Doctor Strange 2 banned in Saudi Arabia for featuring gay character

Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange 2 has been banned in Saudi Arabia for including a gay character, and is likely to be banned in Kuwait as well.

According to THR, sources in the Middle East revealed that the reason was that the character played by Xochitl Gomez, Miss America, was gay in the movie. Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf countries, and it is difficult for movies with LGBTQ or LGBTQ connotations to enter local theaters.

Tickets for Doctor Strange 2 are no longer available in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, but they appear to still be available in the UAE.

"Doctor Strange 2" is not the first movie to be banned because of homosexuality. Before this, Marvel's "Eternals" was also banned by Saudi Arabia because it had a same-sex couple. The first gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Phastos.

"Doctor Strange 2" will be released in North America on May 6, 2022.