Some fans felt that the sexual nature of Xena and the character Gabrielle 's relationship was cemented by an interview given by Lucy Lawless to Lesbian News magazine in 2003 . In a 2003 interview with Lesbian News magazine , she said that she had come to see Xena and Gabrielle 's relationship as gay after viewing the series finale , though she has also stated on several occasions that she was undecided on the nature of the relationship while playing the role .