The Star Wars online fan base, and even actor Mark Hamill who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the films, have suggested that the iconic character is homosexual.
Wookieepedia, the internet hub for Star Wars fandom, added the character to its LGBTQ+ individuals page following the group sparking backlash for adding “preferred pronouns” to all of the character’s listings on the site.
On Twitter, Wookieepedia justified the labeling Skywalker as homosexual because of an encounter the character has with another man in a short story written by Sam Maggs called “Luke on the Bright Side.”
Following the announcement, one Twitter user asked Wookieepedia what “rationale” supported the decision.
Wookieepedia’s account replied saying, “There is a story in which he felt romantic feelings towards a guy.” Bound into the comics reported that the account’s reply referred to Magg’s story.
There is a story in which he felt romantic feelings towards a guy.
— Wookieepedia🫐 (@WookOfficial) February 3, 2023
The outlet added that the short story does not explicitly say Skywalker has these feelings towards the other male character.
The sentiment was corroborated by Mark Hamill himself in a 2016 interview with The Sun. The actor said Skywalker’s sexuality is up to the interpretation of the audience. He added that if someone thinks the character is gay, then “of course he is.”
“…fans are writing and ask all these questions, ‘I’m bullied in school… I’m afraid to come out’. They say to me, ‘Could Luke be gay?’ I’d say it is meant to be interpreted by the viewer… If you think Luke is gay, of course he is. You should not be ashamed of it. Judge Luke by his character, not by who he loves,” Hamill said.
Many fans of the iconic series thought the idea that Skywalker is gay is a bit of a stretch.
Even William Shatner, a star of the Star Trek series, posted a tweet implying he doubts Hamill’s character is supposed to be homosexual.
“Luke got married in SWs canon so unless Tatooine was repressive & he was hiding it looks like he chose a woman named Mara,” Shatner wrote.
Luke got married in SWs canon👇🏻 so unless Tatooine was repressive & he was hiding it looks like he chose a woman named Mara. https://t.co/NBtYXk7V1X pic.twitter.com/3kO6lzK3mb
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 5, 2021