"There are an awful lot of gays in comics these days."
It's not quite how I would put it but my customers are right. Ever since we've been allowed to get married and be on television, comic characters have started coming out. Nobody famous and obvious, like Batman or Wonder Woman, another rant for another time. Instead, DC created Batwoman, the love interest of Renee Montoya, a former cop for Gotham City. Marvel's biggest gay names are Wiccan & Hulkling and the Ultimate version of Colossus. When I first learned about all these gay characters in comics I became excited and started grabbing any appearance I could find. But something was seriously off. The relationships are far from physical, romantic, or even normal. Not once have I seen two gay characters say, "I love you," or kiss or even hold hands. Lesbians can get away with physical affection, but only because it's considered a "fan service". It seems to me that either there are no gay writers (*cough, cough*) or the public is trying to include the homo without the sex.
There's plenty of gay characters on TV. They fix hair, act effeminate for cheap laughs and occasionally get angry at the world, but no one seems to want to let the cat out of the bag that we're actually surprisingly normal. No, just focus on the stereotypes. Nevermind that we date, love and, yes, fuck just like everyone else. That makes some people uncomfortable. So instead, we become some kind of creepy, neutered, sexless gender. If a boy and girl kiss it's not even worth a PG rating at the box office, but as soon as two boys get involved it's lucky if you can keep it at R. Flash all the girls' boobs you want, we'll make sure the 17-year-olds get their fill. But if there's any male nudity, you'd better be ready to start promoting at venues with "Adult" in the name. It takes me back to high school, when our theatre caused an uproar by producing a gay farce. One of the boys pretends to be a girl so his parents won't know he's gay, hilarity ensues, etc. We were allowed to do it, but under strict guidelines from the school board:
1. No physical contact lasting more than 3 seconds.
2. No kissing of any kind.
3. No hands allowed below or on the waist.
4. Hugging is acceptable, provided that both pairs of arms are kept at shoulder level.
5. While seated, a hand may be placed on the knee, but not around the shoulder.
6. No distasteful gesturing of any kind will be tolerated.
Now, was any of this enforced on the straight couple? Of course not. Hell, they had a make-out scene on top of the kitchen counter if I remember correctly. Though that was partly our director's way of getting a dig at the school board. And did they have any objections to dressing in drag? No, because it's funny. Well, I've got news for the world. Not only do gays do everything, and I mean everything, that breeders do, we do more than most would dare to even dream. Just something to think about when you start feeling progressive just for having a minor gay character. We're not impressed and you're not learning anything until sex is allowed to be a part of homosexuality.
