(this is an outsider’s understanding; I have not played the game myself)
There are two perks you can get in the game: “Lady Killer”, which grants a charisma buff (or something like that) when talking to female characters, and also allows you to do +10% damage to female characters. “Black Widow” grants the same charisma (or whatever) when talking to male characters, and the same +10% damage to male characters. It’s possible to get both of these perks at the same time.
It is my understanding that the previous game, Fallout 3, prevented anything but heteronormative interactions ie to romance a female NPC the player had to choose a male character, etc. To quote hbomberguy, “It implies that Bethesda doesn’t think gay people exist.” By contrast, New Vegas allows any character to take either of the above perks, or both at the same time, allowing one to roleplay as a gay or bisexual character to an admittedly tiny degree.
And also, it’s confirmed bachelor and lady killer for men interacting with other men and with women, and cherchez la femme and black widow for female PCs against women and men (respectively)
(this is an outsider’s understanding; I have not played the game myself)
There are two perks you can get in the game: “Lady Killer”, which grants a charisma buff (or something like that) when talking to female characters, and also allows you to do +10% damage to female characters. “Black Widow” grants the same charisma (or whatever) when talking to male characters, and the same +10% damage to male characters. It’s possible to get both of these perks at the same time.
It is my understanding that the previous game, Fallout 3, prevented anything but heteronormative interactions ie to romance a female NPC the player had to choose a male character, etc. To quote hbomberguy, “It implies that Bethesda doesn’t think gay people exist.” By contrast, New Vegas allows any character to take either of the above perks, or both at the same time, allowing one to roleplay as a gay or bisexual character to an admittedly tiny degree.
Small addendum, it’s not quite a Charisma buff. Instead, you sometimes get special dialogue related to your perks which looks like this:
[Confirmed Bachelor] “Why yes, I also like to play ‘hide the snake’”
[Barter] “I’m not gay, but 20 caps is 20 caps”
“Sorry, not interested”
One of the companions has a super high science/medicine skill requirement or a quest before you can recruit him.
Unless you’re gay, in which case you just flirt with him and he agrees to join you. It’s pretty great.
I’m pretty sure he will also take pity on you if you have low intelligence.
The two most attractive traits in a man, being gay or being incredibly dumb
And also, it’s confirmed bachelor and lady killer for men interacting with other men and with women, and cherchez la femme and black widow for female PCs against women and men (respectively)
I’m pretty sure I had a female character that slept with female characters in the casino gang missions
NPCs actually have sexualities. The only way to beat the game with sex% is to abuse a bug and change your gender mid game