I dont hear anyone call forcing a unecessary romantic straight subplot into a plot for “pandering”.

That line needs to be screamed from the heavens. For every single person who claims that "Oh their sexuality or identity feels forced" they seem to have no problem with stuff like Hulk and Black Widow having a relationship, or baby t-shirts saying surprisingly sexual stuff (or at least innuendo). Or saying that their kids are dating someone else simply because their child dares to be friends with the opposite sex.

It's exhausting. Everytime there is a gay character it has to meet some random standard that does not exist for any straight characters.