For many years, the LGBTQ+ group and fan fiction for well-liked TV and movie characters have gone collectively like bread and butter.
The recognition of queer fan theories and headcanons – a time period used to determine a private set of beliefs a few character or story that isn’t confirmed within the story itself – arguably stems from the historic lack of queer illustration in media.
Whereas that is likely to be altering as time goes on, as increasingly more exhibits symbolize the LGBTQ+ group efficiently, followers haven’t cease theorising that their faves are LGBTQ+ not directly.
Listed here are just some examples of characters with well-liked headcanons and the fan theories behind them.
The Simpsons’ Abe Simpson is trans-masc
The sometimes-senile patriarch of The Simpsons household has been seen as many issues: a military veteran, an elk, a mason, a communist, a stone-cutter, and the president of the Homosexual and Lesbian Alliance for a quick interval. There have been moments too within the long-running present seemingly hinting that he won’t be cisgender.
The primary instance comes from episode 20 of the opening season, “Whacking Day”. In considered one of Abe’s many spurious recollections, he claims that, after touchdown in Dusseldorf throughout World Struggle II, he survived by posing as a German cabaret singer, plotting to seduce and assassinate Adolf Hitler. When pressed by Bart on whether or not the story is true, Abe replies: “Nicely, most of it. I did put on a costume for a interval within the 40s.”
Whereas this wouldn’t be sufficient to counsel Abe isn’t cisgender, a much bigger trace is available in season 5 episode “Cape Feare”. After fleeing from Bart’s murderous nemesis, Sideshow Bob, beneath the FBI’s witness safety programme, the Simpsons return to search out that Abe has been left with out entry to his remedy.
The impact? He seems to have taken on a extra female look, probably implying that Abe (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) makes use of some form of hormone blockers. If taken at face worth, this is able to indicate he’s trans masc.
Whereas the joke is most certainly one other 90s-era throwaway gag that, let’s be actual, utterly misunderstands what being trans is – with one of many “female” options being crimson lipstick – Abe’s gender identification is known as into query plenty of instances all through the present, now in its thirty fifth season.
Pals’ Chandler Bing is homosexual
Regardless of most – or maybe all – of the queer jokes in Pals ageing like milk, the hit sitcom, particularly in its earlier seasons, is fairly rattling homosexual. For all its faults, the comedy’s transient depictions of queer metropolis life, comparable to airing mainstream TV’s first lesbian wedding ceremony, did so much to interrupt obstacles.
One character’s sexuality has remained an enigma: Chandler Bing. Numerous fan theories encompass the statistical analyst, performed by the late Matthew Perry, and counsel that he isn’t as straight as you could suppose, whereas his sexuality was typically used as (problematic) punchline within the collection. Even Pals‘ creators have since confirmed that they toyed with the concept of creating the character explicitly homosexual.
The most important instance comes from episode eight of season one, “The One The place Nana Dies Twice”. Chandler is perplexed after a piece colleague tries to hook him up with one other man. After expressing shock, he asks the gang – a few of whom say they thought he was queer once they first met him and that he has a “high quality” about him.
He ultimately discusses it along with his homosexual co-worker, Lowell, who doesn’t imagine Chandler is queer. He tells him that one other co-worker, Brian from payroll, can also be homosexual and “manner out of your league.” In response, Chandler says: “I may get a Brian if I needed a Brian…”
Tremendous Mario Bros’ Luigi might is trans non-binary
Luigi Mario (sure, that’s his full identify) is so well-liked with the LGBTQ+ group that theories concerning the character’s gender and sexuality have gained recognition.
The most important is about Luigi’s gender identification, which has been up within the air since 2019 with the discharge of New Tremendous Mario Bros Deluxe.
The Nintendo Change unique introduces a power-up referred to as the tremendous crown which may rework the character Toadette into Princess Peach, or Peachette.
Followers then started theorising what would occur if different characters comparable to Mario or Bowser used it, however none have been as well-liked a personality for the power-up as Luigi. The idea grew to become so well-liked that Nintendo acknowledged it on a web site description of the power-up which mentioned: “Sorry, Luigi – solely Toadette can use this merchandise.”
The hashtag #TransLuigi grew to become to unfold in recognition and, together with it, additional proof that Luigi’s gender identification may transcend cisgender, together with a comic book panel from the late Nineteen Nineties during which he’s seen sporting Peach’s outfit and says: “I don’t know… I’m starting to love it.”
Star Wars’ Finn and Poe are homosexual lovers
Disney characters have had greater than their justifiable share of queer theories and ships – a time period used when followers need two characters to be in a relationship – however few have had the overwhelming help of the queer group as Star Wars characters Finn and Poe.
Requires the Star Wars: Episode VII – The Power Awakens duo to hook-up, or theories that they’re in love, have been knocking round for the reason that characters first appeared in 2015, making them fairly probably the most well-liked ship of the franchise.
Due to the good on-screen chemistry between actors John Boyega (stormtrooper-turned-rebel Finn) and Oscar Isaac (pilot Poe), each characters have been shipped in numerous headcanons and debates as to whether or not they have been platonic even to start with.
Oaken – Frozen
For some, Frozen and Frozen II‘s humble shopkeeper Oaken is so clearly queer that it goes past idea into merely being canon, however for others it isn’t fairly as minimize and dry, resulting in debate about queer-baiting.
Through the 2013 movie authentic movie, Oaken is launched because the quaint proprietor of a buying and selling submit. After bartering with Kristoff over his winter wares, he presents a sauna session and turns to a close-by window into the sauna the place his household, comprising 4 younger girls and an grownup man, is sitting.
Whereas the transient cutaway doesn’t elaborate on who’s what member of Oaken’s household, it will stand to motive that the grownup man is both a relative or else his companion.
Others have argued that the household is merely utilizing the sauna and aren’t any relation to Oaken, though a quote from earlier within the scene during which he says solely Kristoff and Anna are loopy sufficient to wander within the chilly would counsel in any other case.
Sam and Frodo – Lord of the Rings
Whether or not romance or bromance, there’s no query that Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins have an extremely shut bond within the Lord of the Rings trilogy – each within the authentic novels and the next movies. Their journey to destroy the One Ring is probably one of the legendary in fashionable media.
It’s no shock, then, that queer theories concerning the two of them being in love have sprouted throughout the web for years – solely rising in amount following the discharge of Peter Jackson’s epic Oscar-winning cinematic diversifications.
Throughout Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, after the One Ring has taken its toll on Frodo’s bodily and psychological well being, Sam (performed by Sean Astin) begins to take a extra caring and supportive function of their mission to Mount Doom. As they relaxation, he says: “I like him. He’s like that, and generally it shines by, by some means. However I like him, whether or not or no.”
Now if that isn’t a healthful homosexual second, we don’t know what’s.
Their bond solely grows stronger in The Return of the King. After One Ring’s energy overwhelms Frodo (Elijah Wooden) and turns into an excessive amount of for him to bear, Samwise actually carries him to the mountain entrance, and, after the ending inside Mount Doom, Frodo says: “I’m glad to be with you Samwise Gamgee, right here on the finish of all issues.”