More Than a Gay Stereotype: The Impact of Angel Dust

Artwork by Identity Pollution (Twitter, X)

When it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in the media, there tends to be a lot of discourse about how to represent these characters and what is considered "good" or "bad" representation. Being a part of media discourse since I was in high school, I started to understand that everyone's definition of "good" representation of any marginalized group in the media will be different for everyone. Although there has been one character that has been the subject of a lot of discourse in regards to not just LGBTQ+ representation, but also how abuse is portrayed in the media; and that character is none other than the gay spider demon himself, Angel Dust.

Angel Dust is the most polarizing character on Hazbin Hotel. If you ask anybody about their opinions on him, they will say they either love him or hate him. My opinion on him is that I absolutely love him. While it did took me a bit of time to warm up to him, by the halfway point of season one, he became one of my favorite characters. I was moved by his story and loved how much he grew as a character throughout the season. The character Angel is at the beginning of the season and the end of the season feel like two completely different characters. However, many people cannot see that development and see him as nothing more than a gay stereotype. The first thing people tend to point to is Angel's original design and his original characterization.

Artwork by Vivienne Medrano

What many people leave out is the fact that a lot of the character traits from Angel's original design were also in the final version. Near the end of the fourth episode of Hazbin Hotel, "Masquerade," Angel and Husk have a scene together where they kill loan sharks immediately after singing "Loser, Baby." He is able to use six semiautomatic rifles at once when in battle. That alone is proof that he is still just as badass as he was during the early years of development. He even says after the fight was over, "Like I said, you don't know me. Sex ain't the only thing I'm good at."

A very common stereotype withing the LGBTQ+ community is how they tend to be hypersexual and addicted to drugs. These are two traits that Angel Dust has in the show. Many people tend to bring this up the most when it comes to talking about how Angel Dust is not a good representation of a gay man. While there is a lot of room for improvement in these areas, Angel's character is not just sex and drugs. These aspects of his character are clear flaws that have been shown in the show so far that are not his entire personality.

Many little moments in the show even prove that Angel's character is much more than just sex and drugs. The way he interacts with the girls in particular, as far and few between as they are at the moment, shows that he sees them as sister figures in a way. He gets on Vaggie's nerves whenever he gets the chance. He tried his hardest to protect Charlie from his abuser so she did not get hurt. He made sure Niffty was safe in the club during the sixth episode and tried to comfort her when he accidentally made her cry. Cherri Bomb was more than likely Angel's only friend before coming to the hotel and she is he first one he talks to about a hard day in the studio.

Another thing that people tend to bring up when it comes to seeing Angel as a gay stereotype is how he presents himself as feminine. This one in particular makes me the most angry because there are many men of all sexualities and identities that present themselves as feminine and have more than likely been bullied because of this. When a man presents themselves as feminine, it shows me that they are not afraid to be themselves and do not care what other people think when it comes to how they present. They would rather be themselves rather than be pressured to be what society wants them to be.

Just because Angel presents himself as feminine does not automatically mean that he is a gay stereotype. When I see Angel, I see someone that is unapologetically himself and is not afraid to be who he is. I see someone who longs for real intimacy, but his brain has been rewired to only understanding what Valentino has been spoon feeding him for decades. That talk he had with Husk and singing "Loser, Baby" in the middle of the season was the biggest moment of character development for Angel. After that, he stopped the act completely and Husk even said to him, "I guess you have changed."

Artwork by Sc4rT0st (DeviantART)

One thing I would love to see in the future seasons is the side of Angel we have been seeing in the second half of the first season. I would love to see Angel joking around more about things that are not dirty. I would love to see how his relationship with Husk develops throughout future seasons, and maybe a kiss between the two (did I just expose my shipping preferences?). But most of all, I would love to see Angel free from his contract with Valentino so he could truly become and see himself as more than just a sex object.

While I cannot change other people's opinions about Angel Dust, what I can do is offer a new perspective on his character. When I see Angel, I see a fun yet tragic character that can and deserves to be redeemed. I see someone who is soft, silly, badass, and he truly cares about his friends. I see a character that deserves love and to be loved in the best way possible.