It’s not every day that fans hear about aStar Warscharacter being part of the LGBTQ+ community. That’s probably why Sister has been overlooked for so long. Clone Troopers in this galactic universe represent conformity. The franchise introduced them as genetic copies of Jango Fett in theStar Warsprequel trilogies. They were soldiers created in the labs of Kamino for the sole purpose of fighting the Clone Wars. They were strong men with minds for strategy and a willingness – organic or indoctrinated – for throwing themselves into battle as part of the Grand Army of the Republic.
While Clone Troopers were physically identical, many would use their appearance to stand out among each other.Captain Rex is famous for his blond hair, which may or may not have been dyed between campaigns with the 501st Legion. ARC Trooper Fives rocked a bold tattoo of the number 5 on his forehead. One thing most Clone Troopers had in common, though, was gender identity and preferred pronouns. They were all men and used he/him/his pronouns…until Sister.
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Sister was the first LGBTQ+ representation among the Clone Troopers, and the first whose gender identity didn’t match the others (that fans know of, at least). Yet, most would be hard-pressed to come across anyone who’s heard of Sister outside a couple of well-received novels. Here’s whatStar Warsfans everywhere should know about her.
Who Is Sister?
MostStar Warsfans don’t even know Sister exists, as the only named transgender Clone Trooper. They’d be even more shocked to learn she served during the Clone Wars. Her commanding officers were High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Marshall Commander Cody, and Padawan Commander Anakin Skywalker.
Sister was first introduced as a minor character in theStar WarsnovelQueen’s Hopeby E. K. Johnston. Art by Uzuri Art depicted her with brown skin and long dark hair kept in tight braids. The same artwork also showed her wearing Phase II armor painted blue and pink in honor of the real-life transgender pride flag. It’s a signature look that followed Sister into her bigger role in Mike Chen’s novelBrotherhood.
Like her fellow troopers, Sister was loyal, hard-working, and dependable. In fact, she even had her own memorial habits for fallen Clone Troopers that involved arranging their helmets “where they fall.” Sister was as brave as any other trooper. At the same time, however, she understood that standing out as a Clone Trooper wasn’t exactly in her best interest.
When Sister expressed this to Anakin, he reassured her that “the Jedi are all about transcending things” and they’d have no issue with how she “transcended gender.” It was a rare moment of kindness fromthe hothead who would later become Darth Vader. It was admittedly a little corny, but it was exactly what she needed to hear. One can only assume that this led to Sister literally letting her hair down and relaxing – when she wasn’t fighting for her life, that is.
Were There Other Transgender Clone Troopers?
The chances of coming across anyStar Warsproject that centers on the Clone Troopers are slim to none outsideThe Clone Wars. The inclusion of Captain Rex, Commander Wolffe, and Captain Gregory inRebelseventually puts more focus on Captain Rex. Even then, he was more often a small part of someone else’s story,like Ahsoka Tano or Ezra Bridgers. So, there’s even less chance of coming across other transgender or gender non-conforming (GNC) Clone Troopers. It’s even worse within theStar Warsuniverse. Standing out as an “unusual clone” was dangerous in ways that Sister referenced while talking to Anakin. Still, she had her brothers before anyone else and, because of that support, she made it out of the Kaminoan labs.
This might have reassured other Clone Troopers that they would also be protected if they identified as transgender or GNC. After all, that’s what usually happens in real life. Seeing others receive reassurance and acceptance often makes people choose to be proud of who they are instead of ashamed. Many fans hoped that Omega would be the first representation of a transgender clone. Alas, there’s been no indication of this being the case. All of her interactions with Clone Troopers rarely go beyond a passing meet and greet.
Sister is the only Clone Trooper so far who deviates from their assigned gender. Yet, the implications of her existence in the biggerStar Warsstory are undeniable. Were her brothers accepting because there had been others like her? Did Order 66 force transgender and GNC Clone Troopers back in the closet in the pursuit of total uniformity?Star Warsmight not be a beacon of representation for the troopers, but it at least has something better to offer LGBTQ+ characters as a whole.
LGBTQ+ Star Wars Characters
Star Warshasa slightly less embarrassing track recordwhen it comes to transgender and GNC non-clone characters. Terec and Ceret inStar Wars: The High Republicand Keo Venzee inStar Wars: Squadrons, for example, are non-binary and use they/them pronouns. Terec and Ceret are Jedi bond-twins who share thoughts and emotions with each other in their comic book iterations. Keo is a Force-sensitive pilot who served under the New Republic in one of the more popularStar Warsvideo games. They are Mirialan like Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee.
When it comes to other types of LGBTQ+ characters, it’s mostly more of the same: a who’s-who of obscure faces unlikely to exist beyond the written word. Then, in 2018 Lando Calrissian was confirmed as being pansexual afterSolo: A Star Wars Storyreleased, and his queerest relationship was with a feminine Android.
Sister was a Clone Trooper whose identity was explored and whose gender deviated from what she was assigned at ‘birth.’ She would have been easy to incorporate intoThe Clone Wars,since she served under General Kenobi. Instead, she’s been relegated to novel interpretations found by fans who are really, really into the franchise. There is no exploration of other transgender or GNC Clone Troopers, because they’re hardly a point of focus.
If they were, fans could discover if sexual orientation varies among them as well instead of just using them to understand other characters.Star Warsis about the spirit of rebellion, even when it’s scary or hard or likely to end carbonite. Sister embodies this by being herself. She’s fierce and cool under pressure, and she honestly has the best armor design. LGBTQ+ representation in the franchise has always left something to be desired by fans looking to see themselves in this elaborate space opera. One day, hopefully moreStar Warsfans will be able to appreciate characters like Sister in all their rainbow-colored glory.
