Summary
- Star Wars embraces LGBTQ+ representation in books, comics, and games beyond the screen, offering diverse characters to resonate with.
- LGBTQ+ characters like Orka & Flix in Resistance and Vel Sartha & Cinta Kaz in Andor make strides in inclusivity in the Star Wars universe.
- Characters like Lando Calrissian, Doctor Aphra, and Grand Admiral Sloane showcase varying LGBTQ+ identities, adding depth to the galaxy far, far away.
"Star Wars is for everyone." That iconic quote given by Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill has been used many times as a way to welcome new characters and creators into the franchise. It is also an important point to remember as the world marks Pride Month.
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On screen, Star Wars hasn't introduced much in the way of LGBTQ+ representation. However, the franchise is filled with books, comics, and video games that have expanded beyond what is seen on film and television. As such, there are several Star Wars characters available to discover that members of the LGBTQ+ community may resonate with.
Updated on June 9, 2024, by John Hitchcock: The original publication of this article included a solid range of LGBTQ+ characters, but some didn't make the cut. As such, to celebrate Pride Month and the release of The Acolyte, more of the best LGBTQ+ Star Wars characters have been added. Although it is unclear if this new series will feature any LGBTQ+ characters, the franchise has been steadily growing more inclusive throughout the years, so there is always a chance. Still, if The Acolyte fails to include any LGBTQ+ characters, there are many other Star Wars projects to look forward to that might.
To avoid implying that certain LGBTQ+ characters are better than others, the entries featured in this article will not be ranked.
Orka & Flix
A Gay Couple That Runs A Repair Shop
- Star Wars Resistance
Orka and Flix were introduced in Star Wars Resistance, where they ran a store called The Office of Acquisitions. Although not explicitly stated in the show itself, their status as a couple has been confirmed by the producers.
Though Resistance might not have been the best-received Star Wars series, the decision to feature two LGBTQ+ characters had a big impact nonetheless. Orka and Flix were the first openly gay characters to be introduced to the new canon.
Vel Sartha & Cinta Kaz
A Lesbian Power Couple That Plays A Part In The Rebel Alliance
- Star Wars: Andor
Vel Sartha and Cinta Kaz were introduced in Andor, where they took part in the Aldhani heist and later the battle of Kenari. After The Last Jedi, it was nice to see a same-sex couple finally get a major role in a live-action Star Wars production. Faye Marsey, who played Sartha, is on the record stating that she wanted her character to help normalize LGBTQ+ relationships.
Instead of simply featuring an LGBTQ+ couple and doing nothing else, Andor actually finds room to explore the challenges of their relationship. A big part of their story revolves around their struggle to balance their love for each other with their shared commitment to the rebel alliance. It's a pretty daunting task, and their perseverance reveals that they are all the stronger for it.
Doctor Aphra
A Lesbian Archeologist Who Has Been In Complicated Relationships
- Star Wars: Darth Vader
Introduced in the Star Wars: Darth Vader comics, Doctor Aphra is a morally questionable character who has no problem working both with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. On top of that, she has also served as lesbian representation for the LGBTQ+ community. Doctor Aphra is an archeologist who had a relationship with a woman in school and shared a passionate kiss with an Imperial officer while trapped by a worm god.
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Her moral ambiguity also helps serve the character overall. If she were a true villain, she might not be seen as great representation. But, given that Doctor Aphra seems to follow her heart and her passion, it's understandable why she could end up on either side of the Jedi/Sith divide.
Sana Starros
A Bisexual Smuggler With Ties To Some Major Characters
- Star Wars (2015) 4
Speaking of the woman romantically linked to Doctor Aphra in school, she actually serves as a bisexual representation in the books. On top of her relationship with Aphra, Sana Starros has also been married to Han Solo. While she was scamming him, she still had relationships with both men and women.
Much like Han, Sana was a smuggler by trade, setting them up to run into each other often in the books. Star Wars characters often present moral ambiguity because good people will do bad things and vice versa. Sana Starros is no different.
Magna Tolvan
A Lesbian Imperial Officer Who Found A Strong Connection With Doctor Aphra
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 3
Another paramour of Doctor Aphra, Magna Tolvan is a straitlaced Imperial Captain until she meets the whimsical archaeologist. The two couldn't be any more polar opposite in personality, and it seems that the only thing the pair has in common is that they are both women.
Still, Tolvan serves as another representative of the LGBTQ+ community and a nice example of how two people with little in common can be good for each other. Doctor Aphra brings Tolvan's wilder side, and it appears to be a freeing experience for both of them.
The Hutts
An Entire Race Of Non-Binary Characters
- Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi
The Hutts serve as very interesting representation for the LGBTQ+ community. Born androgynous, every Hutt has the ability to choose whether it is male or female. And some Hutts in the books have actually shifted from one sex to the other during the course of their lives.
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For example, in The Han Solo Trilogy, Jiliac the Hutt wanted a child, so Jiliac switched from male to female and conceived and birthed one. While the Hutts as a species aren't exactly honorable, it still provides a unique look at representation and the forms it can take in a sci-fi universe.
Grand Admiral Sloane
A Bisexual Commander Of The Imperial Navy
- Star Wars: A New Dawn
Grand Admiral Rae Sloane served both as an officer in the Galactic Empire and as the leader of the First Order. Her sexuality isn't explicitly revealed, but her known relationships show her to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sloane had three major romantic relationships in the books, one with her assistant Adea Rite and the others with General Hux and Kanan Jarrus. This, at the very least, establishes her as bisexual. She hasn't appeared onscreen yet, but there is always a chance for this to change.
Varko Grey
An Openly Gay And Happily Married Imperial Pilot
- Star Wars: Squadrons
Another Imperial representative for the LGBTQ+ community, Varko Grey is an accomplished pilot with almost unparalleled prowess. He's one of the best starfighters in the galaxy but is anchored by his marriage.
Varko's loving husband, Emory, is fiercely proud of what Varko has accomplished with the Empire. The pair have built a peaceful life together, and Varko is determined to protect it no matter the cost.
Juhani
The First Openly Gay Character In Star Wars
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Introduced in the Knights of the Old Republic video game, Juhani made waves by being the first gay character to appear in Star Wars. She is viewed by many as one of the best positive queer representations in the franchise, depending on which version of Revan the player chooses.
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Jahani falls in love with the female version of Revan and has a complicated backstory involving training, trauma, and her race's nature. Unfortunately, if a player chooses to make Revan a man, this subplot is not revealed.
Terec & Ceret
Non-Binary Jedi Twins
- Star Wars: The High Republic (2021) 2
Terec and Ceret are bong-twins introduced in the Star Wars: The High Republic Marvel Comics. The twins are trans and non-binary Jedi, and they are the first ones to be introduced in modern lore.
The twins use they/them and their pronouns and share a linked mind. They often sense each other's pain and can finish each other's sentences when the opportunity arises, making them a truly unique pair in the vast Star Wars universe.