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Star Wars Writers Say Lando Is Pansexual, But Are We Just Being Queerbaited?
Are LGBT fans being lured into theaters with flimsy promises?
Since its 1970s inception, LGBTQ characters have been all but obsolete in the Star Wars universe. Until now, that is.
During an interview with Solo: A Star Wars Story screenwriters Lawrence and Jonathan Kasdan, HuffPost asked specifically about beloved character Lando Calrissian's sexuality, "Is he pansexual?"
“I would say yes,” Jonathan Kasdan replied.
The prequel follows the adventures of young Han Solo as he meets Chewbacca and the notorious gambler, Lando Calrissian.
"There’s a fluidity to Donald [Glover] and Billy Dee’s [portrayal of Lando’s] sexuality."
He goes on, "He doesn’t make any hard and fast rules. I think it’s fun. I don’t know where it will go."
While some fans applauded the representation Lando's announced pansexuality brings, many are worried the film isn't putting its money where its mouth is. Are there going to be any actually queer moments in the film?
Critics have reported copious flirtations between Lando and Han Solo, as well as with his android co-pilot. But nothing explicitly pansexual.
Kasdan acknowledges that, "I would have loved to have gotten a more explicitly LGBT character into this movie. I think it’s time, certainly, for that, and I love the fluidity ― sort of the spectrum of sexuality that Donald appeals to and that droids are a part of."
Why say a character is queer if they're not going to explore their sexuality in the movie? Are LGBT fans being lured in with flimsy promises to once again watch heterosexual romances prance around in our erasure?
Twitter was quick to respond:
\u201cI mean...isn\u2019t this obvious?? He sleeps with ALIENS. Y\u2019all think they conform to two genders??? \ud83d\ude44 https://t.co/NfU1fUARyf\u201d— \u2728celestial tess tickles\u2728 (@\u2728celestial tess tickles\u2728) 1526588871
\u201cMake your characters textually queer, or keep it out your goddamn mouth. This whole "Oh, BTW Dumbledore is gay, Lando Calrissian is pansexual, Frodo Baggins was actually one of the founding members of the House of LaBeija..." Put it in the FUCKING movie or shut up, you coward.\u201d— [kie.ran] (@[kie.ran]) 1526585201
\u201cSo this news on Lando\u2019s sexuality- we gotta stop with this queer baiting. Stop saying these characters are queer/fluid and not show it. This is lazy storytelling and doing the bare minimum.\u201d— Rebecca Theodore-Vachon (@Rebecca Theodore-Vachon) 1526587362
\u201cWhy is it so important to me that Lando is now Pansexual or not?\nThat\u2019s why:\nWe live still in a heteronormative community assuming everyone is straight, boys liking girls and girls liking boys.\nIt\u2019s about representation.\u201d— baby gravy (@baby gravy) 1526588039
\u201cHey let\u2019s not completely dunk on the whole Lando being pansexual thing? We can both be happy about it and critical that it likely won\u2019t play out on screen, yes?\u201d— \ud83d\udc96\u2b50\ufe0fSuper Sailor D.J.\u2b50\ufe0f\ud83d\udc96 (@\ud83d\udc96\u2b50\ufe0fSuper Sailor D.J.\u2b50\ufe0f\ud83d\udc96) 1526585182
\u201cI know some people might not think that it\u2019s a big deal, but for me to see one of my childhood heroes identify as pansexual is a dream come true.\n\nI love Lando and I applaud Disney/Lucasfilm for representing a often forgotten demographic.\n\n#StarWars #Lando\u201d— CJ (@CJ) 1526589185
\u201cThe funny thing about this \u201cLando is pansexual\u201d nonsense is that gay audiences have been finding queer subtext in characters (intentional or otherwise) since movies began. We don\u2019t need you to tell us, but now that you have it\u2019ll appear hollow and tacky.\u201d— Glenn Dunks (@Glenn Dunks) 1526610615
\u201cLove the freakout in the thread.\n\nIt's simple math. The guy is open to exploring relationships & sexuality with the widely varying species & genders from all over the galaxy. So, whether explicitly stated in the film or not, that's just, simply, pansexuality.\n\nThis is nothing. https://t.co/1xM6vVKJUv\u201d— Kenneth Robert Marlod\u2019dib (@Kenneth Robert Marlod\u2019dib) 1526587103
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
