The*gameHERs, a women-led interactive platform for gaming, has launched a partnership with Vindex’s Belong Gaming to launch an inclusivity programme aimed at women, non-binary, and femme-identifying gamers.
According to a release, the*gameHERs will bring monthly community gaming nights to Belong Gaming Arenas across the U.S.
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To encourage more hands-involvement in the gaming and esports industry, the*gameHERs will promote existing job opportunities at Belong Gaming’s new venues across the country to its community of over 150,000 members.
Belong opened its first of 300+ U.S. gaming centres in Houston earlier this month and additional locations are expected to open soon in Dallas, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Chicago, Illinois, and Columbus, Ohio.
Wim Stocks, Head of Partnerships & Commercial for Belong commented: “There is no one in the industry doing more to further inclusivity in gaming than the*gameHERs and Belong is delighted to add them as an official partner. Theirs is a mission with which we have a deep connection as Belong continues to lead the industry and build supportive and inclusive gaming communities around the globe.”
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In addition to the partnership, Belong will sponsor the Most Inclusive Organisation Award which will honour and celebrate an esports or gaming organisation that is ‘making deliberate steps towards building a more inclusive community and workplace’ for the upcoming gameHER Awards in November of 2021.
Rebecca Dixon, co-founder of the*gameHERs added: “the*gameHERs is absolutely thrilled to be able to partner with Belong and to be a part of building and supporting their community that welcomes all gamers. We are excited to provide spaces for women in our community to connect with one another in person, and help them support and empower each other in a more tangible way.”
Esports Insider says: There is a lot of talk about making esports and gaming more inclusive, but one-off events and partnerships do little to change public perception and internal policies. Ongoing events like the ones planned for Belong Gaming Arenas could help normalise different personalities in the gaming space and connect like-minded individuals to make gaming more fun if they feel (or fear they will be) alienated.