Petition to Honor Orlando Shooting Victim in 'Star Wars' Gains Signatures
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford in the original ‘Star Wars’ (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment/AP)
In the aftermath of the tragic June 12 shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub that left 49 innocent men and women dead, one of the victims’ best friends hopes to make a Force-ful statement about inclusiveness in his name.
On his Change.org page, Joshua Yehl is requesting signatures for a petition to send to LucasFilm, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger asking that his late friend Christopher Andrew “Drew” Leinonen — who, along with his boyfriend Juan Ramon Guerrero, was killed at Pulse — be honored in an upcoming Star Wars film as the franchise’s first openly LGBT character. Yehl details Leinonen’s die-hard fandom for the George Lucas-created sci-fi series, sharing memories of their recent trip together to see The Force Awakens — during which Leinonen purchased a commemorative popcorn tin but then didn’t even use it, lest it get dirty.
Related: ‘Star Wars’ Sequel Should Have Gay Characters, GLAAD Says
Yehl believes that such a gesture would be a way not only to pay tribute to his friend, but to all the Pulse massacre victims, as well as to further foster Star Wars’ celebration of diversity.
“This is a universe with Wookies, Jawas, and Hutts, so why can’t there be a visible LGBT character on screen? This tragedy happened because of hate, but Star Wars is something that unites people, so fulfilling this request would only serve to bring more love into the world, and that’s what Drew was all about. It’s vitally important that LGBT people are included in mainstream media because it will show that we don’t need to be feared or hated or hidden. We can be part of the rebellion and we can fight evil, and we can do it while being who we are with pride.”
Related: Why Studios Fear Putting Gay Characters in Movies Like ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Avengers’
Yehl has amassed 2,459 signatures as of this writing against its goal of 2,500, and his Change.org petition also features a video (watch it below) that makes the case for his friend to become a member of the galaxy far, far away.
Given that J.J. Abrams supports including LGBT characters in future Star Wars sagas, it’s an appeal that seems to be gaining considerable traction. And as Yehl writes, “Nothing would make him happier than for all the little gay nerds out there to have their own Star Wars character to look up to.”
‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’: Watch the trailer:
