In an effort to build a space for queer people like myself, every Tuesday I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces, listicles, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.) Welcome to Queerly Not Straight! Enjoy and leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for what I should cover next.
Jonathan Kent from DC coming out as bisexual on National Coming Out Day matters. It especially matters when homophobes are losing IT on social media and calling it out, disgusted that their “sacred” comics would be so “PC” and “forward-thinking” to include those that, you know, read comics as well. As if only heterosexual and gender-conforming people are the only ones who enjoy getting their nerd on with a good comic or two. Or twelve.
The truth of the matter is that queer people belonging to the LGBTQ community, or the Alphabet Mafia as we now love to call it, are part of the DC Universe already. What did you think Wonder Woman was up to on Themyscira? Just learning how to fight and hanging out with her people? No. Diana was getting to know herself, what she liked in others, and what it felt like to be in relationships with other women. It wasn’t frowned upon or seen as abnormal to be with other women. It just was.
Then you have icons like Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. They’re part of the LGBTQ community too and their continued touching moments together as a couple have inspired queer people everywhere. Then there’s Constantine. He’s got absolutely no trouble going for what he wants, when he wants. Oh, and you can’t forget baddies like Renee Montoya and Batwoman. Especially with the latter having a show on The CW that just keeps getting more sapphic as the episodes pass, thankfully.
Point being, LGBTQ characters have been part of the DC Universe for ages. And complaining about Jonathan Kent joining that Alphabet Mafia just goes to show the world that there is something that THEY (homophobic incels) don’t feel comfortable with the people around them and the within themselves. It also goes to show that they don’t understand that it’s not all about them. Comics aren’t and shouldn’t always cater to just one group as if no one else matters. In fact, it would be boring if it did.
So moves like having Jonathan Kent, aka the New Superman, coming out as bisexual are revolutionary for those who have read these comics and been part of this world since they were kids but never saw themselves in its pages. Plus, take into account that he isn’t like any other human. In fact, he’s half Kryptonian, meaning he was raised by a father who saw the world differently and handed that down to his children. Combine that with Lois Lane being a champion of the people, and you’ve got a young man who knows he can be himself.
Jonathan Kent matters. Him coming out as bisexual matters. And it shows that change is here to stay. We’re not going backwards. We’re going forward, bisexual flag held high. And sure, some at DC might be doing this all for brownie points. But those who are finally seeing themselves in the content they consume honestly don’t give a fuck. We’re happy. We’re queer. And we can’t wait until we get more or for the possibility of The CW following in these footsteps because, why not? Progress it real and we’re loving it.
Queerly Not Straight posts every Tuesday with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latinx community since I am Latinx.)