Ruby Rose talks ‘Batwoman’ lesbian relationship in pilot episode

Ruby Rose will make history this fall in The CW’s “Batwoman” as TV’s first lesbian superhero lead. The character’s identity will be a pivotal plot point in the pilot episode.

The actress, who also identifies as a lesbian and plays Batwoman, told reporters that in the first episode, Kate Kane is discharged from the military because she’s having a lesbian relationship.

Ruby Rose Batwoman Lesbian Superhero

Ruby Rose as Kate Kane (aka Batwoman) and Meagan Tandy (Sophie Moore, Kane’s closeted girlfriend) are pictured in a scene from the pilot episode of “Batwoman.” Photo: Kimberley French/The CW

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

The “Batwoman” scenario mirrors the real life “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of the 1990s and early 2000s. That official government policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while banning people who publicly identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual from military service.

Ruby Rose cast as lesbian superhero ‘Batwoman’

Ruby Rose

“That wasn’t something I had experienced in my life, but when I thought about all the people who were separated from their partners or kicked out of the military…there’s immediately a lot of weight on this scene,” Rose told journalists on Sunday in Beverly Hills at the Television Critics Association summer press tour panel, according to Daily Variety. “I thought, You need to think about what this means to people who are still dealing with this right now.”

“Batwoman” will premiere on The CW October 6 at 8 p.m.

‘Batwoman’ story

Before it has aired, “Batwoman” already has made history. She is the first a gay or lesbian superhero to headline a live-action series.

Three years after Batman has mysteriously disappeared, Gotham is in despair. Jacob Kane and his military-grade Crows Private Security guard the city with immense firepower.

Katie Hill elected first LGBTQ Congresswoman from California

Kate Kane

When the Alice in Wonderland gang targets the firm, Kane’s daughter, Kate, who has a passion for social justice, returns home. She realizes that if she wants to help her family and her city, she’ll have to become the one thing her father loathes — a dark knight vigilante.

With the help of her stepsister, Mary, and the crafty Luke Fox, the son of Wayne Enterprises’ tech guru Lucius Fox, Kate continues the legacy of her missing cousin, Bruce Wayne.

Lesbian representation

“Batwoman” executive producer Sarah Schechter told a Comic Con Panel last month about the importance of the character and Rose both publicly identifying as lesbians.

“Representation is everything and diversity is our strength,” Schechter said. “We love this character, and we love her sexuality and we love her beyond her sexuality. We’re really proud of being able to have an out lesbian woman front and center of this show.”

About the author

Phillip Zonkel

Award-winning journalist Phillip Zonkel spent 17 years at Long Beach's Press-Telegram, where he was the first reporter in the paper's history to have a beat covering the city's vibrant LGBTQ. He also created and ran the popular and innovative LGBTQ news blog, Out in the 562.

He won two awards and received a nomination for his reporting on the local LGBTQ community, including a two-part investigation that exposed anti-gay bullying of local high school students and the school districts' failure to implement state mandated protections for LGBTQ students.

Share This

Share this post with your friends!