Star Wars unveils its first transgender stormtrooper

It has divided opinion online

According to X account Star Wars Holocron, the character Captain Rex gives a description of Sister in the book that says, “When one of our kind expressed her gender identity differently than her fellow troopers, she featured [sic] she’d have to hide who she truly was inside. Fortunately, her brothers in the 7th Sky Corps gave her the name Sister as a constant reminder that she belonged.”

Sister made her Star Wars canon debut in the 2022 book ‘Queen’s Hope’ where she served the Galactic Republic alongside Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars.

Anakin & Sister, a trans woman clone trooper, discussed gender in Queen’s Hope 🏳️‍⚧️
⁰Anakin: “The Jedi are all about transcending things. I don't think we can complain if you've transcended gender”⁰
Sister: “Transcended gender. We'll work on it, but I like where it's heading” pic.twitter.com/CuHdTh3O9C

— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) October 11, 2024

Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars from George Lucas in 2012 but the move to create a trans Stormtrooper has sparked a big reaction.

The character has divided opinion among fans of the popular franchise.

One fan posted: “This can’t be real. Gotta be a parody … there is no freaking way!”

Another wrote: “These people just love to kill escapism and fantasy.”

However, many were delighted by the decision, heaping praise on the creators for promoting inclusivity with a trans character.

“I love this! More diversity in the clones and representation through each of them trying to make their existence more than just being a killing machine for the republic,” one fan said.

Another wrote: “Very happy to see them doubling down on inclusivity and telling transphobes to f–k off. If the existence of one story element that won’t affect anything triggers you that much, that’s a you thing.”

Disney has faced backlash previously for allegedly ‘going woke’. In June, Disney+ released The Acolyte, set 100 years before The Phantom Menace.

Two months after it premiered, it was cancelled after it was ‘review bombed’ online for its progressive themes.

Cast member, Jodie Turner-Smith called out Disney for not protecting its actors from online abuse saying: “They’ve got to stop doing this thing where they don’t say anything when people are getting f–king dog-piled on the internet with racism and bulls–t.”