As the new film hits theaters, we rank Street Fighter’s LGBTQ+ characters
The Street Fighter movie hits theaters today, and the new film has already given queer fans something to cheer about: openly gay country star Orville Peck has been cast as the masked, flamenco-flaired Vega. But for all of the game franchise’s camp chaos, you’d be shocked at how few confirmed LGBTQ+ characters there are in the games themselves.
There are certainly tons of characters that fans think are queer-coded. Whether it be the homoerotic tension between the heroic Ryu and muscly Zangeef, or the flamenco-flair of the mask-wearing Vega, LGBTQ+ Street Fighter players have always thought there’s more queerness in this series than the developers will admit. But rarely do the games go the extra step of officially confirming a character’s sexuality. It’s why the games’ LGBTQ+ fans always get so excited when a character’s queerness is confirmed…even though, as we’ve seen, not all of this representation is made equal.
While some LGBTQ+ Street Fighter characters are vital sources of inclusivity, some play on tired stereotypes our community has spent years fighting against. So, as the World Warriors return to the big screen, let’s take a look at the most prominent confirmed queer fighters and how, while all of these are models for representation, some definitely deserve that title more than others.
Seth
To start this list off is the muscular AI, Seth. First introduced in Street Fighter IV, throughout their time in the franchise, Seth has been confirmed asexual, aromantic, and agender. But while this could have been great representation for each of these communities, Seth unfortunately falls into the tired sci-fi stereotype of only allowing blatantly inhuman characters to present in a way that falls out of the gender binary. It’s what makes the android Street Fighter’s most dismal source of LGBTQ+ representation, and lands it at the top of this list.
Juri Han
Few Street Fighter characters are as sadistic as Juri Han.
Street Fighter confirms that this martial artist loves nothing more than to inflict intense pain on her opponents, pairing this brutality with an endless stream of overt flirting towards both the men and women in her arena. This, plus in-game info, confirms her bisexuality, but though we love the representation, we hate how all of her behavior means she plays into the ‘overly sexual and sly bisexual’ trope this community has spent years fighting. Some of her actions hint at a deeper complexity in the character, but due to her trademark ruthlessness, she definitely represents as one of Street Fighter’s more negative portrayals of LGBTQ+ identity.
Eagle
The epitome of gallantry, Eagle stands today as Street Fighter’s only gay character.
Even though the games want you to forget that; his sexuality is confirmed due to his immunity against mystically seductive women and some lines indicating his attraction to men. This compassionate character being gay would be a great addition to the hyper-masculine Street Fighter — but the games never really address his sexuality! While his identity shouldn’t be his whole personality, the series refuses to credit it as a core part of the person, instead reducing such a big part of Eagle to a footnote in his lore.
Sharon
Who doesn’t love a sapphic super spy? That’s what Street Fighter fans got with Sharon, one of the stars of Street Fighter EX.
The character spends her gameplay searching for a mysterious figure from her past while knocking out anyone who stands in her way. She’s a welcome protagonist for the Street Fighter franchise, with her story featuring a complexity the games don’t usually allow for. That’s what makes it all the more great at the end of a mission when we see Sharon return home to the woman she loves!
Poison
Street Fighter’s only transgender character, fans worldwide have absolutely fallen in love with Poison.
First appearing as an enemy, Poison was finally granted the honorable title of playable character in a mainline game through Ultra Street Fighter IV. LGBTQ+ fans have loved her femme fatale energy and adore her status as an openly trans character who takes ultimate pride in her authenticity. If it weren’t for some very questionable development notes and decisions regarding Poison throughout the years, she would have definitely taken top spot on this list.
Marissa Rosseti
And, finally, we get to the best LGBTQ+ representation from the Street Fighter franchise: the honorable gladiator herself, Marissa Rosseti.
Marissa is a valiant fighter who has dedicated her life to the art of combat. In games filled with bombastic characters, this powerhouse offers a genuinely uplifting approach to fighting, showcasing a supreme love for the art form and a respect for each opponent. She does this while openly proclaiming her affection for men and women and not falling into tired stereotypes of bisexuality, with Street Fighter merging Marissa’s sexuality seamlessly into her distinguished personality.
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