Pride in the Arrowverse: Celebrating Sara Lance, the first bisexual superhero in a live-action production
This Pride Month, we're taking a look at the Arrowverse's biggest and most prominent LGBTQ+ icons, and this week we're starting with our very first canonically queer icon to appear in the Arrowverse — Caity Lotz's Sara Lance.
The sister of Laurel Lance (Katie Kassidy), Sara was first introduced in the pilot episode of 'Arrow', with whom Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) was having an affair on his yacht. However, it wasn't until her return to Starling City in 'Heir to the Demon' that she would take up a prominent role. Sara Lance appears as the Black Canary, a complicated interpretation of the comics character — in the comics, Black Canary has no siblings, and it's Dinah Laurel Lance (daughter of previous Black Canary, Dinah Drake) who takes on the moniker. The Black Canary of the comics has no siblings, but Sara and Laurel both take on the Black Canary identity on the series.
Through flashbacks, we learn that Sara did not die when Oliver's yacht crashed. She instead became an assassin in the League of Shadows, becoming one of its most formidable warriors, and coming to be known as the 'Ta-er al-Sahfer' - which translates to "yellow canary", a nod to her eventual superhero name. She would return to her home in Starling City, years later, in the two-part 'Heir to the Demon.'
Sara Lance's appearance in 'Heir to the Demon' marks a special moment in queer history. In a surprise twist, Sara shares a passionate kiss with Nyssa Al Ghul (Katrina Law), coming out as bisexual to the world, and becoming the very first canonically queer character to appear on live-action film or television. The show has never looked back. The Arrowverse would go on to introduce a fair number of LGBTQ+ characters across its many series, but Sara Lance was the first, and she remains one of the most prominent.
Sara Lance would continue to be a significant part of the 'Arrow' series, and quickly developed a huge fan following. Once Oliver Queen's lover, their relationship grew into one of the respected allies and close friends. Not even death could keep her down, and her resurrection would help bring John Constantine (Matt Ryan) into the Arrowverse — another significant bisexual character. After her resurrection, Sara took on the moniker of the White Canary, complete with a new white costume. She moved on from 'Arrow' to take on a lead role on 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow.'
Despite the silly nature the spinoff series quickly took on, 'Legends of Tomorrow' elevated Sara's status from superhero to leader. It wasn't long before she took on the role captain of the time-traveling ship, the Waverider, a role she holds to this day. Leading her crew of misfits as they save history, Sara Lance found the love of her life through her time-traveling adventures — a clone from the future, and head of the Time Bureau, Ava Sharpe (Jes Macallan).
Sara Lance's bisexuality has always been a prominent and visible part of her character. It's an aspect of her that is celebrated as much as her martial prowess, natural badassery and jovial charisma. She has had a troubled, traumatizing past, but she has come out of it with a strength that makes her one of the Arrowverse's most compelling heroes. She was one of the seven legendary Paragons — the Paragon of Fate — who helped recreate the multiverse in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths.' Sara Lance is by far the Arrowverse's most celebrated LGBTQ+ star, and with 'Legends of Tomorrow' renewed for a sixth season, that star won't be dimming any time soon.
Sara Lance will next be seen on the season finale of 'DC's Legend of Tomorrow,' airing June 2 on The CW.