LGBTQ+ Rep in Babylon 5: An Interview with J. Michael Straczynski

Though San Diego Comic-Con looked much different this year due to the WGA and SAG strikes, we still got the opportunity to discuss the upcoming animated Babylon 5 film with J. Michael Straczynski as it’s covered under the animation union. 

Babylon 5 has had LGBTQ+ representation since the 90’s.  When Talia awoke clearly expecting Ivanova to be next to her, we got our first major queer presence in the franchise, though there were also many other tidbits throughout the show if you looked for it, which J. Michael Straczynski was proud to highlight in our discussion. 

I’ve been wanting to talk to J. Michael Straczynski for many years, and knew that this is something I wanted specifically to discuss. Not only did he give us representation with Babylon 5, but he partnered with the Wachowskis for the incredibly queer science fiction show Sense8.  

To put it simply, I trust this man when it comes to LGBTQ+ stories. He’s a solid ally and he really cares. 

My first chance to discuss the topic of how he utilizes queer characters came with the promotion of a brand new installment in the Babylon 5 story – the new animated film The Road Home.  Fans of the franchise have been waiting for decades for a new installment and we’re absolutely thrilled for more content!

Though same-sex relationships aren’t going to be mentioned directly in the story, Ivanova is present so we at least have a queer character on screen.  Additionally, J. Michael Straczynski states that if they get to do more installments, it’s something he will include it in those. So obviously, we all need to watch and support this so we can get more!  

So where can you watch it?  How can you support it and get more LGBTQ+ stories? Per the press release:

Babylon 5: The Road Home will be available on August 15 to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray Discs will be available to purchase online and in-store at major retailers.

See the full interview in the embedded video below!

Return to Babylon 5 as the epic interstellar saga continues with The Road Home.  Travel across the galaxy with John Sheridan as he unexpectedly finds himself transported through multiple timelines and alternate realities in a quest to find his way back home.  Along the way he reunites with some familiar faces, while discovering cosmic new revelations about the history, purpose, and meaning of the Universe.

We also had a chance to talk to director Matt Peters about the film.  See his full interview in the embedded video below!

I’ll certainly be putting my money where my mouth is and watching it as soon as it drops. I recommend you do too. According to Straczynski, new fans should be able to enjoy the story just as much as us old-timers, so come join us! And hey, if you love it, you have five seasons and several other bits of Babylon 5 content to satisfy you while we wait for HBO/WB to green light more of this fantastic story!

Author: Angel Wilson

Angel is the admin of The Geekiary and a geek culture commentator. They earned a BA in Film & Digital Media from UC Santa Cruz. They have contributed to various podcasts and webcasts including An Englishman in San Diego, Free to Be Radio, and Genre TV for All. They’ve also written for Friends of Comic Con and is a 2019 Hugo Award winner for contributing fanfic on AO3. They identify as queer.

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