Star Wars: The Empathy Awakens; ComicBookResources.com, 10/22/15

Brett White, ComicBookResources.com; Star Wars: The Empathy Awakens:

"Fast-forward a few decades to literally a month ago, and I experienced another, similar Big Star Wars Moment -- one that came about because of the recent push towards diverse leads. Being obsessed with Star Wars again, I thought I might check out Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath: Star Wars"; when I learned that one of the leads was a gay man, I changed that "might" to "oh it's already on my iPad that happened quickly." Wendig gave me something that I never thought I would get from Star Wars, something I didn't even know I needed from Star Wars: Sinjir Rath Velus, an ex-Imperial officer that's quick with his wits and quips as well as his fists. He's scruffy, usually a little bit drunk, and he's gay. He's gay Han Solo. He's gay Han Solo. My heart jumps into my throat just reading that, it means so much to me.

I never saw gay characters like myself anywhere growing up; it's why I kept trying to date girls through to my senior year of college. If the original post-"Return of the Jeid" novel "Heir to the Empire" had had a Sinjir in it, I know that my life would have been changed. I love that character because he's the Han Solo archetype that I've repeatedly geeked out over since I was six, but he means even more to me because he, being gay, validates my metaphorical place among the ranks of the Rebellion. There are parts of America where I do not feel comfortable being an out homosexual, but Sinjir's existence makes me feel finally, truly welcome in Star Wars -- a thing I love and a safe space I return to over and over again."