The biggest Star Wars event this side of the Outer Rim took place in Orlando this April, and fans from all over the globe showed up in force for 2017's Star Wars Celebration.
Star Wars Celebration events are always packed with celebrity guests, merchants, sneak-peeks, trailer releases, casting announcements, big reveals—spanning everything from video games to movies to TV to comics to books to toys...you name it! There's also a healthy dose of fan-run panels, often featuring prominent podcasters, bloggers, collectors and fan organizations.
This year, however, marked the first ever fan panel dedicated to LGBTQ themes. The "LGBTQ+ in the Galaxy Far, Far Away" panel featured several bloggers and podcasters (including members of Rogue Podron and Tosche Station) representing a spectrum of queer identities.
Panelists and attendees alike discussed the increasing diversity in Star Wars storytelling, highlighting favorite queer characters and pairings across various mediums, and what this means for fans. But it wasn't all smiles and rainbows. It's no surprise LGBTQ+ representation still has a long way to go, and continued marginalization was not lost on panelists (or fans).
From stereotypical depictions of queerness to the lack of visibility in Star Wars TV and movies, LGBTQ+ fans still have much to discuss (and advocate for) when it comes to continued representation in this blockbuster franchise.
Seeing LGBTQ+ fans represented at such a huge event like Star Wars Celebration definitely seems like a step in the right direction. Let's hope we continue to see these kinds of positive strides as the franchise continues to expand.
Until then...may the Force be with you!
