Not sure your objective, but this is tantamount to asking us to #Deadname people, which doesn't help anyone's case.
The people we are talking about aren't dead. And names can be forgotten, but they can't die. So the concept of "deadnaming" is horsecrap.
That's... not what that means.
The idea is that some people don't want to be linked to their other monikers, often for reasons of safety, and shouldn't have to be unless they need to be held accountable for the actions taken under them. And given how defensive ThePudit is about their names I'm sure they'd agree.
If you've put one name on products you've produced, and are now using a new name for new products, I'm not sure how you would avoid having this discussed online. It's useful to know, for example that if you got a copy of Monsterhearts 1st ed the author listed is Joe MacDonald, and if you get Monsterhearts 2nd edition, the author is Avery Alder, and this is the same person.
I've never met Avery, but we've exchanged some emails, books and funds since I sell both
Monsterhearts 2nd, and
The Quite Year on the CDG RPG Marketplace I run. (Prices set it $CAD funds so it tends to be cheaper. You can switch the currency at the top if you want to use USD or another currency.)
I really dig
The Quite Year, it's a great 3000-foot view one-session map-drawing story game. I've enjoyed playing Monsterhearts at a convention or two, but I don't think it's something I'd run.
Because a disproportionate number of people in this field fit that definition when compared to other fields, and it's worth inquiring as to why that is.
Do you mean on the low or high side?
High. Much higher than any other industry I know of.
All we really have to go on here is anecdotal info I imagine. It does make sense that fringe hobbies may attract individuals struggling to find acceptance, and perhaps even the nature of our games where you get to try out being someone else, but that is pure conjecture.
I've been to 2-6 game conventions a year for the past decade or so (mostly in Ontario I admit, but also UK Games Expo, GenCon and Origins). I run at least 4 sessions. To my knowledge I've had 1 gamer sit at my table who was trans. That doesn't mean that there weren't ones I was unaware of though
Cons certainly have gone through . . . flamewars . . . over revising and creating policy to make "everyone feel welcome." At least one has taken to the point where it actually becomes a little uncomfortable to be straight, white and male.
Still, while it may feel more prevalent, I'm not convinced that it is
much higher than other industries.