I've have decided to unearth a forgotten but mysterious quote that continues to linger as an unanswered aspect of Solid Snakes identity a full decade after originally spoken.

I will be examining the possibility (as suggested by the quote) that Solid Snake may in fact be a gay or bi-sexual character of the MGS universe.

As a beginning point, let us take a trip back down memory lane of Metal Gear Solid 1, 1998. The scene? Psycho Mantis’ death. The line is quote;

 
“(We now see Psycho Mantis behind Meryl.  He is controlling her.)

Snake     : Who's that!?

Mantis    : Huh?  You don't like girls?”
 

What does he mean? Why would Psycho Mantis, the most powerful practitioner of psychokinesis ask something so conspicuous from the then quite simple minded Solid Snake? There are several possible explanations.


Expl 1: During Mantis’ death speech, he tells Snake how he has read the pasts and futures of thousands upon thouands of men and women, Snake being different from all other minds he's dove into. Mantis was not able to read his future nor was he able to predict the outcome of their battle. This may be used to reference him insinuating that Snake doesn't like girls, as being simply a slip up resulting from Mantis’ inability to read Snakes mind, thoughts and future accurately.

Expl 2: It was either another example of breaking the fourth wall or an inside joke. Psycho Mantis could have been trying to connect with the player by insinuating he or she is homosexual in the context of the game for simply a laugh. MGS2 and MGS3 both portray gay and bisexual characters in sometimes light hearted fashion (Raikov) so it wouldn't be uncharacteristic of the Kojima to to include that line in Mantis’ speech as nothing more than a spoof.

Expl 3:The third explanation which is the main focus of this article is that Psycho Mantis was in fact correct in him implying that Snake is either homo or bi-sexual.


The focus then shifts onto Snakes past girlfriend, Meryl Silverborough whose relationship with Snake contradicts Mantis’ suggestion. There are two possibilities here assuming we go with explanation 3 from above. Snake is either Bi-sexual or he is still a closet homosexual.

MGS2 introduced us to two new bi sexual characters, Scott Dolph and Vamp. During an optional codec conversation with Snake we are greeted with yet even more questions and enigma than with answers. Notice snakes avoidance and flutter in his response below.

 

Raiden: By the way, have you ever met the guy before?

Snake: No.

Raiden: But he seemed to know you...

Snake: Right. Well, I... no...

Snake: ...it can't be...

Snake: I told you that Dead Cell is a group of madmen...

Snake: I wouldn't take anything they say very seriously.

 

Vamp seems to know Snake though nowhere within the game is it suggested that they have encountered each other before. The ostensive explanation would be that Vamp recognized Snakes smell because he smells identical to his clone brother Solidus, the terrorist ring leader. However smell isn't a property that is transferred genetically, it is dependant on both internal as well as external factors. Not to mention that it would be impossible for a mere human that Vamp is to sense such subtleties in odor. We are also given no suggestion that Snake may have known Solidus prior to the Plant incident (Though Solidus was in the position to have knowledge of Snake). Remember, Snake was unaware of even Liquid until the final moments of the original game. Another possibility may be that Vamp and Snake had met before during the Tanker mission. Though there isn't any direct or circumstantial evidence to support this claim.

An alternative possibility may be that Snake and Vamp fooled around at one time. Vamp is known to enjoy spending his time in seclusion –not unlike Snake who spent much of his time in Alaska, following his and Meryl’s breakup secluded from the rest of the world “drinking too much” It is therefore not implausible to say, considering Kojima’s sometimes far fetched story elements, that during those months in Alaska Snake and Vamp may have acqainted each other and high on the buzz of alcohol Snake and him may have engaged in some touchy-feely. In that scenario Snake could well be straight only to have succumbed to the power of booze or he may have been bi sexual the entire time. This scenario would be supported by Snakes apparent inability to clearly recall whatever he was trying to hide from Raiden –As a result of foggy memory from the alcohol and hang overs.

MGS4 sheds no further light onto the matter of Snakes and Meryl's relationship -which may have ended as a result of;

a) Solid Snakes inability to achieve an erection tipping off Meryl's gaydar or

b) Snake running away amid an identity crises to come to terms with his repressed sexuality.


This question is left unanswered in MGS4 and we may never know the real truth about Solid Snake's sexuality...

Snake is not gay. He maybe bi-sexual but not gay.

If you remember in MGS1 in the opening codec sequence Naomi tells Snake that if he gets back in one piece she would let Snake strip search her.

Snake replies "I'll hold you to that doctor"

No gay man would say this. Plus Snake also had a thing for Mei-Ling remember that conversation? Mei-Ling said "I can't believe I'm being hit on by the famous Solid Snake"

Snake not gay. Hell! I'll go as far to say he isn't bi-sexual either.

this week's turning out to be attack snakes manhood this thread and the snake has no penis thread give the old guy a break his been through a lot already, leave snake alone!! i mean it, if you got problem with snake you gonna have to go through me :)

Wow... Nice thread! I dunno anything about snake's manhood.

I guess since we're so used to seeing hokey romances in our super heroes movies that when we don't see one in MGS, the hero is obviously gay.

More importantly, his sexuality has no bearing on the games whatsoever. For some reason, I doubt Kojima has developed the character of Solid Snake so far out of the context of the games.

And why exactly is the failed relationship with Meryl make Snake either impotent or gay? These are barely suggested by the game. Why not use the themes that are actually in the game. For example, maybe Snake can't hold a relationship because he's a super soldier who's only good at one thing: war. That makes more sense considering what the game has actually told us rather than barely suggested to us.

He is not bi sexual or gay, he has no gender look to this thread for more info:   http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?start=0&id=30940

Your attempt to parody The American President has failed.

Hey man, you better chill out with these long MGS4 threads that tries to read more than what the game suggests because the Elitist Gamers from that other thread will come and get you. On Topic: No I don't think Snake is gay, I just think that he feels as if he can't get too close to a girl because he is a soldier and in MGS4 is just too old and that ship has sailed.

So now snake is a gay dickless clone.

The thread about how Snake has no penis was witty, interesting and extremely well-researched. It actually convinced me that it may very well be the case.

This thread however, just draws out assumptions out of thin air. I can't see any real rhyme or reason as to why Snake would be gay.