So, I was wondering ... do you, or have you, played a Pokémon game as the character opposite of your gender? And if you have, what prompted you to do so?

And yes, I have and am playing as the female character. It started when I got my HG and SS games, and loaned SS to a friend at work, she started the game as the female character (of course), but didn't get very far - so, I just continued her game. Then, when I got Black & White, I started Black using the female character. I was kind of wondering if there were any real differences in the game experience (of course there isn't), but I also figured it was kind of quirky. I am certainly quirky, if nothing else.

Eh, I guess I'm just weird ...

I play as the opposite gender all the time. The only games I ever pick my actual gender are the third generation games, probably because Leaf and May are pretty cool looking. I actually try to alternate between characters, like I played as Ethan in SoulSilver and Lyra in HeartGold.

I like to mix it up. This gen I'm playing the girl in my main game, in HG/SS I started as the boy. I tend to start off with the trainer sprite I like the look of better.

Whew! I'm glad I'm not the only one! <Whew!> Was beginning to think I was weirder than I thought I was! LOL

I always aim to be a female in any game I play if possible as they tend to just appeal more as characters but in pokemon it's because I am a boy in real life, I don't want to be male in a game as well & also, the female trainers tend to be better designed anyway with 2nd & 3rd Gen being the exceptions...

I do play as the male character in pokemon but it is only when I am trying to create an original trainer in the process like with Akato in my first Diamond run or Bara in my current Pearl run that contrasts with Aoi who is my female character in my current Diamond run, meh...

in one of my roms i decided to cuz i was really, really, REALLY, bored

I like to mix it up. I often alternate between male and female each time I start up a game. My current plays are male in Sapphire, female in Soulsilver, and male in White. When I start up my Platinum Insomnialocke I'm going to be female.
In my opinion:
Red>Leaf
Ethan=Lyra
Brendan=May
Lucas<Dawn
Hilbert=Hilda

I hate the Gen V canon names... But I like the appearances, so who cares, the names are customizable, the appearances aren't.

I haven't before, but I know a lot of people who do. =P

Sometimes I pick the character of my opposite gender and pretend the character belongs to the gender opposite their own.

Okay, seriously, I don't know why I sometimes pick the opposite gender. I guess it's nothing to do with gender, really, but the character himself. It all depends in which character I like better, the male of female.

In Black I'm playing as the girl because I think she's awesome, and I'm tired of seeing every single BW playthrough having the guy as the main character. There's also this balance thing; if you pick the guy, it's 3 guys (Cheren, N and the player) and 1 girl (Bianca). So I pick the girl to have both genders the same amount of characters.

Ah, now being able to change the appearance of your character, even a little bit would be awesome! [Gamefreak! Are you listening????]