Loki was officially revealed to be bisexual, making him one of the first queer leads in the MCU, and he’s just the beginning. In his titular series, the revelation came in the third episode, where the God of Mischief, played by Tom Hiddleston, admitted that he’s “a bit of both” when asked about past romances with men and women.
The confirmation cemented Loki’s status as an LGBTQ character in the MCU, a groundbreaking feat in an era where representation is limited to sidekicks and background characters, but never the actual heroes and antiheroes.
With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, we could possibly have a wave of queer personas in the MCU. So, let’s take a look at who they might be and why it matters!
Meet the 5 LGBTQ Icons of Marvel Who Are Set to Appear in Avengers: Doomsday
Loki being bisexual is now canon in the MCU, and his name being announced during the Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal makes him the primary leading character who’s queer. Apart from him, we’ve also got other characters who are either LGBTQ+ in the comics or speculated to be.
For example, Mystique was considered a queer icon long before representation became mainstream. The shape-shifting mutant’s fluid identity mirrors her orientation and her decades-long relationship with Destiny in the Marvel comics. Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique in Avengers: Doomsday will hopefully follow suit and reclaim the identity of her comic book counterpart.
Beast is not LGBTQ+ in the main continuity, but there’s a parallel universe where he is openly gay and has a relationship with an alt Wonder Man. But is it possible that we’ll get to see at least a glimpse of this Earth-763 version in Avengers: Doomsday through Kelsey Grammer?
Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is a fan-favorite, and his intense bond with Steve Rogers has been a subject of speculation for years. Some believe he’s indeed queer coded, but Marvel has never confirmed him as bi, leaving a crucial part of his identity ambiguous.
Here’s an overview of the 5 characters:
Yelena Belova is asexual in the comics, and there’s a line where she says, “I’m not a lesbian. I’m not…anything.” Which is refreshing because, for some reason, the concept of asexuality is as absurd as a unicorn, but will Florence Pugh’s MCU counterpart embrace this identity?
Why the MCU Must Preserve and Embrace the Identities of Queer Characters
Representation is not a minor ordeal because when we see someone like ourselves on the big screen, we feel seen, almost like we matter. For decades, fans have just been speculating about potential LGBTQ characters in the absence of explicit confirmation.
But even when there is solid proof or direct acknowledgment, it’s usually a blink-and-miss-it moment, with brief hugs or a gay shopkeeper in the background. These half-measures show how the industry struggles with authentic queer storytelling.
Hopefully, Marvel sees this opportunity and explores the identity of its characters like Loki and Mystique with depth, where there’s nuance and meaning. So, what do you think about this lineup of LGBTQ Marvel characters? Do you think they’ll finally get the stories they deserve on the big screen?
Avengers: Doomsday is set to release on December 18, 2026. You can watch Loki on Disney+ (USA).
