By Travis Johnson
LGBTI media monitoring organisation GLAAD has called for Disney in general and the Star Wars franchise in particular to step up their diversity game by including gay characters in the upcoming Episode VIII.
In a study of major studio releases in 2015, GLAAD found that only two studios failed to include any LGBTI characters in their films: Disney and Paramount – who are, funnily enough, the home of Star Trek, a franchise notorious for ignoring or mishandling non-hetero sexuality. To be fair, no studio received a “Good” rating from the organisation, but having no representation at all is pretty abysmal.
GLAAD has singled out Star Wars as a unique and highly placed property where positive changes in representation could have far-reaching effects, saying “As sci-fi projects have the special opportunity to create unique worlds whose advanced societies can serve as a commentary on our own, the most obvious place where Disney could include LGBT characters is the upcoming eighth Star Wars film. 2015’s The Force Awakens has introduced a new and diverse central trio, which allows the creators opportunity to tell fresh stories as they develop their backstory.”
While The Force Awakens did indeed receive plaudits for having both a female and a person of colour in the lead roles, historically the series hasn’t done too well when it comes to diversity, and the films’ handling of even hetero sexuality has been pretty awkward (go watch Episode II again). Although LGBTI representation in Star Wars would be an inherently good thing, how will we feel if it’s handled as mawkishly as the whole Anakin/Padme relationship? Or do we trust that the franchise’s new masters can include such material without fumbling the ball?
Amusing,
In seven films there have been two relatively uninspiring relationships, what an odd choice to try and promote romantic characters of any sort.
I am sure that it has nothing to do with the mass saturation that this film franchise enjoys. Of course if GLAAD wished, it could buy the rights, hire the actors and produce the film itself, rather than just telling someone else, how they should do it.
Might cost a billion or more, so better start on those chook raffles now.