David King is the one Dead by Daylight character that Behaviour Interactive has explicitly confirmed as gay. The developer announced this on April 27, 2022, calling him the game’s first officially confirmed gay character. Official material does not provide a current, complete list of LGBT characters, so the answer is narrower than the question often implies.
What Behaviour Interactive officially confirmed
The confirmation appears in the developer’s announcement “Dead by Daylight Is Thrilled To Confirm First LGBTQIA2+ Character,” published April 27, 2022. The key sentence reads:
“Today, we’re pleased to confirm that Dead by Daylight can officially celebrate the game’s first gay character: David King.”
That statement comes from the Dead by Daylight team in an official developer announcement. It is the only source that establishes David’s identity as a matter of canon, so any claim about him should be traced back to it.
#1 Best Overall
- Play as 5 new resourceful Survivors with their own unique Perks!
- Play as 5 new Killers with horrifying Powers that defy logic to hunt your prey!
- Customize your experience with all-new Perks and set-up options!
- Bring the game to life with 10 hauntingly detailed miniature figurines!
Where the story material fits
The announcement ties the confirmation to a DEVOTION Tome memory titled “The Importance of Being King.” According to the announcement, that memory explores a deep personal connection in David’s life before the Fog and expands his backstory. The official wording stops at “gay.” It does not add a more specific label, so readers should not infer further detail about his relationships or identity beyond that word.
What the official sources do not establish
- No complete identity index. The official character portraits and backstories page lists the roster with portraits and backstories. It is not an LGBTQ+ identity index and does not say which characters are LGBT.
- “First” is a dated claim. The 2022 wording describes David as the first officially confirmed gay character as of that announcement. It does not establish that no other character has been or will be confirmed. Later lore updates could add to the picture.
- Licensed franchise material is outside this answer. This article does not check identity statements in source material from franchises whose characters appear in the game.
In short, David King is the one confirmed example in official Dead by Daylight sources available for this article. The verified answer to “which characters are LGBT” is therefore a single name, qualified by date.
Canon, fan readings, and cosmetics
Community members often discuss queer readings, ships, and personal headcanons for other characters. Those discussions are interpretation. They become canon only when an official source says so. The table below separates the categories that are often blurred together.
| Category | Example | Status for this article |
|---|---|---|
| Developer-confirmed canon | David King, per the April 27, 2022 announcement | Officially confirmed as gay |
| Licensed franchise source material | Identity statements in outside franchise works | Not covered or verified here |
| Fan interpretation and headcanon | Queer readings, ships, and personal character theories | Not canon unless an official source says so |
| Cosmetics and player identity | Pride-themed cosmetics; a queer player’s own identity | Not evidence of any character’s identity |
A Pride cosmetic, a character’s ambiguous presentation, or a community ship does not amount to an official identity confirmation, even when it appears alongside a Pride event.
The developer’s stated approach to representation
The Dead By Daylight Pride Update 2021, published May 27, 2021, gives context for how the studio frames this work. Behaviour said it was consulting GaymerX on ways to integrate LGBTQIA2+ themes into established games and to avoid harmful representation. The update says:
Rank #2
- EXPAND YOUR GAMEPLAY – Take your Dead by Daylight board game further with 5 new Survivors and 5 terrifying Killers, each with unique abilities for fresh strategies and tension. Requires the base set to play.
- HORROR-THEMED STRATEGY – Escape or become the ultimate ghost killer game villain with new Perks and Powers that heighten suspense and excitement. Will you survive the night or fall to the darkness?
- DETAILED MINIATURES – Includes 10 hauntingly sculpted miniatures, bringing characters to life with eerie precision. A must-have for fans of horror board games, collectible art, and immersive tabletop play.
- MULTIPLE WAYS TO PLAY – Customize matches with new setup options, creating fresh scenarios for replayability. Whether you love betrayal, hidden movement, or outsmarting foes, this expansion enhances your Dead by Daylight experience.
- PERFECT FOR HORROR FANS – Great for teens, adults, and couples who love strategy, tabletop, or party games. A top pick for game nights, mystery lovers, and fans of monsters and survival horror.
“Bringing inclusivity and representation to life in a meaningful way within Dead by Daylight’s storytelling continues to be a focus for us – and one that’s progressing.”
This is a statement of intent about storytelling. It is not confirmation of any particular character’s identity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Roster context and dated figures
Roster numbers change over time, and they are not counts of LGBT characters. The two dated figures available are shown below.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Source and date | Survivors | Killers |
|---|---|---|
| Behaviour Interactive announcement, April 27, 2022 | 30 | 27 |
| Dead by Daylight Celebrates 10 Years In The Fog, May 14, 2026 | 51 (52 counting Baermar) | 41 |
The 2022 total of 57 is historical and has been superseded by the 2026 anniversary snapshot. Neither set of figures supports a percentage of LGBT representation on the roster.
Quick Recap
How to check a character’s status yourself
- Start with Behaviour Interactive’s own announcements and note their publication dates.
- Read the character’s in-game story text, including any DEVOTION Tome entries, and check whether it uses explicit identity wording. Implied or romantic material is not an identity confirmation.
- Look for official updates published after the date you are reading. A “first” claim from 2022 may have been overtaken.
- Treat community posts as interpretation unless they quote an official statement, and check the quote against the original announcement.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
