Why do Xena and Gabrielle have to be perceived by subtexters as lesbians just because they e strong women?
A9. They don’t have to be perceived as lesbians simply because they’re strong women, but their strength doesn’t preclude them from being lesbian (or bisexual) either. That they are strong women is simply beside the point; I’ve never seen a subtexter argue that Xena and Gabrielle are strong, therefore they are lesbian. They argue instead that Xena and Gabrielle repeatedly share intimate and romantic moments on the show, and therefore they appear to them to have a lesbian relationship.
