Only a few weeks after the hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend went viral on social media- urging Disney to make Frozen’s Elsa queer – a greater push for LGBT representation has now come through yet another viral hashtag, this time urging Marvel studios to give popular superhero Captain America a boyfriend. The hashtag #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend, which was originally started by Twitter user Jess a few days ago, quickly gained traction on social media on Tuesday and Wednesday, and trended worldwide- with over 88 million tweets in support of it. Jess, who is queer herself and a major Marvel fan, told Metro UK that she wanted to start this conversation not only because of her frustration at the abysmal LGBT representation in mainstream media, but also because of her disapppointment at the lack of queer superheroes on mainstream popular culture. What other superhero has more queer potential than Captain America – who has spent nearly three movies expressing his deep devotion to another male character?
Yes, I’m talking about his relationship with Bucky here. In both the comics and the movies Steve’s (Captain America) relationship with best friend Bucky has been charged with homoerotic subtext- a fact that hasn’t escaped the notice of the internet, leading to an extensive Tumblr and Twitter fanbase which is devoted to “shipping” these characters together (i.e, imagining them in a romantic relationship). Naturally, when the call for a boyfriend for the beloved Captain America was sounded, fans (both queer and otherwise) descended upon this hashtag to not just pledge their love for “Stucky” (i.e, Steve+Bucky), but also agitate for their beloved superhero to finally come out of the closet, and show the world that queer superheroes can end up in happy romantic relationships too! Here are some of the most memorable tweets-
In Which This Major Truth Bomb Was Dropped
a woman can fall in love with a beast or a bee but god forbid if we give captain america a boyfriend #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend
— ren (@WINT4RSOLDIER) May 24, 2016
And This Obvious Fact Was Highlighted
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend a kid from the 1940s thrust into the 2000s and given the freedom to love who he loves openly it’s an ? story
— steve rogers is bi (@sorullodemaiz) May 24, 2016
This Heteronormative Hypocrisy Was Pointed Out
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend 3 films were spent building his relationship w/ a man but then he kisses a women he’s had 7mins screen time w/
— marnie (@thorlokid) May 24, 2016
And These, Very Important Things, Were Stressed
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend b/c sexuality & romance is diverse and complicated, but MCU’s interpritation of it had been shamfully stifling
— onorobo (@onorobo) May 24, 2016
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend so queer kids who feel weak can see a superhero who’s strong and powerful being comfortable with who he is
— frankie (@queerhealy) May 24, 2016
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend bc sexuality is fluid. kids need to know. they need to know queer superheroes r real, valid, & just as badass.
— wiener soldier (@hannibaltrash) May 24, 2016
And Finally, Some Steve-Bucky Feels Were Thrown In For Good Measure
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend b/c he and Bucky are each other’s concept of home. Always have been, always will be. pic.twitter.com/nc3w32kH84
— cassidy (@dxnnyrogers) May 24, 2016
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend bucky and steve, because they’ve literally gone through heaven & hell for each other pic.twitter.com/iNJOylPv8Q
— bella (@winterbarnes) May 24, 2016
Find someone who look at you the same way as Bucky and Steve look at each other #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend
pic.twitter.com/50XsrKCwwl— stressed (@myoathtocher_) May 24, 2016
#GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend because you don’t oppose 117 nations just for “a childhood friend”
— alice (@buckbcrnes) May 24, 2016
Whether or not either Disney or Marvel will actually take heed of these hashtags is something time will tell, but the very fact that these conversations are being started- and going viral – speaks to how much fans want to see their favourite heroes and heroines give them the queer representation which they have been denied for ages. If you could have a pansexual hero such as Deadpool rake in millions at the box office, the time has definitely arrived for a lesbian Disney princess, and a bisexual superhero. Now the ball is in the court of the studios. It’s 2016, guys! Make this happen!
Fanart Credit: ddTip