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SEE: DC Comics Introduces First Openly Transgender (Bisexual & Asian American) Character In Batgirl 

DC Comics has stomped on all kinds of boundaries by introducing readers to Alysia Yeoh, a transgender, bisexual, Asian American roommate in issue 19 of Batgirl. 

So Who Was The First Transgender Character In Mainstream Superhero Comics Anyway?

by Rich Johnston

Today, Wired and Comics Alliance ran with the headlines “DC Introduces First Transgender Character in Mainstream Comics” and “‘Batgirl’ #19 Features First Openly Transgender Character In Mainstream Superhero Comics” to announce the revelation of Alysia Yeoh in Batgirl #19 as transgender, a character first introduced in 2011′s Batgirl #1. But there has been some questioning whether that is true or not. The articles do contain some equivocation.

Although Alysia Yeoh may be the first ongoing transgender character in a mainstream superhero book, Simone notes that there have been transgender characters before in independent comics and mature readers titles; and even in the Marvel and DC superhero universes, several characters have achieved gender-fluidity through fantastical means like magic, shape-shifting, brain-swapping, and cloning. “Those characters exist [and] that’s great, but I wanted to have trans characters who aren’t fantasy-based. And I feel like there’s a lot there yet to do.”

But how does it stand up? Even just sticking to DC Comics, there is Ystin of Demon Knights, who was introduced years ago in Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers in 2005. However the character was disguised rather than transgendered initially, and was rebooted as a transfluid character in Demon Knights. Although far more of an issue in the comic, Ystin’s gender identity has, deliberately, never been tied down. There’s Suzie Su of Red Hood And The Outlaws, but she was only introduced in issue 2, a month after Alysia, and her gender identity was only confirmed by writer Scott Lobdell outside of the comic.

There’s the likes of Lord Fanny in Invisibles, Wanda in Sandman, Rebus, Danny The Street and Coagula in Doom Patrol, but they are considered either non-superhero or non-mainstream because they are mature dealers. Though you did get conversations like this.

4334Click the header link to read the full article.

Batgirl's Roomie is DC Comics' First Out Trans Woman

By: Sunnivie Brydum

DC Comics, home to queer-friendly characters like the out lesbian Batwoman and openly gay Green Lantern, just introduced a character who may be the first out transgender woman to have a recurrent role in mainstream comics. She also happens to be bisexual. In Batgirl #19, the titular heroine’s roommate Alysia Yeoh comes out to her superhero roommate as transgender, with a simple statement, reports Wired. 

Batgirl writer Gail Simone told Wired she wanted her characters to reflect the diversity she sees among comic book fans, not yet reflected in characters, who are overwhelmingly male, white, and cisgender (non-trans). Diversity, says Simone, “is the issue for superhero comics. Look, we have a problem most media don’t have, which is that almost all the tentpoles we build our industry upon were created over a half century ago… at a time where the characters were almost without exception white, cisgendered, straight, on and on. It’s fine — it’s great that people love those characters. But if we only build around them, then we look like an episode of The Andy Griffith Show for all eternity.”

Simone told Wired including a trans character was a relative nonissue for her publishers, and doesn’t anticipate much backlash from readers. Still, she promises that Alysia won’t be a token caricature. Alysia “will be a character, not a public service announcement” Simone told Wired. “Being trans is just part of her story. If someone loved her before, and doesn’t love her after, well — that’s a shame, but we can’t let that kind of thinking keep comics in the 1950s forever.”

Here’s the page where Alysia comes out in Batgirl #19, now available in print and digital formats:

DC Comics' 'Batwoman' author J. H. Williams III talks transgender representation

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Tuesday, in an interview with Comicosity, comic book author and Illustrator J.H. Williams III discussed the importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) visibility in the comic book industry. Along with specific issues such as marriage equality and hyper-sexual imagery among female characters, Williams spoke about the need to address real-life transgender and transsexual issueswithin the medium.

In the past decade, Williams has become known as an LGBT ally, visually developing the new, lesbian incarnation of DC Comics’Batwoman under pen of Greg Rucka, as well as writing the character himself with co-author W. Haden Blackman in the 2011 debut of the ongoing Batwoman series—the industry’s first monthly title to feature an LGBT superhero in a starring role. In addition to addressing real-life issues such as the US military’s now-defunct Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell(DADT), Batwoman has recently taken center stage in the movement for marriage equality,proposing to her girlfriend, Detective Maggie Sawyer, in the final scene of Batwoman #17. Although not the first same-sex couple to tie the knot, the pair are the first lesbian couple in comics to address the issue of marriage.

In his interview, Williams also discussed one of his first professional works, DC Comics’ Deathwish(1994), which features a trans woman (Marisa Rahsm) as a protagonist. He stated that illustrating her was something he “really enjoyed” and that—as with all of his artwork—he strived to give her a much more “grounded” physique, as opposed to the often hyper-sexualized body-types given to female characters. Explicitly identified transgender or transsexual characters in comic books are a distinct rarity and intersex characters are all but unheard of. Limited examples of identifiable intersex and trans characters include those in the Japanese manga I.S. (2003), and DC Comics’ character Shining Knight who currently appears in the monthly publication Demon Knights as part of The New 52 line-up. Intersex individuals suffer a great deal of invisibility in society. Trans men and women not only suffer underrepresentation in fiction, but dehumanization by news media. Williams stated that for these minority groups, “[t]here is no proper representation there. Not just in comics, but in all media,” and adds that the opportunity to write a realistic drama involving transgender or transsexual characters “would be fascinating to explore.”

Artist Abandons Orson Scott Card's Superman Comic

DC Entertainment begins the search for a new artist after Chris Sprouse declined to illustrate the antigay author’s Man of Steel adventure.

BY JASE PEEPLES

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A wave of backlash hit DC Entertainment faster than a speeding bullet when the comics publisher announced antigay writer Orson Scott Card had been tapped to pen an upcoming story for the new digital Adventures of Superman series. Though DC was quick to distance the company from Card’s personal views, criticism since the announcement was made in February has only continued to grow and the swell of negative media attention has now caused the artist who was to illustrate Card’s story, Chris Sprouse, to depart from the comic.

“It took a lot of thought to come to this conclusion, but I’ve decided to step back as the artist on this story,” USA Today reports Sprouse said in a statement released Tuesday. “The media surrounding this story reached the point where it took away from the actual work, and that’s something I wasn’t comfortable with. My relationship with DC Comics remains as strong as ever and I look forward to my next project with them.”

Because Adventures of Superman is a digital anthology series of 10-page short stories featuring the Man of Steel, DC still plans to launch the title on April 29. However, Sprouse’s departure means Card’s story has not only been bumped from its scheduled digital release date, it will also no longer be included in the collected print edition’s first issue planned for May 29. The collected edition will instead include stories by writers Jeff Parker, Jeff Lemire, and Justin Jordan as well as artists Chris Samnee and Riley Rossmo.

However, DC still plans to publish Card’s story at a later time and is currently searching for a replacement illustrator.

“We fully support, understand and respect Chris’s decision to step back from his Adventures of Superman assignment,” the company said in a statement. “Chris is a hugely talented artist, and we’re excited to work with him on his next DC Comics project. In the meantime, we will re-solicit the story at a later date when a new artist is hired.”

Marvel Comics’ Wolverine reveals love for and kisses demigod Hercules

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Wolverine and Hercules revealed their love in the latest issue of X-Treme X-Men (Image: Tumblr)
Wolverine and Hercules revealed their love in the latest issue of X-Treme X-Men (Image: Tumblr)
 
Marvel Comics character Wolverine is the latest character to come out as gay, as he and demigod Hercules announce their love for one another in the latest issue of the comic. The Marvel comic, X-Treme X-Men, has featured for some time suggestions of a romance between a version of Wolverine, real name James Howlett, who comes from an alternate universe, and the pansexual demigod, Hercules. In issue number 10, the pair reveal their love for one another and engage in a gay kiss.

The comic has been commended, as more and more publishers depict LGBT characters, many of whom have serious or long term relationships. Last week, DC Comics’ Batwoman proposed to her girlfriend in the latest instalment of the comic strip, amidst controversy surrounding the publisher’s decision to hire a writer with anti-gay views to write for another title.

Batwoman was reintroduced as a lesbian by DC Comics in 2006, in a new title which aimed to reflect modern society more accurate than previous comics. DC Comics have been heavily criticised recently for its decision to hire anti-gay writer, Orson Scott Card, author of Enders Game, to write the first two instalments of its new digital-first comic, Adventures of Superman. Some fans called for a boycott of the company, and of the comic. 

Marvel‘s Northstar, the first openly gay hero, tied the knot with his boyfriend Kyle Jinadu in an issue of ‘Astonishing X-Men’, last year, and recently the creators of Judge Dredd suggested that he could be gay. Last year, Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer, introduced a new, gay, male, vampire slayer named Billy, and spoke about the issues around creating such a character.

Ottawa comic shop pulls books of anti-gay writer

by Kristy Nease

A comic book shop franchise in Ottawa is taking a stand for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights by pulling the work of a writer who publicly opposes gay marriage off its shelves.

The Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street, as well as another location in Nepean, are no longer stocking the work of a controversial American author.
The Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street, as well as another location in Nepean, are no longer stocking the work of a controversial American author. (Google Streetview)

Orson Scott Card, the American author who wrote the popular Ender’s Game science fiction novel, is set to write a story in the upcoming Adventures of Superman for DC Comics. It’s due out in May, but The Comic Book Shoppe has decided not to stock it. Instead, customers can place special orders for the print edition, as long as they do so before March 15. Both Comic Book Shoppe locations also decided last week to pull all of the writer’s other work off their shelves.

“This is a man who wants to criminalize homosexuality,” said Rob Spittall, the owner of The Comic Book Shoppe 2 location on Bank Street, not far from Ottawa’s gay village.

‘I’m in a world of superheroes. It’s the superhero’s job to stand up and fight for what we believe in.’

—Rob Spittall, owner of The Comic Book Shoppe 2

“Superman is a very iconic character to a lot of the gay community. He’s a character that stands for truth, justice and freedom for all, and to see and learn, like I had, about Orson Scott Card … I was astounded to find out that everything there was true,” Spittall said.

He made the decision to make Card’s work available by special order because some customers take collecting too seriously to stop because of someone’s personal beliefs.

“I’m telling my customers I want to boycott this book. You have the freedom of choice whether you want to buy it or not, but we’re saying, please don’t,” Spittall said.

When DC Comics announced Feb. 6 that it had hired Card to create a chapter of a new Superman anthology series, many LGBT groups in the U.S. protested and urged DC Comics to drop him. Card has become a vocal opponent of gay marriage. He’s a member the board of directors of the right-leaning National Organization for Marriage, which has been at the forefront of opposing same-sex marriage laws. He also wrote piece for the Mormon Times in 2009, in which he argued: “Marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down.” In another column in 2012, he called homosexuality a “reproductive dysfunction” born of choice.

Since pulling all of Card’s work last week, Spittall said the response has been overwhelming.

“There’s been a huge wave of support for us. I even got a message from a guy somewhere in the States, I believe North Carolina … saying congratulations and thanks so much for taking a stand on things,” Spittall said. “This story has been tweeted to George Takei, to Ellen DeGeneres and a bunch of others as well, so it’s gained a lot of attention as it’s gone on. We’re simply taking a stand and saying we don’t like this, and that we hope you people don’t as well.”

But the response hasn’t all been positive. Someone unfriended Spittall on Facebook, and he said he’s received emails from customers who disagree with the decision, saying it amounts to censorship. He said he isn’t going to change his mind, and that it’s not the first time The Comic Book Shoppe has taken a stand like this. Spittall said he hasn’t stocked anything by writer Dave Sim for years because of the author’s anti-feminist views.

“I am doing something right,” Spittall said. “I mean, I’m in a world of superheroes. It’s the superhero’s job to stand up and fight for what we believe in. And by me taking this standpoint, it’s sort of following through with my business practices and what I sell.”

Card has made public his opinions about homosexuality known for more than two decades. In a 1990 article for Sunstone Magazine, Card wrote an essay in which he said:

“Laws against homosexual behavior should remain on the books, not to be indiscriminately enforced against anyone who happens to be caught violating them, but to be used when necessary to send a clear message that those who flagrantly violate society’s regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens within that society.”

While he did urge people to treat those who engage in homosexual acts with kindness, he wrote that the “goal of the polity is not to put homosexuals in jail. The goal is to discourage people from engaging in homosexual practices in the first place, and, when they nevertheless proceed in their homosexual behavior, to encourage them to do so discreetly.”

HOLY WEDDING BELLS! BATWOMAN PROPOSES TO GIRLFRIEND

BY: JASE PEEPLES

Will wedding bells be ringing in Batwoman’s future? According to Bleeding Cool, the latest issue of the lesbian caped crusader’s solo series suggests it’s a strong possibility. In Batwoman #17, published today, Kate Kane (Batwoman) proposes to her secret girlfriend Maggie Sawyer. The issue marks another historic milestone for LGBT representation in the media genre as it contains the first lesbian proposal in a mainstream comic book.

Followers of Batwoman artist J.H. Williams III were treated to a hint viaTwitter before the issue’s release that an important chapter in the life of DC’s leading lesbian lady would be going down this week. He also expressed why the character has come to mean so much to him and fans alike on his personal website on Tuesday. “Batwoman is an important character, and a socially important one that has meaning that extends well beyond the printed pages of the world she lives in, reaching out into ours possibly affecting those who encounter her story.”

Positive buzz about one of the highest profile LGBT superheroes in comics today will undoubtedly be welcomed by DC, as the latest developments in Batwoman have unfolded on the heels of the publisher’s earlier controversial announcement that antigay advocate Orson Scott Card would pen the new anthology comic book series Adventures of Superman.

Gay Writer To DC Comics: 'Be Better,' Be Like Superman

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Superman_card

Gay journalist and Superman aficionado Glen Weldon won’t be reading Orson Scott Card’s Superman story. It’s not only that Card’s an anti-gay activist who works with the National Organization for Marriage, it’s because of the character at hand, Superman. It would be a different story if Card were commissioned to helm a story starring a minor character — oft-mocked Matter-Eater Lad, the avowed geek suggests — but Superman’s different; ” he’s the superhero.”

“Superman is an ideal,” Weldon writes at NPR. “He represents our best self. That’s what he’s for. He’s not the hero we identify with — that’s what Spider-Man is for… In Superman, we see ourselves as we hope to be. It’s right there in the name — he’s not ‘Pretty Good Man’ or ‘Doesn’t Suck Man’; he’s Superman. He personifies our noblest ideals, ideals we believe in, and strive for…”

Weldom reminds readers that Superman was originally a “champion of the oppressed,” but has picked up some other fitting nicknames along the way, including “man of tomorrow.”

One of the other nicknames that accrued to Superman right away – that predates “Man of Steel” by a good amount – is “The Man of Tomorrow.” And much of his early iconography bears a distinctive Socio-Realist, Diego Rivera vibe: a lot of burnished golden sunrises, eyes raised to the horizon, gazing into the future.

Because that’s where he lives, Superman. And that’s what he says to us: We can do better. We can be better, to ourselves, and to each other.

Hey, DC Comics? Be better.

So far it seems DC is standing by their decision to hire Card for the two-part digital story. The company said in a statement, “As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself.”

DC Comics Responds to Backlash Over Hiring Antigay Writer

Fans were outraged to learn NOM board member and antigay advocate Orson Scott Card had been hired to write the new comic Adventures of Superman, but the comics publisher is standing by its decision.

BY JASE PEEPLES

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Right: Orson Scott Card

Outrage because a new Superman series will be written in part by a board member from the National Organization for Marriage is not having much effect on DC Comics. The news on Monday that an outspoken homophobe like Orson Scott Card would helm the adventures of an icon who stands for truth, justice, and the American way outraged a number of the comic’s fans, and a petitionrequesting the publisher drop Card is already gaining support.

When The Advocate reached out to DC for an official comment, a company spokesman said, “As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that — personal views — and not those of the company itself.” The spokesman also mentioned the new digital Adventures of Superman comic is an anthology series and would feature an ever-changing group of guest writers, of which Card would be one, and should not be confused with the long-running flagship titles Superman or Action Comics.

In recent years, DC Comics has made a tremendous effort to diversify its cast of characters by introducing new heroes from across the spectrum of the LGBT community. Today, superheroes like the lesbian Batwoman, gay Teen Titan Bunker, and the intersex hero Shining Knight now fight alongside icons such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.  DC’s push for equality has earned the comics publisher multiple GLAAD Media Awards and high praise from its diverse readership. But those same fans who had applauded the company for its historic efforts, were left confounded when DC announced this week that Card, a science-fiction writer, had been hired to pen the new digital comic Adventures of Superman.

Card, best known for writing the sci-fi masterpiece Ender’s Game, has not only served as a board member for NOM, but also has claimed marriage equality would lead to the end of civilization, supports the criminalization of homosexuality, and in an interview with Salon, stated “Gay rights is a collective delusion that’s being attempted.”

Bloomberg Makes Cameo on Gay X-Men Comic

BY Diane Anderson-Minshall

After Marvel Comics released its much ballyhooed Astonishing X-Men #51 featuring the wedding of gay X-Man Northstar and his longtime boyfriend Kyle, LGBT fans held events at comic book stores (including same-sex weddings) around the country. What went unannounced until the issue came out on Wednesday, according to Comic Book Resources, was the guest star in the issue: New York City’s mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as an advertisement that touted New York City as a great place for a destination wedding.

“We’ve had this partnership with Marvel that goes back to the special edition they did of Peter Parker trying to find a job with some of the city resources that were available,” mayoral spokesman Chris Coffey told Comic Book Resources. “The city was really pleased with the partnership and thinks Marvel is a great corporate citizen. And this presented a real interesting way to get a message out to folks.The mayor’s office is always talking about how New York is the center of equality and fairness, so this became a terrific way following marriage equality being legal in New York last year that we can show off to lots of people who are New Yorkers and to people who may be interested in getting married who are from other places. This is a terrific message we’re proud to be a part of and obviously a terrific platform that the mayor’s office of entertainment is thrilled to be a part of.”

Coffey also told Comic Book Resources that when Bloomberg was growing up, he would have been been thrilled to discover he’d be immortalized in the comics. “I think it’s every kids dream to be characterized in a comic book. There are still times when the mayor looks around and is humbled by things like that.”

dommer: The Green Lantern is gay now From James Robinson: “The original version of Alan Scott was an older man, and he had a superpowered son, Obsidian, who was gay. The fact that Scott was young now [thanks to a universe-wide reboot] meant Obsidian no longer existed. I thought it was a shame that DC was losing such a positive gay character. I said, “Why not make Alan Scott gay?”
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dommer:

The Green Lantern is gay now

From James Robinson:

“The original version of Alan Scott was an older man, and he had a superpowered son, Obsidian, who was gay. The fact that Scott was young now [thanks to a universe-wide reboot] meant Obsidian no longer existed. I thought it was a shame that DC was losing such a positive gay character. I said, “Why not make Alan Scott gay?”

(via innmotioninc)

Source: dommer

Million Moms Upset Over Gay Superheroes

BY Trudy Ring

One Million Moms, the right-wing group whose last campaign against a comic book was so successful that the issue sold out, is now upset about DC and Marvel Comics’ gay superheroes.

The group, which actually numbers far less than a million, is responding to DC’s announcement that it will reboot a major character as gay and Marvel’s plans to wed Northstar of the X-Men to his boyfriend.

“This is ridiculous!” reads a post on the One Million Moms website. “Why do adult gay men need comic superheroes as role models? They don’t but do want to indoctrate [sic] impressionable young minds by placing these gay characters on pedestals in a positive light. These companies are heavily influencing our youth by using children’s superheroes to desensitize and brainwash them in thinking that a gay lifestyle choice is normal and desirable. As Christians, we know that homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27).”

The post asks supporters to send DC and Marvel “an email urging them to change and cancel all plans of homosexual superhero characters immediately. Ask them to do the right thing and reverse their decision to have sexual orientation displayed to readers.”

Apparently whoever wrote the post didn’t stop to think that heterosexuality is also a sexual orientation, and it’s displayed to readers all the time. The writer also cites the group’s campaign earlier this year against retailer Toys “R” Us for carrying the issue of Life With Archie depicting popular character Kevin Keller’s same-sex wedding — not mentioning that the issue sold out its entire print run. The Million Moms also tried but failed to persuade JC Penney not to use Ellen DeGeneres as its commercial spokeswoman.

One Million Moms is a project of the antigay American Family Association, classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group for spreading damaging misinformation about LGBT people.

Green Lantern Alan Scott Likely New Gay DC Character

Reliable sources say the original Green Lantern will be the character rebooted as gay.

BY Trudy Ring

The original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, is reportedly the DC Comics character who will be reintroduced as gay.

Bleeding Cool blogger Rich Johnson reports that after he heard that information from other sources, “a much stronger source” at the Phoenix Comic Con told him it is definitely Alan Scott. Still, Johnson offers the caveat, “I could be wrong.”

The character, introduced in 1940, appeared briefly in the first issue of DC’s new series Earth 2. Johnson advises fans to “start queuing up” for the second issue “right about now.”