Moving into Phase 4, Marvel Studios has made significant advances in terms of gender, color, religion, and sexual orientation representation. After just one year, the MCU boasts more leading women than ever before, more minorities are taking on major parts, and Eternals featured Marvel’s first on-screen lesbian partnership. Loki, on the other hand, took a more subtle approach, as Tom Hiddleston’s hero was revealed to be both bisexual and gender-fluid in his Disney+ series.
Loki’s gender flexibility was disclosed even before the series began, since a TVA document identified the God of Mischief as “flexible.” Loki’s bisexuality was not revealed until the third part, when he gently affirmed it during a talk with Sylvie onboard a train on Lamentis.
The Loki cast and crew have previously stated why this revelation was so essential, particularly for director Kate Herron, who is openly bisexual. Despite the fact that Loki was the first MCU production to include an LGBTQIA+ character in a starring role, the series was excluded from Disney+’s Pride collection.
Loki is absent from Disney+’s Pride celebrations.
To commemorate the start of Pride Month, Disney+ has just launched a selection of LGBTQIA+-themed films, series, and episodes.
The Pride collection includes various Marvel projects, including Eternals, Jessica Jones, Runaways, and Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 5, however Loki is noticeably missing.
Loki revealed that the MCU’s God of Mischief is bisexual, telling Sylvie that he has dabbled in “a touch of both:”
“How about you?” says Sylvie. You’re a king. They have to be want tobe princesses. Or maybe another prince.” Loki: “A little bit of both.” I have the same suspicions as you. But nothing…” “Real,” says Sylvie.
Why Didn’t Loki Appear in the Disney+ Pride Collection?
Loki may have finally disclosed Tom Hiddleston’s Asgardian’s bisexuality, but it didn’t exactly have LGBTQIA+ representation on the same level that the other Marvel productions featured.
Eternals featured the first homosexual coupling in an MCU film; Jessica Jones featured lesbian lawyer Jeri Hogarth prominently; Runaways had Marvel’s first gay kiss between two superheroes; and Marvel’s Hero Project Episode 5 recorded a woman’s efforts to encourage LGBTQIA+ youngsters.
All of these initiatives were watershed moments for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the Marvel world, which Loki has yet to fully realize. Granted, the Disney+ series was noteworthy in that it was the first MCU entry to include an LGBTQIA+ character as the title character, but Loki’s orientation played minimal part in the first season.
Although the God of Mischief’s homosexuality and gender flexibility are now canon in the MCU, neither played a significant part in the series. After all, Loki’s romance journey in his Disney+ series concluded with him falling in love with Sylvie, a female Variant of himself.
Loki’s bisexuality may not have been significant in the first season, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. The second season is slated to begin shooting in the coming weeks in preparation for a 2023 release, so maybe the next episodes will make greater use of his LGBTQIA+ identity.
