Welcome back to Lez Hang Out, the podcast that can (and will) make absolutely any character gay. 
This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with Kaitlynn and Theora, the co-hosts of Big Gay Energy Podcast (@biggayenergypod), to talk about why the MCU mini-series Hawkeye Should’ve Been Gay. This show is absolutely overflowing with gay energy and wildly queer casting choices, yet only has one canonically gay character. In spite of that sad fact, we can honestly read every single character in this mini-series as some flavor of queer (yes, even Clint). 
If you’re unfamiliar with Hawkeye, all you really need to know is that the main character Kate Bishop is played by none other than Hailee Steinfeld, an actor we truly cannot read as heterosexual after watching her in Pitch Perfect and Dickinson. Kate is a part of the Young Avengers, following in Hawkeye’s footsteps. From having the audacity to say she’s the best archer directly to Hawkeye’s face to rebelling against her mom’s stereotypically feminine outfit selection for the gala and instead showing up in a sexy black suit, everything about Kate screams ‘lesbian’. She may be one of the good guys, but that does not stop her from flirting with hot female “villains” like Maya and Yelena. 
In the comics, Yelena is presumed to be asexual, a fact that has since been confirmed by one of the comic artists. We are fully here for this representation, especially since there is a serious lack of ace and aro rep in media. However, we still can’t help but notice the palpable and incredibly flirtatious energy between Yelena and Kate in the mini-series. The “mac and cheese scene” is quite literally the reason Kaitlynn selected Hawkeye for this SBG. Whether it is meant to be sexual, romantic, or simply playful platonic banter, the chemistry between them is undeniable. In addition to the sapphic yearning we witness every single time Kate and Yelena lock eyes, we also get an Avengers Musical within the show, Linda Cardellini as Hawkeye’s wife, an entire episode dedicated to the LARPers, and even a quirky animal sidekick (Pizza Dog, you will always be famous in our hearts). We did the math and there is no planet where this mini-series could be interpreted as anything other than gay. 
We know one thing for sure, Hawkeye Should’ve Been Gay. 
Follow us on Twitter: (@lezhangoutpod) and answer our Q & Gay questions at the end of every episode. You can also join us on Facebook.com/lezhangoutpod and Instagram (@lezhangoutpod). Find us individually on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida).
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