ANNOUNCEMENT: In an effort to build a space for queer people like myself, every Sunday I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces, listicles, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.) Welcome to Queerly Not Straight! Enjoy and leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for what I should cover next.
No matter what gripes you may have with The CW, they surely are pushing the boundaries of representation. Did it take them a while? Absolutely. Are we glad that Legends of Tomorrow is finally giving us an asexual character? Without a doubt. Because this right here, it matters to the asexual community because they get to see themselves in a superhero in a way they might’ve never seen themselves before.
It wasn’t just that Spooner was revealed to be asexual. It’s the way that it happened and the fact that it was casual as hell. She and Zari were having a drink and basically bonding in a way they haven’t before. And at some point, Zari suggested a game where you pick “Smash, Marry, Kill” when it comes to the Legends. As the game progressed, and Spooner expressed not particularly getting those types of feelings for anyone, the realization hit Zari.
Before Zari could say anything, Spooner suggested that maybe the aliens had taken this ability, to feel attraction like everyone else, away from her. And Zari shut down that fast. Because yes, they are friends. But more importantly, Zari would never let anyone doubt who they are in that manner. So she told Spooner that there was nothing wrong with her, that this was perfectly normal, and finally gave a name to that thing inside of Spooner she was never able to pin down; that she was asexual.
Now, the look on her face is equal parts heartbreaking and exhilarating. Heartbreaking because she’s always thought there was something wrong with her. And exhilarating because there was hope in those eyes that she had finally found a place in the world and peace in herself that she was normal. No one took anything away from her. And no, she wasn’t broken. She’s just like everyone else; complex and yet perfectly normal.
It only got better from there when Zari reassured Spooner that asexual people enter into happy and loving relationships. That’s something that is hardly shown on media or talked about in day-to-day life. And by the look on Spooner’s face, she didn’t know that. She thought she would never have the same bonds that those around her have. And the realization that she could, just a little different because she’s asexual, matters so much to Spooner and those watching.
Just think of it like this, somewhere out there, there’s a young person who saw themselves in Spooner. Some might know that they’re asexual and are just happy to see themselves finally represented by a badass Latina superhero. And there are some who have never had someone to give them the kind of talk Zari gave Spooner. Maybe they are having this moment themselves. And just the thought of them feeling whole, complete, or just ok with themselves for the first time matters.
That’s why we love what Legends of Tomorrow did with Spooner coming out as asexual and why we can’t help but wait in anticipation at what this show does to develop that part of her character.
You can watch the Legends of Tomorrow clip of Spooner coming out below:
Queerly Not Straight posts every Sunday with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.)
