Much like our favorite legacy gays Ernie and Bert, a certain duo in the Nintendo universe have long been the subject of gay speculation. The official narrative of the games would have us believe that Mario and Luigi are brothers. But is that the whole story? Oh, most certainly not.
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Many queer scholars have done deep dives into the origins of these characters, as well as their inherent queerness. From deep discussions of Birdo’s transition journey to Princess Peach’s sapphic appeal, there’s a lot to chew on when it comes to these characters. You could make the case that the entire extended Nintendo universe is queer, and indeed, you wouldn’t be far from the mark!
Which is why we’re thrilled that a certain now-viral video on TikTok is proudly advancing this view.
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Viral star Mama Lulu—also known as Grandma Kirby—showed up for Pride Month by reminding everyone that Mario and Luigi are in fact gay boyfriends. And if you don’t think that’s canon, you’re playing the game wrong!
She also explains that Yoshi—who lays eggs—in nonbinary, a completely correct take, and that Peach and Daisy are girlfriends. Again, where is the lie?
“Mama knows a lavender marriage when she sees it,” one commenter wrote.
“The mushroom is gay!” Mama Lulu continues after being told by her son that no one in the Nintendo universe is meant to be gay—allegedly.
“Bowser’s not gay either!” He says.
“Of course not!” Mama Lulu states. “He’s homophobic. Because Mario and Luigi are gay and they’re always annoying him.”
I mean, exactly. She gets it. During a sadder than usual Pride month, Mama Lulu continues to show up for the queer community like the hero she is.
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