A new reference book in the Star Wars franchise has introduced its first-ever transgender Clone Trooper, sparking both celebration and backlash from different segments of the fandom. The character, Sister, a trans woman clone trooper, was highlighted in Star Wars: Secrets of the Clone Troopers, released Tuesday, Oct. 8. Sister was first introduced in the 2022 novel The Queen’s Hope by E.K. Johnston, but her inclusion in the latest encyclopedia has led to heated debates within the Star Wars community.
According to the description shared by Star Wars Holocron, a fan-focused news source on X (formerly Twitter), Sister’s story centers around her journey to embrace her gender identity. As the book reveals, Sister feared she would need to suppress her true self while serving as a clone trooper. However, she found acceptance among her fellow troopers, who affectionately gave her the name “Sister” to emphasize her belonging in their squad.
This inclusion of a transgender character in Star Wars is part of a broader push by the franchise toward greater diversity and representation. The fandom’s reaction has been polarized, with vocal critics decrying the addition and others, including many in the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating it as a milestone for transgender visibility in mainstream media.
Fan Backlash Highlights Longstanding Issues of Intolerance
The backlash to Sister’s inclusion has been swift and pointed. Shortly after the character’s story and image were shared online, a faction of the Star Wars fanbase began attacking the decision, calling it unnecessary and politically driven. One user on X commented, “This can’t be real. Gotta be a parody… there is no freaking way!” Another lamented, “What happened to the franchise I love?” These responses echo the familiar resistance seen whenever the franchise introduces non-traditional characters, particularly those who are not white, cisgender, or male.
This intolerance is not new to the Star Wars fandom. Actors of color like Kelly Marie Tran, who starred in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, have spoken publicly about the barrage of racist and sexist abuse they’ve faced from certain corners of the fanbase. Tran, who played Rose Tico, even deleted her Instagram posts after facing a flood of hateful comments. Similarly, Moses Ingram, who appeared in the 2022 Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, was the target of racist bullying. In response, her co-star Ewan McGregor released a statement condemning the attacks.
The negative campaign against Sister is following a similar path, with detractors already “review-bombing” Star Wars: Secrets of the Clone Troopers on Amazon. Several one- and two-star reviews cite the book’s perceived disregard for established lore, with many oblique references to the inclusion of a transgender character. “It seems like they outright rewrote much of the preexisting lore to fit into modern-day politics instead of the actual narrative of the Clone Wars,” one reviewer wrote.
A Positive Shift in Representation
Despite the vocal criticism, many fans and advocates for diversity within the franchise see Sister’s introduction as a significant step forward for transgender representation. While the Star Wars universe has long been home to a variety of alien species and non-human characters, it has historically lacked LGBTQ+ representation. Sister’s presence, alongside other LGBTQ+ characters such as the non-binary Jedi twins Terec and Ceret from The High Republic series, marks an important shift in the galaxy far, far away.
The transgender community, in particular, has voiced their support for the character, seeing Sister as a rare example of a transgender individual within such a globally beloved universe. Social media reactions from LGBTQ+ fans have been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the representation and the message of belonging that Sister’s story conveys.
In the book, Sister’s story reveals that her fellow clone troopers in the 7th Sky Corps supported her from the start. “When one of our kind expressed her gender identity differently than her fellow troopers, she feared she’d have to hide who she truly was inside,” the book describes. “Fortunately, her brothers in the 7th Sky Corps gave her the name Sister as a constant reminder that she belonged.”
For many transgender fans and their allies, this is a powerful narrative of acceptance, particularly in a world where trans individuals often face marginalization and discrimination. The idea that a group of military clones, bred for combat, would unconditionally accept their sibling’s gender identity offers a hopeful message of solidarity and inclusion.
Ongoing Struggles with Representation in Pop Culture
Sister’s introduction comes after Star Wars has made strides in representing more diverse characters. However, the franchise’s attempts to feature women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ characters have often been met with opposition. Just this past summer, The Acolyte, a Disney+ series featuring an all-female space coven and a character asking someone their pronouns, was canceled after a flood of negative online reactions. Amandla Stenberg, one of the series’ stars, spoke out about the “hyper-conservative bigotry” they and their castmates experienced, highlighting the deep-seated resistance to change within the fanbase.
Simultaneously, Abigail Thorn, a British YouTuber and trans trailblazer, joined the series as Ensign Eurus. Thorn, widely known for her YouTube channel PhilosophyTube, has gained a reputation for her articulate exploration of philosophy and gender issues. Many people consider Thorn’s appearance in Star Wars to be a victory for trans visibility in popular culture, with over 1.5 million subscribers.
In a way, the controversy surrounding Sister is part of this broader cultural battle over representation in media. While segments of the fanbase cling to their version of Star Wars, which they perceive as being free from modern social issues, the franchise itself continues to evolve, reflecting the diversity of its global audience. As one fan on social media put it, “If you love Star Wars, you should love what it stands for — hope, justice, and inclusion. Sister belongs in that galaxy.”
The Road Ahead for LGBTQ+ Visibility in Star Wars
Though it has been more than two years since Sister first appeared in The Queen’s Hope, her inclusion in Star Wars: Secrets of the Clone Troopers has reignited the discussion around LGBTQ+ visibility in the franchise. However, Sister’s story is not just about her gender identity but also about her journey toward self-acceptance and the support she receives from her fellow troopers. Her narrative offers a refreshing contrast to the bigotry that continues to plague both the fictional world of Star Wars and the real world.
In the novel Queen’s Hope, Sister reveals her gender identity to Anakin Skywalker, who reacts with understanding and warmth. “The Jedi are all about transcending things,” Anakin tells her. “I don’t think we can complain if you’ve transcended gender.” This moment between Sister and Anakin subtly reinforces the core values of the Jedi and serves as an allegory for the idea of personal growth and transformation.
While detractors continue to voice their disdain for Sister’s inclusion, her existence is a reminder of the importance of representation. For transgender individuals and their allies, characters like Sister can offer a sense of belonging and validation. At a time when transgender rights and visibility are under attack in various parts of the world, such stories carry even greater significance.
The future of Sister and other LGBTQ+ characters in Star Wars may be uncertain, but their presence in this expansive universe sends a message: Everyone has a place in the galaxy, no matter who they are or what they identify as. For now, Star Wars: Secrets of the Clone Troopers stands as a testament to the growing diversity of the franchise, and the character of Sister represents one small step toward a more inclusive galaxy.
