I grew up in a small community where I had a lot of trouble fitting in as a queer man. In the 90s, there wasn't a lot of room to be different. I didn't play sports, and so games were a reprieve for me (as they are for so many, for different reasons). I spent decades of my life living in the closet, simultaneously unable to accept who I was while also falling into a perpetual depression. Games were a way for me to interact with friends without really talking about our feelings, or really anything personal. But it was also an incredibly lonely existence.
I was with my friends during E3 when ND showed the trailer where Ellie kisses Dina. I distinctly recall a close friend asking "why they need to show stuff like this" in games, which was hurtful for me, but I couldn't show it. I remember internally having a panic attack because it had felt like that monster I was hiding from had broken into the one safe haven I had through gaming.
For as uncomfortable as the situation was for me, as time passed, I began to get really inspired by Ellie as a character. As someone who presents as more masculine, and I didn't resonate with stereotypical gay characters - but with Ellie I felt seen and represented, which gave me the confidence I needed to come to grips with myself.
I know it might be hard for people to see it, but coming out was by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to do and I wouldn't wish the bad parts of the experience on anybody. You don't have to agree with somebody politically to have empathy for the struggles they endure. What you think of the game or the 'wokeness' of Naughty Dog is your prerogative, but I'm incredibly grateful for this game and I hope you can maybe look at from the other perspective.