One of the best things about LARP is the ability to be who you want to be, and leave the mundane, terrible, real world behind. And regardless of what organization you play in, players feeling respected and empowered is one constant factor. Dystopia Rising has embraced this in powerful and beautiful ways.

Recently, Dystopia Rising has adopted the use of “Gender Pronoun Patches” as a way for players to further identify, and be identified, with their desired gender pronouns. These patches, bright yellow and about 3″ across, fit in with most DR costuming seamlessly.

The reaction to these patches has been thoroughly positive, and is best described by #ApocalypseFamous LARPer Tyson Hood:

One of the coolest parts of Dystopia Rising that I feel stands out from other gaming atmospheres is how willing the players are to suspend immersion for incredibly specific undesireable realities of life with the entire purpose being to make players feel more comfortable in game, so they don’t have to deal with these specific attitudes during, what is essentially, their vacations. For example – rape doesn’t exist. It’s never existed in the universe. You’re not allowed to have it in your backstory. You’re not allowed to joke about it. You’re not allowed to threaten it. The word doesn’t exist and if you say it you’re breaking the rules. Another example I heard today, a huge event with hundreds and hundreds of players watching a small group fight that apparently was rather stalled. Someone from the crowd yelled for everyone to throw away their shields and to “stop being faggots” – I guess the entire crowd, hundreds of people, shut the fuck up and stared at this player (who admittedly, probably just played too much CoD and got worked up) and one of the badass participants spoke, staying entirely in character, “We don’t say that word, Vato” and went on with the fight. Just this week there was some concern from the transgender community within the game that players weren’t making the effort to use desired pronouns – almost instantly national comes out with super affordable pronoun patches that are specifically genre’d for the venue and even encourages cis members to wear them as a solidarity gesture. Little shit like this makes such a huge impact on me, makes me feel good to be part of the community. The idea that we can be playing in an absolute hellscape where death torment and sorrow are the bread and butter of existence, and still My Little Pony the fuck out of feelings is so impressive to me. A+ Luv Luv, Bye Bye

Tyson

You can order these patches directly from the Dystopia Rising site, HERE. IF YOU GET ONE OF THESE PATCHES, SEND A PHOTO OF YOURSELF TO EN.SUBMISSIONS@GMAIL.COM WEARING IT TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING PHOTO COMPILATION!

From me and my cohort @imjoshharrison – Team Phoenix Outlaw Productions FULLY supports @DystopiaRising and the pronoun patches. Amazing idea — Shoshana Kessock (@ShoshanaKessock) June 6, 2016

Photos by Dystopia Rising LARP