Marvel just confirmed one of its biggest characters is actually part of the LGBTQ+ community in the only way it knows how: by hiding the reveal in a blink-and-miss-it moment. A recent teaser for the upcoming Disney Plus seriesLokithrew curious fans a bone in the form of a briefly seen file on the titular trickster, and hey, it’s better than nothing.
The officialLokiTwitter account recently shared a short (but pretty funny) clip from the upcoming series and eagle-eyed fans managed to pick up some very interesting new information from Loki’s TVA (Time Variance Authority) file, which quickly flashes on screen at the end of the scene. Right there on the form’s “sex” window, the answer is listed as “fluid” clear as day, or at least as clear as Twitter’s video player can manage. (Note: sex and gender are, indeed, two different things, as accepted by the LGBTQ+ community. But since many government forms like this only list one or the other and act like they’re the same, it will be assumed they are being used interchangeably just for the sake of this reveal.)
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Now, some unfamiliar with Loki’s history outside of the films might find this a bit surprising. But this isn’t the first time such development has happened. The 2014 comic bookThor & Loki: The Tenth Realmhinted at the character’s nonbinary identity while 2019’s YA novelLoki: Where Mischief Liesconfirmed not only Loki’s genderfluidity as canon in the timeline of the current comics but also their pansexuality. Looks likeLando Calrissian is in good company.
What does this mean forLokithe series and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general? Well, if the show follows through with this reveal rather than leaving it as a barely acknowledged Easter egg, it could be a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ representation by both Marvel and Disney.Genderfluidity is rarely explored in mainstream media, so a thoughtful depiction of such a person in a franchise this popular could set a precedent for even more representation in the future.
Some may argue that this is simply a throwaway gag. Honestly, this is certainly a possibility given Disney’s penchant for only putting the bare minimum effort into LGBTQ+ representation like the background kiss seen in thewidely pannedStar Wars:The Rise of Skywalker.
But they’re also known for not just throwing in unimportant details. Everything has a purpose, and teasing some information they know full well would be a huge reveal suggests thatDisney fully intends to acknowledge Loki’s genderfluidityas part of their identity. Whether or not it will be a substantially explored aspect has yet to be seen, but for now, get those they/them pronouns dusted off and ready for action, just in case.
