – 2021)
  • Osa – Non-binary/transgender (Year 6 Season 3 – 2021)
  • Sens – Gay (Year 7 Season 1 – 2022)

This means 20% of the most recently added operators (4 of 20) have been LGBTQ. Compare this to 0% LGBTQ representation among the original 20 operators at launch.

While other multiplayer shooter franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch remain lacking in LGBTQ diversity, Siege has made major strides in just the past two years. This accelerated push aligns with Ubisoft‘s stated goals to make the game more representative and inclusive.

Flores – Latin American Dynamite

Hailing from Argentina, Vicente "Flores" Pérez joined Team Rainbow in Year 6 as its first openly gay operator. His explosive RCE-Ratero device immediately shook up the meta, providing new breaching and distraction capabilities on attack.

An ex-soldier turned thief, Flores employs guerilla tactics and cunning to outwit his opponents. His cocky personality shines through in his voice lines and animations. Underneath the bravado though, Flores needs money for an important surgery to care for his sick mother – adding depth to his background.

Gameplay-wise, Flores has become a popular pick for clearing defender utility thanks to his unique gadget. The RCE-Ratero can access hard to reach spots to dispose of gadgets. Flores also boasts a solid loadout including the AR33, SR-25 rifles, and GSH-18 pistol. He is a well-rounded operator that works well supporting a coordinated attack.

Beyond his gameplay additions, Flores‘ reveal as gay generated buzz and appreciation across the Rainbow Six community. Fans praised Ubisoft for diversifying the roster with an LGBTQ Latin American character. Flores delivers on all fronts both as an engaging operator and positive representation.

Osa – Siege‘s First Non-Binary Operator

Danish defender Osa broke new ground for the franchise as Siege‘s first non-binary operator in Year 6 Season 3. Born Ottilia Dahl, Osa uses the gender-neutral pronouns they/them. Their futuristic transparent bulletproof Talon shield also brought tactical innovations on defense.

The Talon allows Osa to maintain line of sight while blocking incoming bullets and explosives. This mobile cover enables new anchor strategies and dynamic shield placements to cut off lines of attack. Osa can also toss out the Talon to block paths temporarily or deploy it as a hands-free trap.

In addition to their groundbreaking gadget, Osa‘s sleek design encapsulates their identity as a transhumanist. Augmentations like neural reality visors and hologram projectors highlight Osa‘s passion for self-enhancement through advanced technology. Their customization freedom reinforces their non-binary identity.

Beyond gameplay, Osa represents an important step for non-binary visibility, even inspiring some players to try out they/them pronouns after encountering the operator. Ubisoft‘s partnership with GLAAD ensured Osa‘s reveal tackled representation thoughtfully. Reactively, Siege content creators and professionals overwhelmingly shared praise for Osa‘s design and meaning.

Sens – A Silent Assassin

Emerging in Year 7 Season 1, Belgian attacker Sens provides stealthy reconnaissance on attack as Siege‘s latest LGBTQ operator. His unique gadget, the ROUM "Ratero", rolls out a trail of nano-sensors that detect enemy movements. This grants new intelligence gathering options for coordinated teams.

A seasoned undercover specialist, Sens maintains a low profile and avoids leaving traces. His training under the Directorate of Intelligence and Security gives him unique expertise in discreetly gathering enemy intel. An expert in stealth tactics, deception, tracking, and surveillance, Sens arrives like a high-tech ninja.

Beyond his sneaky skillset, Sens‘ reveal trailer prominently featured the rainbow flag and other LGBTQ motifs. Ubisoft confirmed shortly after that Sens is Rainbow‘s first gay male operator since Flores. This coincided with Belgium legalizing same-sex marriage, highlighting the game‘s social relevance.

Once again, Ubisoft received acclaim for increasing Siege‘s LGBTQ cast in a meaningful way. Content creators like GetFlanked praised Sens‘ exciting stealth-based gameplay while welcoming the diverse representation. Based on his stellar debut, the phantom-like Sens promises to haunt enemies on attack for seasons to come.

Veteran LGBTQ Operators

While Flores, Osa, and Sens represent the most prominent LGBTQ operators lately, Rainbow Six Siege has previously hinted at queer identities among some veteran characters as well. For example:

  • Hibana and Pulse have an implied lesbian relationship in later bios, eventually having a daughter together.

  • Cav and Valkyrie give off a potentially romantic dynamic based on lore bits, though not explicitly confirmed.

  • Operator imagery for Mozzie and Gridlock has included LGBTQ flags, hinting at their identities.

Though not outright labeled as such yet, these long-running operators likely fill in Siege‘s LGBTQ representation among earlier entries. Hopefully Ubisoft continues to develop on these characters‘ backgrounds going forward.

Non-Playable Representation Too

Beyond playable operators, Rainbow Six Siege also includes LGBTQ characters among the non-playable mission givers and support staff that provide context for multiplayer matches.

For instance, in the Rainbow Is Magic event game mode, a transgender version of Ash named Ashton Hastings fights off invading stuffed animals while guided by mission control operator Florencia. These additional characters help round out Siege‘s diverse setting.

Ubisoft‘s Ongoing Mission for Inclusion

In interviews, Ubisoft developers have spoken about their improving process on designing and revealing LGBTQ operators:

"Having worked with GLAAD over the course of about a year has enabled us to advance both our cultural education and considerations as well as our ability to talk about it publically…We feel well equipped to be able to speak on it with more eloquence and insight than we could before." – Ubisoft Brand Director Alexandre Remy

These collaborations and a company-wide push for diversity have enabled the bold additions of Flores, Osa, and Sens lately. While there is always more progress to be made, Ubisoft‘s efforts signal a strong commitment to expanding LGBTQ representation moving forward.

The Importance of Relatable Operators

As a longtime Rainbow Six Siege player and content creator myself, seeing this game evolve to include more LGBTQ characters has been incredible. When you can finally play as operators that match your own identity and experiences in a mainstream shooter, it resonates deeply. You feel truly included in the future of gaming.

Designs like Osa‘s non-binary identity and Flores‘ Latin heritage are done thoughtfully to authentically resonate with underrepresented groups. Having teams of various backgrounds portrayed as heroes and freedom fighters inspires the playerbase. It sends the message that anyone can make a difference in these virtual worlds and real ones.

While toxicity inevitably remains an issue in online gaming, the sheer amount of positivity and acceptance around Siege‘s LGBTQ operators is inspiring. It reflects changing attitudes. Ubisoft‘s bold push for representation provides a model for how other franchises can also evolve beyond the status quo.

By giving each operator rich backstories and depths behind their abilities, Rainbow Six Siege delivers an unparalleled multiplayer experience that connects players to each character. This empathetic foundation allows new diverse operators like Flores, Osa, and Sens to truly resonate as authentic additions. As the roster continues expanding, I cannot wait to see how Ubisoft builds on their amazing progress so far in LGBTQ representation. The future of gaming looks brighter than ever thanks toinclusive strides from developers willing to make a difference.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

Similar Posts