Dragon Ball and its Gay Characters

Dragon Ball, a legendary anime and manga series, has introduced a huge cast of characters since 1984. But despite all these characters, the franchise has had a tough time representing LGBT characters.

Were There Gay Characters in Dragon Ball?

Dragon Ball only has two characters who have been confirmed to be gay. The first was General Blue, introduced in the first episode of the General Blue Saga. General Blue’s sexuality is hinted at when he reacts with disgust to Bulma’s advances. When Bulma and Krillin accuse him of being gay, he reacts with shock, suggesting he’s secretly gay. This interpretation made many fans think General Blue was gay.

Bad Portrayal of Gay Characters

Marginalized groups are often misunderstood and reduced to simple, one-dimensional characters. For example, gay men are often stereotyped as shoppers, gossipers, or having a gay lisp. Lesbians are sometimes stereotyped as masculine and rejecting femininity. Queer people have very little representation in media.

These cliches can create confusion, fear, and annoyance towards queer people. Unfortunately, many people think these representations are positive because we’re at least somewhat represented. Stereotypes and objectification aren’t representation. Instead, show real, normal queer people.

What is Queer Coding?

Queer coding is when fictional characters have traits that are stereotypically associated with the LGBTQ+ community, but their gender and sexual identity are never explicitly stated. This can sometimes make it hard for people to understand what it means to be queer, and it can also make it seem like queer people are only villains. Queer coding is a topic that’s been talked about in movies, TV shows, and books about the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s also been studied by scholars who study gender and sexuality.

Portraying Gay Men as Predators is One of the Most Frequently Harmful Stereotypes Perpetuated Against the Gay Community.

Things got more complicated with one episode in the Japanese version. General Blue flirts with Obotchaman, even offering to buy him clothes, but he reacts scornfully when Obotchaman rejects him. This plays on the offensive idea that gay men are sexual predators. The English dub changed it to have Blue mistake Obotchaman for his lost brother Samuel, but the scene still has creepy vibes.

You know how it is, folks. There’s this common stereotype that gay men are sexual predators or pedophiles. And guess what? That’s not exactly true. It’s like a knee-jerk reaction that creates this thing called the gay panic defense. It’s often triggered in straight men who are scared of being hit on by gay men. Now, here’s the thing, this defense can either be a cause or an expression of homophobia.

It is also another thing that contributes to discrimination against gay teachers. People think that a lot of gay men are pedophiles or child sexual abusers. But let me tell you, that’s not the case. Studies show that most male child sexual abusers, including those who target boys, are heterosexual and usually married with kids of their own. And guess what? Research on child sexual abuse also says that most instances of child sexual abuse (over 90%) are perpetrated by heterosexual males who rape underage females.

Feminine Gay Men Exist, but Not All Gay Men Are Feminine

General Blue’s character is defined by offensive gay stereotypes. He’s effeminate, uses Japanese phrases usually reserved for women. The character design is also heavily inspired by Nazi officers, evident in his appearance and uniform. It’s unkind to have one of the few openly gay characters constantly ridiculed and implied to be a Nazi, especially when there are no other gay characters in the story.

Gay men are often stereotyped as speaking with a lisp or a feminine tone. Fashion and effeminacy have been linked to homosexuality for a long time. These stereotypes are usually based on how visible the connection between gay men and fashion is. Designers like Dolce & Gabbana have even used homoerotic images in their ads. Some people think this is just another way to make the stereotype that most gay men like shopping. And a limp wrist is a common way for gay men to show themselves.

A study by Cox and others found that people often use the term gaydar to label stereotypes, especially those about how someone looks and acts, to guess their sexual orientation. The media often focuses on the extreme, like super-flamboyant men and super-masculine women. But guess what? Most of us are pretty much the same as straight people. Portraying gay men as mostly hyperfeminine would not be accurate and could lead to incorrect assumptions towards the community.

Portraying Otherness of Gay Men

Otokosuki, another gay character in the series, appears during the Peaceful World Saga. He enters the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament and instantly develops feelings for Trunks. Trunks is uncomfortable because Otokosuki promises not to harm him. In the anime, Goten even calls him “not normal,” a clear reference to his obvious gay coding. Like General Blue, Otokosuki relies on stereotypes. He hints at being effeminate and dresses like a Village People member. This is another example of a gay-coded character acting predatory.

Being gay can be tough. Heteronormative structures, like families and society, and microaggressions make us feel different. This otherness can make us lonely and isolated, which is common among the gay community. It can also stop some gay men from being open about who they are. Even though society is making progress and showing more positive images of LGBTQ people, the feeling of being different still lingers. It starts early in life and can cause emotional problems that last into adulthood. Some young gay men find comfort in loving relationships with older people to help them deal with this otherness.

Good News is the World is Changing

It’s important to remember that Dragon Ball is an older franchise. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, people’s views on LGBT people, especially gay men, were way different. And how the public expected minority characters to be portrayed was also way different. Today, these types of characters wouldn’t be as widely accepted. While these depictions are offensive, they should be seen as products of their time. They serve as a reminder of why creators need to be careful about how they show certain groups.

Dragon Ball is a legendary franchise and one of the most groundbreaking anime and manga series ever made. These offensive depictions don’t make the series any less awesome or the hard work put into it any less impressive. But it’s a shame that the only gay characters resort to derogatory stereotypes and exist just to be laughed at. In a universe as huge as Dragon Ball’s, there’s room for a new gay character who isn’t based on harmful and offensive stereotypes. Hopefully, one will be introduced, even if it’s just as a short-term or background character.

How to Properly Portray Gay Characters?

Media representation really matters because it could influence public perception of certain group of people it portrays. Representation is a tricky thing, reflecting the many different ways people live. Even great representation can make queer folks feel uneasy, showing that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. We need a diverse representation to truly show the LGBTQ+ community’s diversity. Intersectionality is key here. Queer people come in all shapes and sizes, and bisexuality is often ignored, trans people are left out, and black and brown people face unfair criticism. Some shows and books do a better job than others.