Borderlands: Every LGBTQ+ Character In The Franchise (2024)

The Borderlands franchise is renowned for its diverse cast of characters, and is a champion for representation in video games. From its inception, the series has never shied away from social issues, with the games featuring a wide range of personalities, genders, and sexual orientations.

In particular, the franchise has received praise for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters that have helped to normalize queer identities in gaming and give underrepresented communities much-needed characters to relate to. From queer relationships, to characters who challenge gender norms, the Borderlands universe is a shining example of how video games can promote diversity and acceptance. And these are all the LGBTQ+ characters seen in the Borderlands franchise.

Updated June 25, 2024 by Stephen LaGioia: Pride Month may be wrapping up soon, but for Gearbox's thrilling looter-shooter, the push for greater representation will continue onward full steam. Despite the franchise dating back a decade and a half, Borderlands has (mostly) aged well, and remained on the cutting edge in terms of both gameplay and various themes. This certainly extends to the memorable, diverse cast that has brought the experience to life.

With the release of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (and the upcoming graphic novels called Land of the Giants), players are reminded of one of the greatest characters — a big reason for Borderlands 2's unique zaniness and charm. With Tina in the spotlight, and thus far being absent here, we decided to revisit this list of the dynamic LGBTQ+ cast from the BL series. It should be noted that these are confirmed by the writers and/or developers, and not fan theories or speculation.

14 Tiny Tina

This zany anarchist was first introduced in Borderlands 2, and she left quite an impression on both fellow BL cast members and players alike. Her hyperactive nature, off-kilter demeanor, and unhealthy childlike obsession with explosives make Tiny Tina one of the most memorable characters in a series rife with great ones.

Despite her dark past, Tina isn't afraid to let loose and have fun, as conveyed by her frequent quips and bubbly personality. While she's alluded to a few male relationships (which have been heavily indicated to have been fibs), the lead writer of Borderlands 2 Anthony Burch has set the record straight and said she is a lesbian.

This is also made clear by a BL3 mini-boss and member of the Children of the Vault, Sheega, who is revealed to be an ex-girlfriend of Tina's.

13 Athena

Mysterious Assassin

Making her first appearance as an NPC in Borderlands, Athena later returned as a "Gladiator" class playable character in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. Throughout the game's various campaigns, Janey makes several flirtatious advances towards her.

Tiny Tina asks whether Athena ever hung out with Janey, trying to imply that they had hooked up, and demands a high-five from her. Athena then confirms a delighted Tina's theory after a brief period of embarrassed silence by giving her a high-five. In Tales from the Borderlands, Athena can be found living with Janey in Hollow Point, as a supposedly retired bounty hunter.

12 Axton

An Ex-Dahl Military Force Of Nature

In Borderlands 2, Axton made his debut as the Commando playable character. Due to a writing blunder, Axton had some initially unintended bi-curious dialogue throughout the game. Anthony Burch, the lead writer of Borderlands 2, had originally written some character-specific reviving dialog where Axton would flirt with Maya.

The character-specific code wasn't implemented, but the lines were preserved, giving players a slim chance of getting hit on by Axton. Many fans were disappointed that he wasn't intentionally bisexual. However, to rectify this, in Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, Burch made sure to add some more obvious dialogue and establish that Axton is indeed bisexual.

11 FL4K

The Robot Roamer

FL4K first joined the cast of Borderlands in Borderlands 3 as the Beastmaster. They are a giant, bloodthirsty robot, with a lot of love for their three pets, Spiderant, Jabber and Skag. Not only this, FL4K is also non-binary!

In response to a fan, Sam Winkler, the Borderlands 3’s co-writer, wrote, "Maybe [it doesn't matter] to you, but I hope you can imagine that it might to some." Winkler also acknowledged the support of non-binary gamers and allies who pushed for representation in the franchise.

10 Janey Springs

Writer By Day, Junk Dealer By Night

Janey first appeared in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, where she can be found managing "Springs' Emporium O Stuff," a junk-dealing enterprise on Elpis that is situated in Concordia. It is here that she meets Athena and the two develop a romantic relationship. Laney is a lesbian, and frequently makes his disdain for men clear throughout the game.

She later appears in Tales from the Borderlands, now living with Athena. At one point, players have the option, as Fiona, to tell Janey that Athena said she loved her. Janey will be later seen packing up to "marry the piss out of her!".

9 Lor

A Dynamic And Overlooked Promethean

Players first meet Lor as an NPC on Promethea in Borderlands 3. Lor was working at a coffee shop before Maliwan launched its assault on Promethea. Quickly finding himself caught up in the conflict, Lor unfortunately had to put off his plans of transitioning because of the war.

Players once again meet Lor in New Tales from the Borderlands, one year after the events of Borderlands 3, and he has finally transitioned, going by the name "Lor" and using he/him pronouns. Additionally, he has opened up his own coffee shop, which is so successful that Fran is willing to accept drinks there instead of payment.

8 Mad Moxxi

Friendly And Bubbly Personality, But Don't Get On Her Bad Side

Moxxi is one of the franchise's most memorable characters, and has been a staple of the series since the very first Borderlands game. Moxxi is bisexual, having expressed interest in both men and women throughout the games.

Moxxi expresses interest in Lilith in the Underdome Riot DLC, referring to her as "delicious". She also claims that Maya gives her a "ladyboner" and that she dated Motor Momma before breaking up with her due to her cannibalism. Despite this, she exhibits an equal attraction to men, and is known for her many ex-husbands, including Handsome Jack and Marcus Kincaid.

7 Maya

Master Of Magic

In Borderlands 2, Maya is a playable "Siren" class character. She later reappears as an NPC in Borderlands 3. Maya was raised by the Order of the Impending Storm, the supreme order of monks on her homeworld of Athenas, after it was determined that she was a Siren.

She developed her siren abilities in secrecy until she was an adult, when she began to express an interest in visiting Pandora. Anthony Burch, the primary writer of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, stated that is that Maya is asexual, and in the games, she has said that she knows nothing about romance.

6 Patricia Tannis

Scientist, Archaeologist, And Brainiac

Players first encounter Tannis in Borderlands, a scientist who is both highly intelligent and socially awkward. She makes a "standing offer" to experience her bed while flirting with the vault hunter (regardless of their gender) during her first mission in Borderlands 2.

Under the guise of scientific investigation, Tannis also oddly consumes one of Lilith's hairs, but this action is interpreted as an attempt at flirtation. There is a voice line in Borderlands 3 that suggests she and Mad Moxxi had a meeting where Moxxi 'talked her clothes off'.

5 Sir Hammerlock

Hunter And Vault Hunter Helper

Vault Hunters will initially encounter Sir Alistair Hammerlock as the first friendly human in Borderlands 2, where he is trapped in Southern Shelf while researching bullymongs. He's a rather stylish hunter, dressing in a ragged, yet futuristic version of a Victorian adventurer's outfit.

He returns in Borderlands 3 as a supporting character as the love interest of Wainwright Jakobs, the heir to the Jakobs family name. He plays a major role in the Guns, Love, and Tentacles DLC, where he and Wainwright are planning their wedding. As it happens, the Mechromancer Gaige has a crush on Hammerlock despite him being gay — and she is aware of this fact.

4 Timothy Lawrence

Double Trouble

Handsome Jack's body double and lookalike, Timothy Lawrence, is first introduced to players as a playable character in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. He later reappears in Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, a Borderlands 3 DLC expansion pack, where it turns out he has been held captive on The Handsome Jackpot for seven years after Handsome Jack's defeat.

It is here that players also learn that Timothy is bisexual. It's rather clear that he has a crush on Moxxi, and reveals to players that he has slept with Trent, a man at the Handsome Jackpot casino.

3 Mr. Torgue

An Explosive Personality

The 43-year-old founder of the weapon manufacturer Torgue, Mister Torgue High-Five Flexington, better known as Mr. Torgue, first appears in Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, the second DLC for Borderlands 2. Additionally, Mr. Torgue appears in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, but only in ECHO calls.

Mr. Torgue was brought up by his grandmother. After learning that his parents had perished in an explosion in an Eridium mine, he was motivated to learn how to control explosions. He was confirmed as bisexual by Anthony Burch, and in the Borderlands 2 DLC, Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep.

2 Wainwright Jakobs

A Supporting Role That's On Point

Wainwright Jakobs is a supporting character in Borderlands 3 and its second DLC, Guns, Love, and Tentacles. He is the heir to the Jakobs Corporation, but has little desire to run the company, partially because he can't operate the Jakobs firearms correctly because of his poor eyesight.

Despite this, he is driven forward by Hammerlock's encouragement and is extremely proud to continue the family tradition. Wainwright makes his feelings towards Sir Hammerlock very clear, whom he refers to as "his partner" and "the love of [his] life,".

1 Zane Flynt

A Crimson And Vault Raider

Zane originates as the Operative from Borderlands 3. After accepting every mercenary and assassination job imaginable, Zane found it more and more difficult to find a moment's peace because so many people wanted him dead. He went to Pandora to hide out for a little while, which is where players first meet him.

Although there aren't any playable or on-screen romances in the Borderlands series, Zane has been confirmed as pansexual. Zane is a bit of a lone wolf, but he's also incredibly extroverted and polyamorous, stating that he's been married within several different star systems.

Borderlands 4 is currently in development.

Borderlands 3

Platform(s)

PC , Stadia , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PS4 , PS5 , Switch

Released

September 13, 2019

Developer(s)

Gearbox Software

Publisher(s)

2K Games

Genre(s)

First-Person Shooter , Action , RPG