Maya Hawke is not gay in real life. She has only dated men and has never publicly identified herself as anything other than straight.
However, she played a lesbian character named Robin in the third season of Stranger Things, which may have caused some confusion among fans.
She said that she was proud to portray an LGBTQ+ character and hoped to help others who are struggling with their identity.
She also joked about being related to Tony Hawk, a famous skateboarder, on her Instagram account. She is currently dating Gus Wenner, the son of Rolling Stone founder Jan Wenner.
Understanding Maya Hawke’s Sexuality
Speculations on her Sexuality
Maya Hawke has been the subject of speculations about her sexuality ever since she played Robin Buckley, a lesbian character, in the third season of Stranger Things. Many fans wondered if she was also gay in real life, or if she was just acting. Some even questioned if she was part of the LGBTQIA community outside of her role.
Defining “queer”
In 2022, Maya Hawke came out as queer in an interview with Vogue. She said, “I’m queer. I’ve identified queerly for a long time. I’m coming out.” But what does it mean to be queer? According to the Human Rights Campaign, queer is “an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or cisgender.” Queer can also be used as “a political statement which advocates breaking binary thinking and seeing both sexual orientation and gender identity as potentially fluid.”
Her Dating History
Maya Hawke has dated a few men in her life, but none of them have been confirmed as her boyfriend. In 2019, she was linked to Gus Wenner, the son of Rolling Stone founder Jan Wenner. They posted pictures of each other on their Instagram accounts, but they never officially announced their relationship. In 2020, she was spotted with Tom Sturridge, an actor who is 13 years older than her. They were seen holding hands and kissing in New York City, but they also never confirmed their status. In 2022, she started dating Spencer Barnett, a musician who is her brother’s friend. They have attended red carpet events together and have shown affection in public.
The Confusion between Maya Hawke and Her Characters
Playing LGBTQIA Roles
Maya Hawke has played several LGBTQIA characters on screen, such as Robin Buckley in Stranger Things and Eleanor in Do Revenge. Both of these characters are lesbians who fall in love with women. Maya Hawke has said that she enjoys playing LGBTQIA characters and that she hopes to increase acceptance for gay and bisexual people through her portrayals.
Hawke’s Own Sexuality
However, playing LGBTQIA characters does not mean that Maya Hawke is gay herself. She has clarified that her sexuality is different from her characters’ and that she is not a lesbian. She said, “The reason she [Robin] has all these hard walls is that she doesn’t feel like she fits in. She feels like an odd one out. She’s gay, and nobody knows that. I’m not gay.” She also said that being queer does not mean that she is only attracted to women. She said, “I don’t think it’s a binary thing where you’re either straight or you’re gay or you’re bi or you’re pansexual or whatever it is.”
Maya Hawke’s Perspective on Queerness and Sexuality
Coming Out as Queer
Maya Hawke decided to come out as queer because she felt comfortable with the word and wanted to be honest with herself and others. She said, “There’s something about the word ‘queer’ that feels really good to me. I feel like the word ‘queer’ has a lot of cultural baggage that comes with it, but it also has a lot of power.”1 She also said that coming out was not easy for her because she was afraid of being labeled or stereotyped as an actress.
Her Views on Labels and Identity
Maya Hawke has expressed that she does not like labels or categories when it comes to sexuality and identity. She said, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking your time [to figure out who you are]. I hope that my being open about my queerness will help somebody else feel less alone.” She also said that she believes that sexuality and identity are fluid and personal. She said, “I think everyone should be able to define themselves however they want to define themselves.”
In conclusion, Maya Hawke is not gay, but queer. She has dated men in the past and is currently in a relationship with a man. However, she does not limit herself to one gender or orientation when it comes to attraction and love. She has played LGBTQIA characters on screen and has advocated for more representation and acceptance of sexual and gender diversity. She has also come out as queer and has shared her views on queerness and identity. Maya Hawke is a talented and inspiring actress, singer, and songwriter who is proud of who she is.
