In light of the passing LGBT Pride Month, comics are celebrating the acceptance of all sexual orientations through LGBT comic characters and themes. Even more exciting, Archie Comics' only gay character Kevin Keller finally got his very first kiss!
The romance and drama all takes place in Pop Tate's diner in Riverdale. After Kevin and his boyfriend lock lips, one Riverdale mom spots them and causes a huge scene at the diner. Kevin, unfortunately used to that kind of behavior, doesn't overreact, but it's feisty Veronica who gets upset for her friend. Of course, Veronica records the entire dispute and uploads it to the Riverdale equivalent of Youtube. This, in turn, starts a pretty heated debate for the Riverdale community.
The strict censorship of writing about gay and lesbian themes was enforced by Comics Code Authority up until 1989. Although this didn't stop everyone from writing about gay characters, comics were definitely not as liberated and open to the content as they are today. We can anticipate that in the near future we will see more LGBT comic characters in a positive light and as our superheroes.
LGBT Comic Book Characters
Archie Comics' Character Kevin Got His First Kiss
Trend Themes
1. Celebrating LGBT Characters in Comics - The 'queer voice' in comics is growing louder; opportunities abound for creative teams to increase visibility and representation of homosexuality, resulting in comics that are more relatable to the LGBT community.
2. Increased Diversity in Comic Characters - Comics are becoming more diverse in sexual orientation depictions, especially as they strive to keep pace with a dynamic and demanding market. Publishers can fill gaps in representation and appeal to an under-served readership by developing new LGBT characters.
3. Widespread Acceptance of LGBT Characters - A social sea change in attitudes about sexuality has created an almost insatiable demand for stories that feature gay, lesbian, and transgender characters; information silos have created a 'call and response' effect that influences and reinforces acceptance of the LGBT community.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing and Printing - Expanding the niche market of LGBT comics and graphic novels will demand innovation by comic publishers and printers alike; new marketing strategies, subject matters, and characters are necessary to meet demand and fill a growing need for more diverse voices in publishing.
2. Film and TV Entertainment - As comics and graphic novels continue to grow in popularity, the opportunity arises for bold TV and film producers to develop stories with distinct voices and groundbreaking content that explore the dynamics of human relationships from unique perspectives.
3. Art and Design - Meeting demands for diversity in comic characters and storylines provides a generational opportunity for new talent in art and design; emerging artists have a chance to build a career creating iconic characters and new universes that accurately reflect today’s society and trends.