The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

I am posting this here because comics are supposed to be entertaining.

What the he!! is going on? DC Comics have announced that one of their Superheros is going to come out of the closet as soon as June, and they wont say which one as to feed on the speculation from their readers.

'Astonishing X-Men'(sic) plan a same-sex wedding. Gay mutant hero Northstar proposes to his longtime boyfriend Kyle.

My whole life I have never said that you could not be gay. Just dont be in my face with all the "You have to respect us" shoved down my throat. What you do in your private life with whom you want to is your business. Not mine.
But the comics I grew up with had no sexual type of references and todays kids should not be subjected to that kind of opinion while trying to escape into a fictional story about their heros.

Didn't Marvel do this years ago?

I would have guessed BatMan. He lived with a man and they both wore tights. They had a pole in their living room. His name was Bruce.

I thought SNL did it..

judging by this list, i am pretty sure the private lives of superheroes have been in comics for awhile:
http://io9.com/5907029/10-insanely-awkward-superhero-romantic-subplots

And his roommate was Dick.

So your saying that the comics you grew up with never had romantic relationships, weddings, dating or any of that?  I distinctly remember iconic couples like Superman and Lois Lane, and Spiderman and Mary Jane Watson (though this was not his only love interest).  Or is it only a sexual reference when it reminds you that there are people out there that are different from you?

Oh, and you should probably stay away from DC's new 52. 

Hello?. . .They're all gay. 

Marvel will soon announce that all superheros are gay.  They've tried to drop hints for decades, but you people are just too dense to pick up on it.  Spandex, glittery masks, capes, and hooker-boots, come on people, do they have to spell it out for you?

(http://comics212.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/560gaybatman.jpg)

I'm thinking it's going to be Wonder Woman and Lady Blackhawk.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohMNGeYGg6w[/youtube]

Wow, you must not have been reading the same comics I was.  As has already been mentioned, many a superhero (the classic Superman and Lois Lane love story for instance)has fallen in love with someone, or had someone fall in love with them, had old flames, high school sweethearts, etc. And there is the ol tried and true plot line of "do I tell this person I love who I really am, or should I even allow myself to have a relationship and possibly put them in danger", etc.   So only straight superheros can express those feelings and thoughts or have those relationships, not gay ones?  And it's ok for straight people/superheroes be in gay peoples face about their sexuality and shove it down their throats?  Please do you straight people always have to wear your wedding rings in public and shove it down our throats that your better than us and we are "less than human" without the same feelings, needs and desires?  Do you really HAVE to talk about the hot date you had the other day or what you and your better half did last night (movie, dinner, I dont want to hear it)?  I don't need to hear what you straight people do at home and I dont want to see it in public either.  Ick, straight people walking in the park holding hands, how gross and why do they have to be on display like that. Naaaasty.  What if someones children were to see that?  Heaven forbid they see some straight people kissing IN PUBLIC.  How would you explain THAT to your children?

Exactly the reason MC and I keep our flaming heterosexuality to ourselves ;)

Hmm. 60s and 70s comics(yes i'm old) did show Superman in love with a woman. How in the World in that day and age did I not see that as strange or weird? Oh! because every couple I seen growing up in this society was a man and woman!

I am just stating that comics, just like Trix are for kid's. Some people would like their childrens sexual orientatation to be taught by some other means than media publications.

More adults are reading comics these days than kids.

"Taught"?

But you said that the comics you read had no sexual type references.  Oh, I get it, you want it to go back to how it was where a normal relationship, just because it differs from yours, has to be hidden from view to make you more comfortable.  I gotcha.  So in that case, since there are kids growing up in households with same sex parentage, we don't want them to learn about opposite sex sexual orientation by media publications, so let's just take all of it out and see how sterile we can make everything.

Wow, I am out of it, I missed that wording.

Did I miss something? help me out here guys.

And you PC society are right. I wont question ever again. My kids dont read comics and I'm sure if they want to know more about gay society, there is plenty to learn on LOGO T.V.
Now if they come out with a gay video game. I might be concerned.

P.S. I'm not sure who they are, so you dont have to jump on me about that wording either.

So everything minority or "not of the majority" is strange and weird?  (not to mention you probably did see gay couples and didn't realize it and many a gay couple during that time were forced to hide, or a gay person couldn't even be in a healthy relationship...I hope you don't wan't us to return to that)

So you going to say that we shouldn't allow heterosexual relationships to be "taught" in media publications as well?  There are gay children out there after all and yes some of them have loving parents who care about them.  

"Gay society" ?  What?

There again. Spell it out for me.

I'll spell out what I meant. Comics, cartoons and the media are not teaching anyone to be gay or how to be gay. They are at best a fuzzy reflection of what is already happening, sometimes a totally incorrect picture. But they are not teaching anyone to be gay.

I spent the last six months side by side daily with a person in their mid forties. That person was the epitome of competency in the position. It wasn't until the last month that I suspected and found out in casual conversation that the person was gay. We talked a little bit about it but that person wanted to be known for their work ethic and skills, not their sexual preference. You see people all the time who reflect that attitude yet are careful to not divulge their preference until they know you aren't going to tag them with it.

Artist, your turn.

You apparently don’t have gaydar. 

Switched it off. Didn't seem necessary. Too old to date, and too libertine to care!

Auqaman. Thanks for that. I like thought out responses and not just reactionary ones to what I post.
Believe me I know that my ignorance on the subject is not bliss. I understand that this World has evolved well past what I grew up with and believed.

And I will not say the old adage, that I have lots of gay friends. I have two and they are great people.
So if comics are just another step for equal rights for all. Then so be it.

It comes down to the fact that when you try to draw attention to it, that is what is singling it out as something wrong.  Being gay isn't a choice (Okay, I'll admit, there are a few weird exceptions out there, but they are far and few between), nor is it unnatural or a bad thing.  It's simply how people are.  When you complain about normal situations where you would never say anything if it's a hetero situation, that is where the problem comes in.  It's paramount to complaining because they put women in comic books, or blacks, or insert any by birth minority that has been oppressed in the past.  It's not about teaching people about it, it's simply reflecting life itself in what should be a normal way.

Thats why I like this forum. Kudos Custosnox.

I guess my first favorite gay character in cartoons was Fred Flintstone. The song did refer to him as having a gay ol' time.

Somebody explain this...(probably best viewed away from the office).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbianism_in_erotica

excerpts...Several penile plethysmography studies have shown high levels of arousal in heterosexual men to pornography showing sexual activity between women. One of these studies reported that on average heterosexual men are more aroused by pornography showing sexual activity between women than they are by depictions of heterosexual activity.

Mike I have always wondered about that very thing. Only to be told the infantile macho answer that a man wants to be the bologna between that sandwich.

So if men get turned on by two woman. Do women get turned on by two men?

Don't know why they wouldn't? 

I mean after all, they are going to want to talk afterwords, and what better to talk about than shoe shopping and latest episode of Glee, with two guys that like to cuddle?

According to my female friend, "Yes, sometimes".

  I think that when people hold a negative prejudice against a group they tend to see perceive things, that this group does or says, differently than they would if it were in any other similar situation or circumstance.  But that group or person in that group, in that instance, may just want to be treated like everyone else.

  If your at work and one guy says "Yes me and my wife went out to dinner last night and had a great time."  or a young guy or gal starts talking about the hot date they had last weekend.  Nobody really thinkgs much about it.  But then if the gay guy says says he went out on a date last weekend, or went to the movies with their boyfriend,,, suddenly its its a gay person flaunting their sexuality and shoving it in everyones faces.  That's negative prejudice at work.

  This may not be the best example, but, people can go to the Scottish games and see guys in skirts. And that's ok.  You can see outlandish costumes at Mardi Gras parades.  See people in extremely colorful costumes at a Chinese New Years parade.  See guys in gowns at a Church or Graduation.  See indians in beaded garb wearing huge headdresses bouncing around chanting.  See guys in tights with codpieces and wearing funny hats at a Rennaissance Fair. etc. etc. etc.  And that's ok. But then a guy in drag at a parade or in a show is offensive?  It's just a costume like any other, sometimes done in play, an exaggerated comedic farce or even in a show as an art form.  But it's still just a costume.  To perceive it differently is again, prejudice at work.

And part of what I find striking about this discussion is this perspective.

A young gay person can be alienated in their own home and from their own family.  At the holidays, aunts, uncles, cousins, even parents can make jokes about or say terrible things about gay people.  Imagine how the little gay kid feels in that environment.  These people may say they love you, but you know differently.  They do not love you, they love who they THINK you are, but they do not love you.  

Imagine the teenager who comes out to his parents only to have the mother threaten to kill herself or the mother say to the child that they will go to hell and it would have been better for them if they had never been born.  I personally know people who have had those things happen to them.      

Imagine being at school and having to hide who you are while all your friends start dating and are going through the learning process of dating, building relationships, etc.  Meanwhile you are either left out or have to lie and pretty much exist in fear of being found out and being bullied and teased, and outcast.  

Imagine being at church and hearing that you will go to hell or as we have heard in the news lately that gays should be rounded up, put behind electrified fences and starved to death.  Or that they should be hit or beaten if they are found out or exhibit effiminate behavior.  

Imagine that no matter where you are, at home, at school, at church, etc. and every day, every week, every year you have to deal with that stuff, as a kid for goodness sakes.  Sometimes feeling so horrible that you might even try to kill yourself, and unfortunately, many do.  

So now here we are, worrying about some little straight kid possibly running across a comic book in which there is a gay character..... And THATS an outrage.  And thats going to do something terrible to THIS kid in a world where the vast majority of everything, on this subject anyway, is going their way?  The poor gay kid is going through aaaall that other stuff, day in and day out, year after year, but that comic book is going to ruin some straight kids life if they run across it.

Can you not see just a liiiittle bit of where the gay per might be thinking, "Ok really?"  

You know, all those insults and hateful comments in the news, etc. don't bother me personally as an adult.  But the reason I speak out and say something is because I know how it felt to be that little kid and that teenager.  I remember the fear, and the pain and the hurt.  I am speaking out for them and I will stand up for them when others will not.  

I've rolled this around in my head for years.  So far the best I can come up with is either attraction or homophobia in the regards of fear of being gay.  Simply put, it's either that the man is attracted to women, not men so when viewing sex scenes they just want to see women, but seeing self masturbation gets old, or they are afraid of being gay themselves, or being identified as such, and thus avoid seeing men in sexual situations.  

I don't think it happens as often with women viewing gay situations with guys primarily because women tend to be attracted to more than just physical qualities, not to mention the taboo that has existed for so long of any kind of sexuality between men, even unintended.  Think about it, guys have to share a hotel room, one bed, 9 times out of 10 they will opt for one to sleep on the couch or floor, where as women will be willing to share the bed.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fYfdlKIon4[/youtube]

This type of crap is why it's a good thing to inform kids there are other lifestyle choices and they are acceptable.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/05/flock-stands-by-pastor-who-calls-for-eliminating-gays/1 (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/05/flock-stands-by-pastor-who-calls-for-eliminating-gays/1)


Stupid dumbass.

So how does the reveal come about?  Superman opens his wallet and a three dollar bill falls out?

Where in the world does he keep a wallet?
Hawkgirl buys Wonder Woman a strap on?

Maybe gay superheroes isn't such a bad idea.  Maybe the acceptance of those different from ourselves has to start with children, as adults can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that sexuality does not the person make.  So what if little Johnny finds out that his favorite superhero Spiderman is gay?  Or maybe Johnny thinks Wonder Woman is hot, then finds out she's into women.  When he meets his new friend's parents who, just happen to be both male or both female, I doubt seriously that little Johnny will be bothered nearly as much about it as his own parents might be. 

We are human first. Let us not be judged by our differences, but by how we treat each other.

LIKE!

Batman invites Robin into the Batcave.

You mean the superheros of our childhood were NOT gay? 

Secret/double lives
Glamorous outfits (fully accessorized)
Tights!
Secret hideouts for clandestine get-togethers
Never married
Fabulous homes
Expensive cars
High-tech accessories
Exclusive, all-boys clubs
Awkward when dealing with advances of female co-workers
Freely associates with BDSM kinksters and/or drag queens such as Wonder Woman & Catwoman
Tendency to wear capes...

 

Yes! Exactly.  This is the kind of thinking we need


There is a group that has responded to this guy by making donations to LGBT groups in his name.  Let the info packets roll in.

Johnny Storm/The Human Torch

"Flame On!"

Enough said.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqTo4s4w8R4&feature=related[/youtube]

Well it looks as if DC Comics has chosen "Green Lantern" as their Gay Superhero. It will be a new Green Lantern in another demension.

They made him a racial minority and now gay. Apparently the head of DC not a big Green Lantern fan.

  I think the gay superheros from the other comics are asian and black.  Why aren't there any white, gay superheros for me to identify with?  No fair!

At least they are white in Southpark

(http://mshades.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/south-park-gay.jpg)

Batgirl is white

Well apparently the gay Green Lantern is white again (thus disproving the saying, as he did go back)

Just to clarify, there are four Green Lanterns on Earth, though two of them are, to say the least, suspect, in their claim.