Culture

Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender confirms one of its superheroes is gay

  • Jul 23 2018
  • Written by Josh Jackman

Many fans ship Shiro and Keith (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

A main character in Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender is gay, it has been revealed.

The news follows Steven Universe‘s Ruby proposing to fellow female gem Sapphire earlier this month.

Shiro is a war veteran and superhero (Voltron: Legendary Defender/Netflix)

The Voltron: Legendary Defender panel at San Diego Comic-Con made the announcement this weekend, telling the audience that Takashi ‘Shiro’ Shirogane – one of the superhero paladins who come together to make the gigantic, evil-fighting Voltron – has an ex-boyfriend.

In fact, showrunner Lauren Montgomery told attendees that viewers of the programme’s seventh season – which starts on August 10 – will meet Adam, who Shiro was ready to marry until he decided to leave for an important mission instead, according to Comicbook.com.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Lauren Montgomery speaks onstage at Voltron Legendary Defender Season 2 Sneak Peek at Jacob Javits Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)

Lauren Montgomery on the panel (Nicholas Hunt/Getty)

This revelation means that there is another LGBT superhero to cheer on, and an especially impressive one, as Shiro is a war veteran, pilot and natural leader of the paladins.

It will also add fuel to fans who ship (that is, desire and/or support a relationship between two characters) Shiro and his fellow paladin Keith.

Shiro and Keith have been through intense moments together (Voltron: Legendary Defender/Netflix)

Previous episodes have shown Shiro to be Keith’s greatest hope, and the idea of Shiro leaving terrifies Keith.

The reaction from fans was incredibly positive, with one person writing: “I am so unbelievably happy to see #shiro as our representation I couldn’t smile any bigger. Thank you #voltron.”

Another fan said: “THIS is why Shiro being gay is so important. No joke this interview made me tear up. I still can’t believe it.

“We’re shown a character that’s respected and accomplished. And his relationships don’t change because of his queerness. He’s already comfortable with himself.”

One person made the excellent point that “if you think shiro being gay is a ‘betrayal’ to your straight fantasies, the problem lies with the fact that you assumed shiro was straight.

“That’s how heteronormativity functions, and that’s why it’s a problem.”

And a different fan wrote about how #20GayTeen, the absolute best name for 2018 that was popularised by singer Hayley ‘Lesbian Jesus’ Kiyoko, was going extremely well.

This fan can also add the fact that DC is set to release Birds of Prey, its first film to feature a lesbian superhero in the shape of Renee Montoya, an openly gay Gotham City detective.

Supergirl is also set to introduce its first ever transgender character, Nia Nal, later this year when it returns for the show’s fourth season.

Nicole Maines walks onstage at the Supergirl Q&A during Comic-Con (Mike Coppola/Getty)

Black Lightning features Anissa Pierce, a black lesbian medical student, teacher and – as it turns out – superhero by the name of Thunder.

If you’ve been watching Legends of Tomorrow, you will have also cheered at Sara Lance and Ava Sharpe kissing earlier this year to make their romance canon.

Nafessa Williams plays Anissa Pierce aka Thunder (PinkNews)

Marvel has also included LGBT representation, though not explicitly on the big screen.

Runaways features a lesbian superhero in the shape of Karolina Dean, a protagonist who slowly realises her sexuality while also figuring out her powers.

Karolina with friend (YouTube/Hulu)

America Chavez, a queer Latina teenager with lesbian parents, got her own comic book last year.

And earlier this year, openly gay superhero Miguel Santos, also known as Living Lightning, joined the Avengers in another Marvel comic book series.

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