League of Legends Voice Actor Confirms K'Sante is its First Black LGBTQ Champion
K'Sante will the first-ever Black LGBTQ champion in League of Legends, voice actor DeObia Oparei revealed Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Riot Games officially revealed K'Sante as League's 162nd playable champion. Although League has already had LGBTQ champions walk Summoner's Rift, K'Sante will be the first that’s openly queer upon launch. Neeko, Graves, Twisted Fate, Leona and Diana are among those who were revealed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual years after they were released.
"I’m excited to give life and voice to K’Sante and make history portraying the first LGBTQ black Champion Warrior," Oparei tweeted.
Oparei is a British actor who has starred in "Sex Education" (2019), "Game of Thrones" (2015-16), "Dredd" (2012) and "Doom" (2005).
Per the League of Legends Wiki, "K'Sante is openly gay, having been in a relationship with a fellow hunter named Tope."
Nicknamed "The Pride of Nazumah," K'Sante has been described as a top-lane tank with an "expectedly high skill cap" who hails from a long line of fighters who have protected their city from threats to its water source.
In Riot's announcement regarding its collaboration with American rapper Lil Nas X for the 2022 League of Legends World Championship, it was revealed that a "Prestige Empyrean K'Sante" skin co-designed by the artist will be released on Nov. 3.
It remains to be seen exactly when K’Sante himself will be released in-game, but more news is expected to come during Worlds 2022, which ends Nov. 5.