One Piece is one of the only anime series with well-written LGBTQ+ characters, without falling into harmful stereotypes and Bon Clay is the pinnacle of it.

SUMMARY

One Piece has well-written LGBTQ+ characters, despite being a series that’s over 20 years old, starting with Bon Clay’s introduction in the 2000s.
Bon Clay isn’t defined by being a gender non-conforming character but has many dimensions to him, offering a nuanced representation of transgender and non-binary people.
The former Baroque Works agent isn’t the last queer character in the series with personalities like Ivankov, Kiku, Inazuma and even Yamato.

LGBTQ+ characters in anime are rarely done justice but One Piece has somehow nailed it. Eiichiro Oda doesn’t view them as a gag nor does he write just one token queer character. He’s written a diverse variety of them, particularly transgender and non-binary characters.

One such One Piece character is Bon Clay, also known as Mr. 2 or Bentham. He’s an enemy-turned-ally of the Straw Hats, especially in the Impel Down Arc. His character has become iconic in the anime community for the exploration and casual portrayal of gender non-conformity.

Bon Clay sacrifices himself in the Alabasta Arc in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Bon Clay fits right into the weird and wonderful world of One Piece. Nobody seems out of place in the vibrant story Oda has built, not when characters can be 11 feet tall without others batting an eye.

What fans, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+, love about Bon Clay is the unapologetic expression of his gender. One Piece’s portrayal of him and other queer characters are respectful, despite debuting in the 2000s, and they blend into the world seamlessly without their identities being questioned.

What makes Bon Clay a legend for LGBTQ anime representation

Bon Clay in the Impel Down Arc of One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Bon Clay is a character whose gender non-conformity doesn’t define him. He’s comfortable in his own skin, whether it’s to be more masculine or feminine or even transcending gender. It doesn’t matter to him since he knows who he wants to be. His character is also a lesson in loyalty and friendship rather than just liberation from gender norms.

The Baroque Works agent-turned-ally began to admire and became friends with Luffy and the crew at the end of the Alabasta Arc. Even in the Impel Down Arc, he helped the young pirate without question in the name of friendship.

During both arcs, he sacrificed himself so others could escape. He’s been thrown into Impel Down twice for Luffy. He’s undeniably one of his most loyal friends, apart from the Straw Hat crew and Sabo.

That’s what makes Bon Clay so iconic for the representation of LGBTQ+ characters. His gender and sexuality are not the center of his personality, it’s a piece of him that makes him whole. The fact that this was also the 2000s, where queer characters were always mistreated and their arcs revolved around just that aspect, is revolutionary.

Eiichiro Oda’s diverse portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community in One Piece

Ivankov from One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

The representation of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t end with Bon Clay. In Impel Down, Luffy meets Emporio Ivankov, a founding member of the Revolutionary Army who is a major ally. He even has a Devil Fruit that can inject hormones, including changing the person’s gender.

However, like Bon Clay, his character isn’t defined by it. He often uses his powers for adrenaline rushes and surgeries in One Piece. Similarly, Kikunojo, a samurai from Wano, is canonically a transgender female character. What’s at the forefront of her arc is her strength and not her gender.

In a more controversial turn, Yamato, Kaido’s son, is also portrayed to be a transgender man. Fans debate his gender constantly due to his physical appearance, despite all the hints suggesting the finality of his gender. The petty debate doesn’t discount the fact that he’s an incredible character.

These One Piece characters are an inspiration to the LGBTQ+ fans and Eiichiro Oda did something not even recent anime can do almost 2 decades ago. It just goes to show how easy it is to portray queer characters respectfully without having to lean into harmful stereotypes