- Ubisoft has decided to host the Rainbow Six Siege Stage Two Major in the United Arab Emirates
- This decision has quickly proven to be widely unpopular among the R6 players, casters, streamers and fans
- People are concerned about LGBT+ athletes and casters because the UAE has yet to decriminalize homosexuality
Ubisoft’s decision to host a Rainbow Six Siege Major in the United Arab Emirates doesn’t sit well with the community.
The Major May Present a Danger to LGBT+ Community Members
With esports growing strong in the MENA region, Ubisoft has decided to host the Rainbow Six Siege Stage Two Major tournament in the United Arab Emirates. This decision has quickly proven to be unpopular with a significant part of the game’s Western community.
An array of streamers, casters and even Ubisoft workers expressed their disgruntlement with Ubisoft, emphasizing the vast cultural difference between the game’s Western community and the Emirates. The community rationalized its concerns, pointing out LGBT+ athletes and talents would be in danger after the Arab country.
The disgruntled Rainbow 6 casters and community members reminded Ubisoft that homosexuality is banned in the UAE which makes it legal for the local police to arrest homosexual and transgender community members and even punish them harshly.
LGBT+ People Are Worried About Their Health
Ubisoft was critiqued for the UAE Major, with some of the most worried people even expressing concerns about the lives of LGBT+ members who decide to take a part in the event. Anne Munition, a prominent R6 streamer, reminded that homosexual people in the UAE can even be sentenced to death just for being homosexual.
While people in the comments pointed out that this rule is largely overlooked and the UAE isn’t actively persecuting LGBT+ members, that doesn’t change the legality of homosexuality in the country.
Emi “CaptainFluke” Donaldson, for example, is a Swedish transgender R6 player who shared that she has concerns about her own health, should she attend the tournament.
Even Ubisoft’s own employees seem unamused with the decision and have taken a stance in support of the LGBT+ R6 community members. Seb François, a user experience designed focusing on gameplay features, called his higher-ups’ decision to host the Major in the UAE a “slap in the face.”
The Rainbow Six Siege community banded together against Ubisoft and launched a Change.org petition to change the location of the controversial tournament. It has almost 2,100 signatures as of the time of this writing.
