Are there LGBTQ+ characters within the Star Wars universe, as determined by AI?

LGBTQ+ inclusion has seen a turbulent past within Star Wars, and substantial advancements are still needed, particularly concerning live-action endeavors. Hopefully, future shows and films will emulate Andor's initiative and be even more daring in integrating greater inclusivity onto the screen. Nevertheless, numerous LGBTQ+ characters scattered throughout books, video games, and animated series have proven truly exceptional.

In this examination, we shall bypass those Star Wars characters whose LGBTQ+ affiliation remains uncertain and subject to significant debate within the larger established canon. However, the subsequent remarkable individuals from that galaxy far, far away all embody diverse facets of the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

Updated on June nineteenth, 2024, by Dennis Moiseyev: A multitude of queer figures within the Star Wars canon merit commendation, and, fortunately, series such as The Acolyte, along with various other creative works from diverse creators, continue to sustain this momentum. Whether it involves live-action, video games, novels, or Star Wars comics, LGBTQ+ characters have grown substantially, and are well-represented across the entire spectrum. Here are further impressive examples!

Seventeen Sabé

Sabé stands as one of the most significant people in Queen Padmé Amidala's life, second to Anakin Skywalker, of course. She is a handmaiden, often serving as a surrogate for her and is there to protect her from any impending harm. While it has been extensively discussed that she may have harbored affections for her queen, the Star Wars novel Queen's Shadow officially affirmed Sabé's sexual identity.

Sabé is a bisexual individual within the Star Wars canon. She admits to experiencing feelings beyond simple friendship with Padmé and has shown interest in both male and female companions. One of her relationships was with Captain Tonra, a male captain within the Royal Naboo Security Forces, who becomes involved with her in Queen's Shadow. Sabé also engaged in a brief romance with Harli Jafan, who is the daughter of Planet Jafan's planetary director.

Sixteen Larma D'Acy And Wrobie Tyce

Larma D'Acy and Wrobie Tyce constitute the inaugural lesbian couple to appear on the Star Wars big screen, unfortunately let down by a lack of substantial character development or relevance to the broader storyline of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Their fleeting on-screen kiss, representing a same-sex couple, nevertheless marked a significant turning point for LGBTQ+ inclusion in live-action, and, thankfully, subsequent live-action projects have learned from this oversight.

As a married couple, they both serve with pride in the Resistance. Larma functions as a commander within the Resistance forces, and her wife, Wrobie Tyce, serves as a lieutenant and Resistance pilot. Their kiss took place during the commemoration of the First Order's defeat following the Battle of Exegol.

Fifteen Kantam Sy

The High Republic era of Star Wars ushered in the most stability for Jedis and witnessed their Order flourish. Consequently, a diverse array of Jedi characters will be encountered, representing various gender identities, sexualities, and even non-binary backgrounds, such as Kantam Sy from The High Republic Adventures comics.

Kantam Sy is a non-binary human Jedi Master who previously trained as a Padawan under Yoda during the High Republic. They represent one of the rare characters affiliated with the Jedi Order to be non-binary, and they utilize they/them pronouns. Master Yoda regarded them as "the most disciplined Padawan he's ever trained."

Fourteen Terec And Ceret

Terec and Ceret offer yet another illustration of non-binary and trans representation within the Jedi Order in the Star Wars lore. They are canon transgender non-binary bond-twins, indicating that they share the same mind. They also serve as Jedi Knights, introduced in the second volume of The High Republic comic book series and beyond.

While Obi-Wan Kenobi's sexuality has faced issues with LGBTQ+ representation within the greater universe, Terec and Ceret are unequivocally LGBTQ+ Jedis. The bond-twin characteristic of their personas also gives rise to unique instances where they transcend a typical twin connection and conclude each other's thoughts.

Thirteen Juhani

Juhani is an extremely singular LGBTQ+ figure within the Star Wars media, as she stood as the first lesbian character to appear in the series, debuting in a 2003 video game. She was crafted as a romanceable character in BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic, and given her lesbian identity, the sole method to romance her is by playing a female character.

What renders Juhani especially noteworthy is her species, the Cathar, indigenous to the planet of the same name, providing her with a feline appearance. In Knights of the Old Republic, you will encounter this Jedi on Dantooine, where you will first need to confront her before bringing her back from the Dark Side.

Twelve Vernestra Rwoh

Although you may be more accustomed to the older version of Vernestra Rwoh from watching The Acolyte (who, by the way, is portrayed by lesbian actress Rebecca Henderson, who is also the wife of the show's creator, Leslye Headland), this Jedi Master initially appears in young adult novels and comics.

Author Justina Ireland, who conceived the character for her High Republic YA series commencing with A Test of Courage, affirmed in a post that Vernestra Rwoh is both asexual and aromantic, or AroAce, and this is likewise evident in her character within the novels. Rwoh's portrayal as an ace character, devoid of any sexual attraction or interest in exploring romantic connections, introduces a much-needed representation to Star Wars. This is also something that other games could incorporate.

Eleven Mother Aniseya And Mother Koril

The Acolyte emerges as, undoubtedly, the most significant piece of Star Wars media to provide exceptional LGBTQ+ representation both on and off the screen, featuring its characters and actors. Besides possessing an AroAce character and the main character twins played by non-binary actress Amandla Stenberg, there's also a married lesbian witch duo from the planet Brendok.

Mother Aniseya presides over the coven and can utilize the Force to produce the embryos of her twin daughters, Osha and Mae, carried by her partner, Mother Koril. Koril and Aniseya's affection for one another is beautifully portrayed, and the tension between them escalates when the Jedi arrive on their coven in Brendok, aiming to enlist the twins into the Jedi Order, leading to their tragic fate.

Ten Merrin

Merrin, a Nightsister of Dathomir, is encountered by Cal Kestis on his quest for the holocron within Jedi: Fallen Order, and she evolves into a formidable magick-wielding ally capable of teleporting. Canonically, Merrin is a pansexual individual, despite Jedi: Survivor's failure to expand upon it significantly, further advancing the heterosexual romance between her and Cal.

Merrin's acceptance of forming relationships regardless of gender identity was alluded to in Fallen Order, wherein Merrin recounted her trauma of bidding farewell to Nightsister Ilyana during the massacre, someone whom she was deeply in love with and envisioned a shared future. However, queer author Sam Maggs verified Merrin's pansexuality in Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars, a novel chronicling Cal and the Mantis crew before the events of Jedi: Survivor.

Nine Rae Sloane

Grand Admiral Rae Sloane embodies a character who not only introduces black representation into the highest echelons of the Empire's military but is also bisexual. She serves as a significant figure within the Empire throughout the Galactic Civil War, commanding the Vigilance and later emerging as the earliest leader of the First Order.

She appears in various Star Wars canon materials, as established within the novels and comic books, but later resurfaces as a primary character in Star Wars: Squadrons. Her bisexuality is briefly touched upon in Chuck Wendig's Aftermath: Empire Ends novel, where it's mentioned she's had both wives and husbands in the past. Moreover, she is not the initial LGBTQ+ character that the author integrated into the Star Wars canon.

Eight Varko Grey

Varko Grey, your leader within Star Wars: Squadrons' Imperial Titan Squadron, embodies a gay character occupying a crucial role within the game. One of the dialogue interactions with him will unveil his intent to retire from the military following the war, as well as revealing he has a husband named Emory, who would be correspondingly delighted by that decision.

This marked a significant progression for LGBTQ+ representation within a major Star Wars property, given that previous games or films had lacked characters openly expressing same-sex marriages or being involved with same-sex partners. An interesting aside: Varko's voice actor, Noshir Dalal, voiced Bode Akuna in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.