The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is one of the biggest franchises in film history, but when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation, the journey has been slow and frustrating. While queer superheroes have been an integral part of Marvel Comics for decades, their transition to the big screen has been filled with delays, omissions, and disappointments. From blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments to fully realized queer characters, the MCU is finally beginning to embrace its LGBTQ+ heroes. Here’s a look at the queer characters who have made their mark in the MCU.
Jeri Hogarth: The First Queer Character
Before the MCU even fully acknowledged its first openly queer superhero, Jeri Hogarth made history. Portrayed by Carrie-Anne Moss in Netflix’s Daredevil and Jessica Jones, she was a ruthless, power-hungry lawyer who also happened to be a lesbian. While Netflix’s Marvel shows were initially considered separate from the MCU, Daredevil: Born Again confirms that she was part of the universe all along—making her the first LGBTQ+ character in the franchise.
Grieving Man: A Weak First Attempt
Joe Russo’s self-inserted cameo as an unnamed gay man in Avengers: Endgame was a pitiful attempt at inclusion. Introduced in a therapy session with Captain America, he was mourning the loss of his male partner after The Snap. He had one line and was never seen again. If this was Marvel’s way of giving the gays a seat at the table, they should have just left the chair empty.
Valkyrie: The First Queer Superhero
Played by Tessa Thompson, Valkyrie made her debut in Thor: Ragnarok, but it wasn’t until Thor: Love and Thunder that we learned she had lost a girlfriend in battle. While Thompson and director Taika Waititi have confirmed Valkyrie’s queerness, the films have barely explored it. Marvel is giving her crumbs, and the fans deserve a full-course meal.
Korg: The Rock Alien Who Found Love
Taika Waititi’s Korg, a lovable rock alien, was revealed to be gay in Thor: Ragnarok. His sexuality was barely addressed at first, but Thor: Love and Thunder introduced his husband. Their species reproduces by holding hands over lava, which, honestly, sounds way more romantic than most human relationships.
Ayo and Aneka: Wakanda’s LGBTQ+ Warriors
Ayo, a fierce member of the Dora Milaje, played by Florence Kasumba, was first introduced in Black Panther and later appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she shared a subtle but undeniable romantic connection with Aneka (Michaela Coel), marking Wakanda as one of the few places in the MCU where LGBTQ+ characters exist openly.
Speed and Wiccan: Queer Twins of the Young Avengers
Speed and Wiccan, the sons of Wanda Maximoff and Vision, are both canonically queer in the comics. While Speed has only appeared as a child in WandaVision, Wiccan has since been portrayed as a young adult in Agatha All Along. He’s played by Heartstopper’s Joe Locke, making him one of the most prominent gay characters in the MCU.
Loki and Sylvie: Bisexual Chaos Gods
In the Disney+ series Loki, Tom Hiddleston’s trickster god casually came out as bisexual in a conversation with Sylvie, his female variant. Marvel congratulated itself for the revelation, but the series didn’t explore it further. Sylvie’s bisexuality was also implied, but let’s be real—these two had more chemistry with each other than with anyone else.
Phastos: The First Gay Kiss in the MCU
It took 26 films and over a decade, but the MCU finally gave us an openly gay superhero with Phastos in Eternals. Not only was he a married man, but he shared an onscreen kiss with his husband, Ben (played by Haaz Sleiman). The scene was groundbreaking, but the movie itself was quickly buried under the weight of Marvel’s ever-expanding universe.
America Chavez: A Disappointing Introduction
America Chavez, one of Marvel’s most iconic queer Latina superheroes, made her MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Unfortunately, Marvel decided to de-age her, erase her flirty comic-book personality, and reduce her queerness to a Pride pin on her jacket. We deserved better.
Deadpool: The Pansexual Antihero Finally Joins the MCU
With Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds’ pansexual antihero officially enters the MCU. Deadpool has always exuded chaotic bisexual energy, making jokes about anal sex, boners, and stroking men’s egos (among other things). If Marvel wants to keep things interesting, they should finally give him a proper queer romance.
Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Yukio: The MCU’s First Lesbian Couple
Negasonic Teenage Warhead and her adorable girlfriend, Yukio, were introduced in Deadpool 2 and made their MCU debut in Deadpool & Wolverine. They’re still the only confirmed lesbian couple in the franchise, and they got there by sheer luck rather than Marvel’s commitment to representation.
Agatha Harkness and Rio Vidal: Witches in Love
In Agatha All Along, Aubrey Plaza’s character Rio Vidal was revealed to be Death itself—and Agatha’s ex. The series gave us the MCU’s first lesbian kiss, proving that witchy sapphics really do have the best love stories.
Eddie and Wiccan: A Rare Gay Love Story
Billy Kaplan (Wiccan) and his boyfriend, Eddie, appeared in Agatha All Along, giving us a rare on-screen gay romance in the MCU. While their presence was brief, it was refreshing to see queer love portrayed in a way that wasn’t just hinted at.
Luke Jacobson and Mister Immortal: The Queer Chaos of She-Hulk
She-Hulk introduced multiple queer characters, including the flamboyant designer Luke Jacobson and the hilariously irresponsible Mister Immortal, who fakes his own death to escape relationships—including same-sex ones. Marvel might not be taking queer representation seriously in every project, but at least She-Hulk gave us some fun moments.
The MCU has made some progress in LGBTQ+ representation, but it still has a long way to go. While the comics have embraced queer superheroes for decades, the films and TV shows continue to treat queerness as an afterthought rather than an essential part of their characters’ identities. Marvel, do better—your LGBTQ+ fans deserve more than background moments and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scenes.