Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sees two gay characters share a kiss, marking a milestone in franchise history. Here's what that moment means.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker made franchise history by featuring two gay characters kiss on screen. Commander Larma D'Acy (Amanda Lawrence) kisses her pilot wife Wrobie Tyce (Vinette Robinson) in celebration after the Resistance defeated the First Order in the film's final act. The couple fought along side Rey, Poe and Finn during the Resistance's final stand.

Disney actually removed the kiss from The Rise of Skywalker in nations with strict laws surrounding homosexual relationships. In Singapore, male homosexual acts are technically illegal. Female homosexual acts are legal, but the The Rise of Skywalker's gay kiss was removed anyway, so that the film could maintain its PG-13 rating. Dubai cut the kiss too, as all homosexual relationships are against the law in United Arab Emirates. Thanks to these existing laws on LGBTQ acts, Dubai and Singapore commonly censor anything related to LGBTQ relationships in films, so it's no surprise Disney cut the kiss. As more Hollywood films have begun to feature more well-rounded LGBTQ representation, such Rocketman and Booksmart, it will become increasingly harder for locations such as Dubai and Singapore to show American films in their entirety, or even at all.

On the other end of the spectrum, The Rise of Skywalker's gay kiss also came under criticism for not going far enough. D'Acy and Tyce were very minor characters and totally new additions to the franchise. Their characters are barely background, and it wasn't even clear they were a couple until they kissed in the film's final moments. Their kiss was briefly featured in the background of a busy scene. Abrams defended the subtly of the lesbian kiss by saying he didn't want the moment to be too heavy-handed. But since audiences had no attachment to these characters, there was no emotional payoff to this quick representation for gay characters.

This isn't the first time Disney has under-delivered in the way of promised LGBTQ representation. Marvel touted their first-ever gay character leading up to Avengers: Endgame. That representation only ended up being co-director Joe Russo cameoing as a gay man who discusses an upcoming date. However, upcoming Marvel movies The Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder have teased fully fleshed-out LGBTQ characters in their films. If Lucasfilm is actually committed to more LGBTQ representation, they'd be wise to follow this move. The LGBTQ community wants to truly feel seen in films, not just briefly see fleeting flashes of characters who fall on the LGBTQ spectrum. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's gay kiss was a baby step in the right direction, but not enough to be considered legitimate LGBTQ representation.

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