LGBTQ Representation in Fallout

The following article details LGBTQ representation in the Fallout series.


 * Note: This list excludes some characters due to categorization. See Romanceable companions and "No gender required" under Other relationships.

Characters
Carol

A D.C native who was born before the Great War, Carol had narrowly evaded vaporization by seeking refuge inside of a fallout shelter. She emerged from the rubble of the smoldering capitol and eventually found safety inside of the Museum of History. Although she has since been transformed into a ghoul, Carol was able to find love in Underworld when she met Greta during the mid-2210's. Together, they have jointly ran a bed and breakfast called Carol's Place for over sixty years. It has been many years since she has seen or heard talk of her adoptive son, Gob, who had left the sanctuary of the Underworld.


 * Greta, a ghoul in a relationship with Carol
 * Flak, a weapons merchant who runs Flak 'N Shrapnel's at Rivet City. Upon enslaving Flak during the quest Strictly Business, Grouse will ask the Lone Wanderer how they managed to put that 'queen' into a collar, a term commonly used to refer to gay men.
 * Anthony Ling, an apparel merchant who runs New Urban Apparel at Tenpenny Tower. Anthony will continually flirt with Tenpenny security guards,  as well as with Chief Gustavo  Anthony's AI package for this behavior is amusingly called

Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas explores the themes of sexuality much more than previous Fallout games, with it being host to numerous characters of differing sexualities. Players are introduced to two new perks: for female couriers, Cherchez La Femme; for male couriers, Confirmed Bachelor, granting unique same-sex dialogue options with various characters and damage bonuses against the same-sex. Lead designer for Fallout: New Vegas, Josh Sawyer, was responsible for the conception and inclusion of these perks, noting that the two perks, Black Widow and Lady Killer, already existed for straight characters.

Bisexual characters were kept in mind as well, as Lady Killer/Confirmed Bachelor and Black Widow/Cherchez La Femme can both be selected respectively, granting unique dialogue options with all sexes.

Homosexuality within the wasteland is explored upon greatly. The political climate of the Mojave Wasteland with its various factions, each with opposing views on homosexuality gives bigotry an incredibly easy way to crawl up into the institutions. Major Knight, an NCR officer stationed at Mojave Outpost, can inform a male courier that people are not as accepting of homosexuality the further out you are from the New California Republic. Within the NCR, their views on homosexuality would be more described as 'tolerant'.

This is at odds with Caesar's Legion out east, which has much more extremist views towards homosexuality. Jimmy, a gay male escort in Westside and a former slave of the Legion, can inform the player of a gay relationship he had with a Centurion and that Caesar punishes homosexuality with death, having a big focus on "child quotas" to ensure the Legion has new blood. In spite of this, homosexual relationships within the Legion are seen as more equal than the relationship dynamics of most Legion husband and wives. Many Mojave inhabitants are under the impression that homosexuality is normal within the Legion.

Some members of the Brotherhood of Steel believe members are obligated to procreate, meaning same-sex relationships are not encouraged within the Brotherhood. Veronica Santangelo and Christine Royce, two members of the Brotherhood of Steel, had short lived lesbian relationship.

Characters
Veronica Santangelo

Born into the Brotherhood of Steel, Veronica's parents, a scribe and a paladin, died while in a battle with the NCR. In her youth, she would meet Christine Royce, another member of the Brotherhood. Christine's parents believed all Brotherhood members were obligated to procreate. She eventually left the Brotherhood of Steel to put distance between herself and her parents. Veronica couldn't bring herself to leave, but had hoped love would influence Christine to stay.

Arcade Gannon

A recruitable companion from the Followers of the Apocalypse, a male courier with the Confirmed Bachelor perk will gain an option to flirt with him when asking Arcade to accompany them, unlocking him as a companion. Upon the player asking about himself, he will sarcastically remark about why no lucky man has swooped him off his feet yet.

Corporal Betsy

Corporal Betsy is an NCR sniper stationed at Camp McCarran. A female courier with a Charisma of 7 and the Cherchez La Femme perk will grant extra dialogue options with Betsy, coming on to the player upon initiating dialogue. The player can respond to this with a new dialogue option unlocked with Cherchez La Femme, leading Betsy to remark about how she has leave coming up and would love to be rolled up in silk sheets at the Gomorrah with the player. Without the perk, Betsy will still come onto the player, insisting that they won't know what it's like unless they try it. Upon exiting dialogue with a female courier, she'll remark about how she scares away the hot ones.


 * Elaine, mentioned in a letter as missing Angela's kisses
 * Angela
 * Alex Richards, an NCR doctor stationed at Camp Forlorn Hope. As a male courier with the Confirmed Bachelor perk, Alex will flirt with the player upon initiating dialogue, playfully giving pet names
 * Dobson O'Gill, was in a love triangle with Alan Dalton and Jenny DeSoto
 * Alan Dalton, was in a love triangle with Dobson O'Gill and Jenny DeSoto
 * Rose of Sharon Cassidy, mentions not caring who she shares a bed with when drunk
 * Jimmy, a gay male escort at the Casa Madrid in Westside. A male courier with the Confirmed Bachelor perk can flirt with Jimmy into providing a discount for his services (though, non-functional). If a female courier asks Marco about Jimmy's past as a Legion slave, Jimmy can tell the player about his past relationship with Legion Centurion, following the raiding of his village, and the harsh punishment of homosexuality within the Legion. After nearly being caught together, the Centurion took Jimmy out into the desert to kill, though Jimmy managed to escape by way of a groin kick.
 * Major Knight, an NCR officer stationed at Mojave Outpost. A male courier with the Confirmed Bachelor perk can flirt with him, with Knight informing the player that homosexuality is less tolerated the further you are from the New California Republic. While more tolerated in the republic, he states it'll take time for things to change.
 * Christine Royce, former girlfriend of Veronica Santangelo

Characters
Professor Scara and Doctor Duff

Professor Scara and Doctor Duff are two scientists who work and reside the Science! Center in Diamond City. Script notes indicate that they are an odd, yet loving couple in a romantic relationship. Scara can be described as the more serious scientist, while Duff can be described as more absent-minded and impulsive. To Scara's dismay, Duff will take to rearrange and clean Scara's workplace and even their bedroom to surprise her. Scara will call Duff "dear" while discussing a theory about how the Institute creates synths. If the Sole Survivor kills Madison Li or is banished from the Institute during the quest Liberty Reprimed, they will be directed to visit the Science! Center to recruit Professor Scara. Only Doctor Duff is present, who depressingly tells the player Scara has gone missing. She recounts about how the two of them are very close.


 * Mel, a tech expert working for Bobbi No-Nose. When getting Mel out of jail during the quest The Big Dig, replying with sarcastic responses as a male Sole Survivor will result in Mel returning flirtatious remarks back at the player. Upon returning with Mel to Goodneighbor, in a conversation with Bobbi No-Nose, Mel will continue to flirt, remarking that the player is not so bad to look at.
 * Deb, wife of Kay (Creation Kit only, not stated in-game, though they share a residence)
 * Kay, wife of Deb (Creation Kit only, not stated in-game, though they share a residence)
 * Miranda Song, was in a relationship with a woman who left her
 * Andre Michaud, husband of John
 * John, husband of Andre Michaud
 * Keith McKinney, confesses to being in love with Ezra Parker
 * Lily Bell, partner of Mary Jane
 * Mary Jane, partner of Lily Bell

Characters
Burke

Burke is a member of the Raiders, located at the Crater war room. The quietest member of the Crater Raiders, when Burke first joined the group, they flinched when being talked about and other raiders called them by titles such as "The Silent Man" and "Albino Dog". Pierce, another raider, approached Burke and asked them if they preferred to be called something else, opting to use a neutral 'they'. Pierce remarks that Burke is much happier than they were before. Burke is the first non-binary character to be featured in the Fallout series, being written by quest designer, Ellys Tan, who also uses they/them pronouns. Burke also also voiced by the non-binary voice actor, Jason Greene.

Polly

Polly is an Assaultron who works for Duchess. Polly's experiences heavily mirror transgender struggles. Duchess treated Polly as if she were a Protectron. Sol, a friend of Duchess, was convinced Polly was so much more than that, remarking she's like a "real lady". Soon enough, Duchess would finally be convinced of this and treat Polly better. Sol affirms Polly's womanhood by calling her a 'bot-sis'. During the quest Strength in Numbers, the Vault Dweller is tasked with obtaining a new body for Polly after her old one was destroyed. If the player obtains either a Protectron or Mr. Handy body, her body will be painted to appear as an Assaultron as way of her affirming her true self, though she'll be incredibly upset and ask the player why they chose them, heavily mirroring the transgender struggle of being in a body that isn't yours. If the player obtains the Assaultron body, she'll express genuine euphoria and call her body art, relieved with the lack of malfunctions, similar to what a transgender person may feel like under the same scenario.


 * Miguel Caldera, boyfriend of Garry Wilkins
 * Garry Wilkins, boyfriend of Miguel Caldera
 * Freddie Lang, girlfriend of Lucie
 * Lucie, girlfriend of Freddie Lang
 * Kelly, was attracted to Anya
 * Deborah Timmerman, partner of Shelley van Lowe
 * Shelley van Lowe, partner of Deborah Timmerman
 * Gnash, mentions having a preference for "bad boys"
 * Johnny Weston, mentions to the player character that he does not mind "shacking up" with them, regardless of gender
 * Katherine Swan, mentions having an ex-girlfriend

Romanceable companions
Some companions and allies in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 respectively can be romanced via the affinity gameplay mechanic, regardless of the player character's gender.

Other relationships
Player characters can also engage in physical relationships with other characters outside of the affinity mechanic, listed below.

Player icons
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