#LGBTQ: “Avengers: Endgame” Features a (Cameo) Gay Character – “Representation is Really Important”

The new blockbuster Avengers: Endgame features a minor gay character. It is the 22nd release in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the very first to include an explicitly LGBTQ character.

The character appears near the start of the film, and is played by the film’s co-director Joe Russo in a cameo.

MINOR SPOILER ALERT: The scene includes civilians who survived the events of Avengers: Infinity War dealing with losing half the world’s population. Russo’s character talks about going on a date with another man for the first time since the “Infinity Snap”, and both of them crying over the loss.

Joe Russo explained to Deadline why he and co-director Anthony Russo included the character,

“Representation is really important. It was important to us as we did four of these films, we wanted a gay character somewhere in them.
We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that.
It is a perfect time, because one of the things that is compelling about the Marvel Universe moving forward is its focus on diversity.”

Marvel execs have promised that an LGBTQ heroes would be coming too,

Victoria Alonso, executive vice president of production at Marvel Studios, said:

“Our entire success is based on people that are incredibly different. Why wouldn’t we? Why would we only want to be recognised by one type of person?
Our audience is global, it’s diverse, it’s inclusive. If we don’t do it that way for them, we will fail.”

According to reports, upcoming film The Eternals is set to feature a gay superhero.

The Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe is the world’s highest-grossing film franchise, and the moment will serve as a crucial test in markets where depictions of homosexuality are typically censored. It premiered on April 24 and is already smashing records overseas, opening Wednesday with $169 million, but it’s not confirmed whether the moment appears in international edits.

Tessa Thompson previously revealed that she filmed scenes for 2017 Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok confirming her character’s bisexuality, but the scene was cut.