# Gay Main Characters in SF **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001 "2013-06-14T17:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/41 "2013-06-14T22:41:12Z")
If Bi is OK, then Dirisha Zuri from _Matadora_, who is also in many of the other books set in that universe. She’s in a _ménage à trois_ with a man and another woman, and also bonds with her long term female lover Geneva. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/42 "2013-06-14T22:50:06Z")
If videogames count, by the time you get to _Mass Effect 3_, your (male or female) Commander Shepard can be straight, gay/lesbian, bi, or even a xenophile (pair-ups with opposite gender aliens or with a female-shaped non-gendered alien). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/43 "2013-06-14T22:56:12Z")
Not a main character, but an important one: Admiral Cain from Battlestar Galactica. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/44 "2013-06-14T23:56:40Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > If videogames count, by the time you get to _Mass Effect 3_, your (male or female) Commander Shepard can be straight, gay/lesbian, bi, or even a xenophile (pair-ups with opposite gender aliens or with a female-shaped non-gendered alien). That’s nuttin’! Find a three-sexed species and go every which way! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/45 "2013-06-15T00:12:08Z")
Xena? But maybe that’s just where I land in the debate. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/46 "2013-06-15T01:03:52Z")
If dark fantasy is acceptable: the main character is gay in **Sacrament** by Clive Barker and one of the most important secondary charcters in the **Mortal Instruments** series by Cassandra Clare is as well. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/47 "2013-06-15T02:00:46Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Xena? But maybe that’s just where I land in the debate. There’s a debate? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/48 "2013-06-15T02:02:11Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > If dark fantasy is acceptable: the main character is gay in **Sacrament** by Clive Barker and one of the most important secondary charcters in the **Mortal Instruments** series by Cassandra Clare is as well. Yes, there have been a **lot** of gay characters in Clive Barker. And some in his fiction, too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/49 "2013-06-15T02:20:01Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Well, that depends on whether you think he was actually in control of his own actions during that particular episode. I was under the impression he had been brainwashed rather thoroughly, if I recall the book correctly. > Also, if he was under his own control, he’d be a pedophile. Been a while since I read it, but I recall the protagonist having multiple homosexual encounters, not just one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/50 "2013-06-15T02:44:21Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > If Bi is OK, then Dirisha Zuri from _Matadora_, who is also in many of the other books set in that universe. She’s in a _ménage à trois_ with a man and another woman, and also bonds with her long term female lover Geneva. The lead character in _The 97th Step_ likewise has a long-term sexual relationship with another guy before settling down with one woman after another. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/51 "2013-06-15T03:09:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Been a while since I read it, but I recall the protagonist having multiple homosexual encounters, not just one. It’s possible…it’s been probably ten years or more since I read the series. I just recall that episode the best because it was skeevy with the underage boys. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/52 "2013-06-15T03:12:08Z")
Well, I guess all the groundswell of interest in retconning Sulu as gay after George Takei came out kind of died down… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/53 "2013-06-15T03:12:25Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Vanyel Ashkevron is the protagonist of Mercedes Lackey’s “The Last Herald-Mage” fantasy trilogy. I was just coming in to mention that one. There are a number of gay and/or bi characters in Lackey’s Valdemar books. (Definitely worth a read!) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/54 "2013-06-15T03:32:34Z")
Lauren Lewis in _Lost Girl_ ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/55 "2013-06-15T04:17:32Z")
The protagonist in _Aristoi_ has a male lover and was going to have a child with him until he was killed (their bio-technology is good enough to ignore little things like them being the same gender) . ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/56 "2013-06-15T18:19:38Z")
Charles Stross frequently features gay characters: viewpoint characters in Halting State and Rule 34 for example. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/57 "2013-06-15T19:49:43Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Well, I guess all the groundswell of interest in retconning Sulu as gay after George Takei came out kind of died down… Like, [there’s any need to retcon](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110330174544/memoryalpha/en/images/5/53/Sulu_Fencing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Naked_Time_(episode)&h=801&w=1000&sz=186&tbnid=uPFocQZVJBnzzM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=118&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsulu%2Bsword%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=sulu+sword&usg=__dPgp4Gz2t-m3UV_QTOMmhHY6_cg=&docid=RzZKB4AmaZrljM&sa=X&ei=HcW8UdvUGo2G9gSkioC4Bg&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAg&dur=1917)? ---
**Author:** ![Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hero_From_Sector_7G)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/58 "2013-06-15T20:58:57Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Now Dumbledore we were told i s gay, but there is nothing really gay about him in the books to be honest. Sorry he didn’t fit whatever stereotype you have for gay men. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/59 "2013-06-15T22:11:42Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > Jinxie just got to share a kiss and presumably more with his ex last ep. Did he? He mentioned that they had sex, but I don’t remember us actually seeing them kiss. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001/60 "2013-06-15T22:13:17Z")
> [@Hero\_From\_Sector\_7G](#): > > Sorry he didn’t fit whatever stereotype you have for gay men. I think it’s clear what was meant by this was that he doesn’t do or say anything at all that speaks to him having romantic inclinations towards anyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-main-characters-in-sf/661001.md?page=4)