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Culture > Entertainment

Thor: Ragnarok’s Valkyrie Will Be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s First LGBTQ+ Character

Abbey Williams

On Nov. 2 Marvel fans will get to see the third Thor installment, Thor: Ragnarok. One character to keep an eye out for? Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson. In addition to being a total badass, Valkyrie is bisexual, making her the first LGBTQ+ character to be featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tessa confirmed her character’s sexual orientation after an annoyed fan tweeted that Valkyrie is a “typical sexless Marvel tomboy.” Another chimed in to say Valkyrie is a “big ole lesbian” in the comic books.

That’s when Tessa cleared the air and shut down the haters. “She’s bi, and yes, she cares very little about what men think of her. What a joy to play!” the actress tweeted.

Though Valkyrie represents the LGBTQ+ community and had feelings for another woman in the comics, we probably won’t be seeing Valkyrie’s bisexuality explicitly referred to in Thor: Ragnarok. “YES! Val is Bi in the comics & I was faithful to that in her depiction. But her sexuality isn’t explicitly addressed in Thor: Ragnarok,” Tessa explained.

That’s a bit of a bummer, but at least we know Valkyrie is bisexual and Tessa incorporated that part of her identity into her portrayal of the character. It’s hard to say what love stories we can expect in Thor: Ragnarok, but all our questions will soon be answered. Regardless, I think Tessa is going to be so amazing in this film, and I can’t wait to see it. 

Abbey Williams

U Wyoming '19

Abbey is a senior at the University of Wyoming and is currently majoring in Journalism. She couldn't imagine a world without Jesus, coffee, The 1975, Twitter or her family. You'll usually find her at a concert or cafe somewhere, which is where she spends majority of her free-time. Talking to band members after their shows is a hobby, along with thrifting & indulging in all aspects of pop culture. After college, she plans to spend more time at concerts, getting paid to write about music and bands.