TV Discussion Homosexuality in Star Wars Television

Respectfully, anakinfansince1983, I too have to side with Tammy Mac on this one. As someone who clearly is open and accepting, you want/hope/presume to think everyone will be equally openand accepting (as do I) and, if they're not, to deny them a platform for their bigotry of whatever sort . But our perspectives are also governed by our own self-identifications, I wager--I identify as heterosexual (as I suspect do you). That means our understanding of the situation differs from someone like TM's who self-identifies differently.

I think the point about how politicizing a character's/person's sexuality is must be addressed. And it certainly would/will be addressed if Disney/LFL ponder the question as we are here. Yes, ignorant people equating sexuality to other traits (corruption, deviousness etc that Tammy Mac listed) "need to get out more"--or more accurately need to get their heads out of their @$$ more--but the reality is that such decisions with characters will have political ramifications no matter how much we all here wish otherwise. That could be a good thing, though, if it opened up more dialogue on the subject of acceptance, couldn't it?

 

You know they don't have to kiss right? Not that I would mind it personally and it's not because it's 'hot'. Or stop them because it's 'gross'. I thought you were trying to start an arugument. So my apologies. Their are politics, yes. But we don't need it to be directly shown on the show either. If they make Sabine a lesbian or bisexual, that would be great. I would be happy to they had the guts to actually do that, to be honest and Disney already did it with good luck charlie. So they might do it here.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that there is politics. But does it have to be brought into every conversation? No. Of course not. We should just enjoy sitting here, and talking about how it could be incorportated into Rebels and perhaps which character would be best suited. I'm not trying to start an argument with you. I'm just saying my opinion.

With kids, I understand that their parents might object, so we all have to bring the LGBT community into a positive light yes? I've know a lot of people who were bigots and not very accepting, but most of the time they go away eventually. Now, if they say put an LGBT character in the show and some parents were mad? Okay. Let's hope their kids turn out better. But I think that their would be some people who would be on board and support the show and the LGBT community to the fullest.

 

Of course it is politics, the very fact that we are having this discussion is down to politics.The fact that two same sex characters kissing would get the show a higher rating than two heterosexual characters kissing is entirely down to politics. Also I made no mention of a 'homosexual personality'. Instead I expressed concern as to what personality traits someone who is show as gay will also be given. To make a villainous character gay, yet all the good guys Hetero-normative for example, would potentially associate homosexuality with villainy. To show a gay character as cowardly or devious could be construed as tying those negative traits to all gay people. Cartoon villains across the decades are usually portrayed as camp, effete, cowardly men... a familiar stereotype, no? The fact that a stereotypical view of inept villains and homosexual men seriously overlap is a prime example of what I am talking about.

Of course, the character should just be gay, but equality in law does not mean equality in attitude. We have a long way to go before our relationships are widely viewed as equally valid as hereto-normative relationships, before people stop attacking us in the street or in our homes, before people in backward countries stop executing us, or 'correctively' raping us. I have known people commit suicide rather than face any more rejection or abuse. People are killed for their sexuality every day. The attitudes that lead to these actions, are the same attitudes that would kick off a huge fuss at the show if there was the slightest hint that kids were being told it isn't wrong to be gay. I firmly believe that the best way to normalise something is to show it as no big deal to kids at a young age. Unfortunately there are plenty of adults who disagree.

Yes, it would be wonderful to have an organic "Oh by the way, so-and-so is gay, and now off to Bespin for more OT cameos" but there WILL be backlash from conservative and right-wing religious groups. Disney, keeping its eye on the bottom line, has to weigh the possible results of that backlash and work out it the equality points it gets earn it more viewers than ones it will lose. For now, every single decision that would be made regarding this matter will be made with that in mind... and it sucks.

The fact is that it will be Sabine, if anyone who would be the LGBT character. She's not the lead female so she has no authority (especially over male characters), lesbians are more socially acceptable than gay men, a lesbian (especially active) would pull in a more specific type of an audience (I sure hope she's not under-age) on top of the fact that she already subverts gender roles with her tomboyish behaviour. Female homosexuality is usually dismissed as invalid anyway; more of a personality quirk before the right guy comes along and 'cures' them. I don't think Filoni would ever be the type of guy who would show that kind of story, but as for Disney itself, its views on women in general have been somewhat lagging behind the times until they recently decided to play catch-up.

 

Tammy Mac

And you've convinced me on the politics. Wow, I had to read that over twice and I find myself agreeing with you. So...no harsh feelings with my earlier posts?

 

None at all

 

Thanks Are you some type of professional public speaker by any chance? I'm just curious.

 

More of a ranter and blogger. I'm also a screenwriter working on a series looking to give a fair and balanced view of the experience of Trans people... it's why this topic is not far from my mind right now.

 

Sorry to be a little off topic. But would like be like a T.V. series or a movie?

 

Tammy Mac, I think--ok, I'd LIKE to think--ratings for an animated kids show wouldn't be affected by a gay vs. lesbian vs. hetero kiss, tho even as I type I can see it happening. So, yeah, let's keep it at suggestions of sexual preference. But here's hoping Disney has the wherewithal to make the gffa truly diverse!

 

There is an LGBT version of the Bechdel Test. It is called the Vito Russo test and it requires the character to meet the following criteria.

• The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender.
• That character must not be solely or predominantly defined by their sexual orientation or gender identity (i.e. the character is made up of the same sort of unique character traits commonly used to differentiate straight characters).
• The LGBT character must be tied into the plot in such a way that their removal would have a significant effect.

(link for reference http://www.out.com/entertainment/movies/2013/08/21/finally-glaad-makes-bechdel-test-gay-visibility)


Fortunately I cannot see the second point being much of an issue given the nature of the series, and if the character is a series regular than the third would be also be a given. We just need Disney and Lucasfilm to go that first step.
Say it is Sabine, then that would be great because we've heard so much about her personality and how cool she is before we have any hint of who she's attracted to. I know that she is the most obvious choice over Zeb, and the others have all been shown to be same-sex attracted at least, if not completely heterosexual, but it would be a shame not to take this opportunity. I would just hope that they would give any relationship coverage she has, equal treatment to the coverage of all other relationships in the series. It is not how much is shown that is the key to the quality of the portrayal, but how different the portrayals can be.

( also TheSilentInfluence, if you want to know about my series, I have an overview on my blog here http://thewriterstransition.wordpre...s-based-drama-series-and-i-am-working-on-one/)

 

Sabine is sixteen years old.

 

I think they should. Star Wars has a problem with diversity and Episode VII wants to fix that. And Rebels might too! But it shouldn't be played as a big deal make it seem normal. Like maybe have a senator be gay?

 

People felt the same way about having African Americans in movies.

 

Ralph mcquirre influence in rebels like zeb

 

MrRC-Sev

I'm kind of confused at what your post means. Can you clarify a little more please?

 

The original design for chewbacca was Zeb

 

Okay...But what does that have to do with Homosexuality and Rebels?

 

Removed. That's strike two.

 

Removed quote

 

Lets keep things on topic please. Thanks.

 

Okay, new question for everyone.

In what way would you like to see a homosexual character shown on Star Wars Rebels? Would you rather it be subtle, like two characters in the background or more open where someone of the same sex actually states they like girls and or boys? What is the best way to portray this?