An Orlando-based online magazine claims they are the first to do what they're doing, creating an LGBTQ-centric video game news outlet.

  • Gaymer, an online gaming magazine targeting the LGBTQ community
  • Started and published in Orlando
  • Claims to be the first LGBTQ-centric video game news outlet

“We don’t have anything like that. There’s not anything like that out there," said J.W. Moore. “We’re hoping that we become nationally, internationally recognized. There’s a lot of gay video game players out there who would enjoy this.”

Moore is a staff writer for the magazine. His love affair with video games started early. At five years old, Moore was playing with the Nintendo Entertainment System. In his 20s, he began collecting video game consoles, from Sega Genesis and Wii to old-school Atari.

He's now amassed over 1,000 games, stacked nearly to the ceiling in his St. Cloud home, and has no idea how many hours he's logged playing.

“It’s basically like you’re playing a movie that you’re the director of," he said. “I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I know my stuff when it comes to video games.”

So when good friend and fellow gamer Adam McCabe was looking for partners in his latest venture, he turned to Moore.

“[It] both celebrates what we love to do as a hobby and who we are as people," explained McCabe. “Since I’m a part of the LGBTQ community, and I have a lot of very talented friends who are, let’s step it up and create something that they haven’t seen before.”

The former Orlando Weekly creative director launched Gaymer, rife with interviews with game designers and some tongue-in-cheek content, too. The term, coined on Reddit, seemed fitting.

“I want people to see that we’re everywhere. We’re in the movies you watch, we’re in the video games that you play," he said, noting that it's not necessarily filling a void, but reaffirming pride.

“Orlando has pretty much become, especially lately, the heart of the gay community," added Moore.

For now, they’re running on a slim staff, no one’s paid just yet. But, the Disney digital puppeteer said that being the first to do this — means a lot to him.

“It’s a lot of pressure, definitely. But, I’m up for the challenge. Challenge accepted," Moore said.

Though newly-launched, Gaymer got invited to E3, the video game expo held in Los Angeles in June.

Gaymer is hoping to get sponsors there and see the local venture takeoff.