Xena: Warrior Princess and LGBT Hero
The beautiful Lucy Lawless will forever be known as the eponymous heroine of Xena: Warrior Princess to her legions of gay and lesbian fans. Returning to TV as a star of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, a sophisticated, visually stunning new CGI version of the classic slave-revolt saga, on the Starz network, a premium cable channel, Lawless reflected on the lasting impression of Xena on the LGBT community.
In an interview with AfterEllen.com, the raven-haired, statuesque beauty says it’s the character, not herself, that’s so highly regarded.
“I think it’s that heroism of the ordinary person in Xena. You’re talking about Xena, as opposed to me. The character is about doing the right thing even though it hurts,” she explained.
“I think in this world, even in Los Angeles, you have to be so brave to be out. I went and protested for No on 8, and we were at the overpass downtown, and I couldn’t believe how much hate was being directed upwards from the cars underneath,” whose drivers opposed gay marriage. Lawless was impressed by the strength of the LGBT equality protesters around her, who “were like, ‘Ah, whatever.’ But I was shocked. This is Los Angeles!”
Lawless spoke passionately about the importance of inclusion and acceptance all over the world. “I know it became a sort of religious, and ergo ethnic thing in Los Angeles,” she reflected, “but I went to the Mayan Temple once, and I saw plenty of [gay] people of all colors, great big buff guys. So if people of any ethnicity want to think it’s nothing to do with them, I want to tell you, gay is here, and it’s always been here.”
“Do you want your children hiding, to feel they can’t live out in the open? You want them to be afraid and disenfranchised?” she wondered of those aligned with ‘Yes on 8’. “That’s just a tragedy,” she concluded. “Who wants to bring up your babies like that?”
Who’s you’re favorite fantasy hero?
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