Activision Blizzard hasn’t said that this Overwatch 2 character is trans – but we live in hope
Overwatch 2 healer Juno isn’t trans, but she totally should be. (Reddit/u/Kds_burner)
Overwatch 2 healer Juno isn't trans, but she totally should be. (Reddit/u/Kds_burner)
It appears that, despite many people’s wishes (ours included), Overwatch 2 character Juno is not transgender.
Confusion about the gender identity of the competitive shooter’s Support hero arose after a Reddit post claimed that video game holding company Activision Blizzard had said she was trans.
Juno, who became the 41st hero on the game’s roster in 2023, is a healer-type character. The first human born on Mars, she uses a variety of space-age gizmos to help her teammates.
Claims that developers had confirmed she was trans came from a post on r/Gamingcirclejerk, a satirical subreddit which purposefully spreads misinformation as part of a running joke poking fun at the gaming community.
Its slogan, branded on the banner of the subreddit in rainbow colours, reads: “Everybody is welcome. Except gamers.”
The post, which was shared on Monday (28 April), made the claim alongside a picture of Juno in a variety of her costumes, overlaid on a trans Pride flag. However, there is no evidence that Activision Blizzard has released a statement or any content that suggests Juno is transgender.
A similar prank was posted by the same user in February, claiming that Activision Blizzard had revealed that healer Kirko was trans.
Juno wouldn’t be the first trans character in Overwatch 2. That distinction went to Damage hero Venture, who was revealed to be non-binary during Blizzcon 2023.
A since-deleted post from Overwatch 2 technical artist Ana Martínez reportedly said that Venture uses they/them pronouns, Gaymingmag reported.
Reactions to, and subsequent confusion over, the post about Juno have prompted calls for Activision Blizzard to make it so.
“I’m preparing to put money in the ‘fell for a circle jerk post again’ jar but would be happy if this was true,” one game fan wrote.
Another said: “As the supreme over-goddess of t4t, this tracks because she’s cute.”
Given that a large portion of the Overwatch 2 community is either LGBTQ+ or an ally, we here at PinkNews believe it’s time Activision Blizzard announced that Juno is indeed trans. They can make the whole roster transgender while they’re at it.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
