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    I'm not even sure how I feel about this. Your thoughts? Is there really a good reason to do this?

    DC Comics  is jumping on the gay wagon. The original Green Lantern, a character named Alan Scott, is returning, but with one major change. He's gay. 


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    There could be two reasons for this. 1) Marketing to the homosexual community or 2) they believe they are helping to educate the readers that gays are good people too. Whatever the case, I think they should just come up with a new character. Why mess with an original character that generations grew up following as the heterosexual hero he was created to be?  I think this just might confuse kids rather than educate them that gays are good people too.


    Thoughts?

    +11  Views: 1202 Answers: 19 Posted: 12 years ago
    bowlesy

    in reply to your reply ,i dont think there is a gay agenda but you have to agree there is a sizeable gay market.

    19 Answers

    Sounds like a marketing ploy to me. . I have never seen the show.

    Colleen

    Moderator
    It's a comic book ;)
    gracelost

    and a show and a movie ]{o}[

    They might think about calling him "PINK LANTERN" maybe! 


    Doesn't bother me.


    KOTF

    Colleen

    Moderator
    Well, if that's not a cliche.....not all gay men like pink shirt man! ;)
    valR

    or rainbow lantern...
    Colleen

    Moderator
    rainbow lantern would work. Everyone loves rainbows :)
    ROMOS

    Or the pink Dollar $$$$????

    Shirt man????
    Colleen

    Moderator
    hahaha, whoops....skirt man. :)
    doolittle

    @ Romos- you should wear a pink skirt..i mean KILT
    gracelost

    he almost is its red so al he has to do is wash it with some whites and whalah! PINK!!

    .


     

    Colleen

    Moderator
    There ya go. The life of a celebrity. Poor guy can't even be allowed to out himself :)
    Colleen

    Moderator
    I think putting too much into the mix for equality might do more harm than good though. I don't really think we need all the gay stuff being so prevalent as it is right now. People might love chocolate but feed them too many and they end up with a major stomach ache and they may start refusing the chocolate in the future because of that. All this attention on the gays lately is making me a little uncomfortable. I'm just waiting for the "stop shoving it down my throat" complaints to begin.

    I heard about this last week. Perhaps they are relaying the fact that it is ok to be gay. I'm sure many people still hide it.  I have many family members who are gay and that was never hidden. However it was never discussed either!

    Colleen

    Moderator
    It's commendable if their message is, it's OK to be gay. I guess I would need to know more of the story. Are they going to write it in that he has been in the closet for generations because intolerance and bigotry? Even if they do, I think this all may be just a bit too deep for a comic. I still think a new character would be the better route to go. Thanks for your thoughts and I'm betting a lot of families have the same pink elephant in their living room ;)

    I wish I could come up with an original answer but, I'm with you. It ain't broke......

    I would assume from this that there is a high percentage of gays in the production team.

    Colleen

    Moderator
    Don't know. I don't really think that would be the biggest reason though. I still suspect money is the motivator.

    you have to ask "why change a tried and tested character in any way"? and for me it comes down to marketing or as tommyh points out that some of  the team behind it are gay and need to put there point over.

    Colleen

    Moderator
    Well, I guess someone needs to ask DC comics how many gay illustrators and story writers they have on their staff before we go assuming too great that there's a gay agenda behind it.
    Colleen

    Moderator
    Yes, there is a sizable gay market. I just don't think changing a longtime character will get more gays buying their comics. As a lesbian I'm absolutely fine with the Green Lantern being heterosexual as I always believed he was.

    Once again, we see an opportunity for someone to make $$$$$$$$$.  Hollywood celebrities, late night talk shows, comedians and even forums, will be talking about this.  What's next?  Purchasing the comic book!  Aahhhhh, marketing.....isn't it great?

    Bob/PKB

    What a sad statement about today's society, playing on sex to make money off all the "good" people who don't "buy" it.....elsewhere!

    I am with you

    I never got into comic books as a kid. My brothers loved them. Why the need to introduce homosexuality into there young minds is a mystery to me. I didn't know what being gay was till I was 14 years old. I don't agree with portraying gay characters in cartoons, comics or anywhere in the school ciriculum for very young children. Tolerance should be taught when the issue of being gay arises for instance "why does Johnny have two mommies"? That is the appropriate time to discuss alternative lifestyles. We don't teach Marxism, socialism, at the comic book reading age, so why introduce this topic at all. There's a time for everything. At that young an age, the time has not yet come. 

    Colleen

    Moderator
    Well I understand why they want to introduce homosexuality to kids and the reason is getting bigger and scarier. More and more kids are dying every year due to bullying and beatings. Kids on kids, they are killing each other through words and violence. A kid just has to be accused of being gay and hell surrounds him. All they want to do is teach that gay is OK and no one needs to die because they are gay. Adults who believe gays should die are teaching the idea to kids and the kids are taking it to heart and attacking kids they "think" are gay. Some of these kids aren't even gay. They've just been accused. I suppose DC feels that because so many kids read their comics then this gives them the change to try and educate these kids.
    ed shank

    Colleen, your 100% correct, kids can be very cruel. And to be labeled anything out of the "NORM" is a recipe for impending harassment. However, being labeled as overweight, unattractive, or someone with a physical disability is more likely to harm themselves than to be criticized for being gay. We now have an epidemic of suicides of young people with access to modern technology (FACEBOOK)for one. I'm afraid that side of human nature will be with us for some time to come.
    Colleen

    Moderator
    All the other labels you mentioned have been part of the do not bully classes. Homosexuality was never part of that list. Now it is being asked that homosexuality be included on the list.
    ed shank

    As well it should.
    Bob/PKB

    When my kids were in 7th grade (12-13), the health class had a section on (shh....s-e-x). I don't remember homosexuality being part of the curriculum at that point in time, but it certainly should be now. UNfortunately, too many kids are sexually active when their ages are barely double digits.

    I've never been a comic book aficionado but I don't believe that sexual preference (adherence) has ever played a significant, if any, role in the super hero's claim to fame.


    If so, why would they want it now. Would the new and improved Green Lantern ( I have never heard of him before ) start appearing in colorful parades and speaking with a distinctive gay lisp ? I know that not all gays speak this way but how else can the authors get the message across if they are limited to basic text and graphic arts ? Surely, they won't be TOO graphic...will they ?

    Colleen

    Moderator
    "Surely, they won't be TOO graphic...will they ?"

    I hope not.
    Bob/PKB

    My thoughts, exactly, digger.

    NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONNONONONONONONONONONONONO PLEASE GOD NO! yes i agree we need gay supers but not one that was first straight!!!! NO! here is what i think a good compramize for everybody what about just creating a new super who is gay instead of making an already great super thats straight gay?!?!?! are running out of creativity whats going on?!? some nimrod just set sails stupid island and he or she is taking the rest of america with him/her!

    It doesn't bother me...Batman & Robin might have been a good pick :)

    gracelost

    NO!! THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN!! they where my childhood heros!! i dont want to see them as gay! and besides Robin is alot younger than batman!
    lindilou

    hahahahahahaha! Good one.

    I don't recall distinguishing gay or straight in anything when I was young, nor can I recall my children doing so, does there really have to be a message in everything, can't kids just enjoy kids stuff and have fun without connotations placed on everything

    Colleen

    Moderator
    See my reply to ed shank.
    lambshank

    perhaps your correct, though sad if parents can't bring their children up to be accepting of people, that is handicapped, overweight gay etc, it was never an issue for my family, still isn't, we accept people for what they are, I like some, not so much others but sexual preference,weight issues etc have nothing to do with it

    OMG. Why does a comic super hero have to have ANY sexual orientation? Why isn't (s)he simply out there fighting crime and saving the world. The private life should be barely existent. IT'S A COMIC BOOK!!  Allusion, perhaps, to an interest in another character, but just in passing. 
    Those super hero movies should have followed the books and that's it.  

    Ducky

    Moderator
    It's all about the $$$$$ in the field of entertainment. Let's start stirring so we can sell more!
    Ducky

    Moderator
    Agreed.
    dowsa

    YES agreed Bob I loved Dc comics got them sent over from the Good old USA.

    I always thought that Batman and Robin had a thing going, as for the Green Lantern, the outfit he wears looks a little gay so why not, as you have told me Colleen, we have gay animals so why not gay characters, Super Hero's or not in comics.

    gracelost

    batman and robin had no thing!
    Colleen

    Moderator
    I don't mind gay characters but Green Lantern has been around 72 years. Why make him gay now? They can create a new character.
    doolittle

    LLB- we think alike...Batman and "Boy Wonder" hmmm
    gracelost

    HEY! DOOLITTLE I SAID NO!
    doolittle

    LOL!! Oh grace..... it's just logical!

    yeah sounds like ano money spinner...but I`LL be back when I`VE REALLY THOUGHT RE IT!!(NO SLEEP..SLEEPY HEAD HERE)...AND I WANT TO ANSWER PROPERLY!!;-)(PLEASE DONT tu me OR DOWN ON THIS...I WANT TO ANSWER PROPERLY)...well td if you like!!!LOL!!!;-))

    Ducky

    Moderator
    Oh millie....TU? TD? TD? TU? TU? I can't decide what to do with you so I'll just wait until you answer properly! LOL!!!!
    millie111

    lol...stress not little duck!;-))....I should`ve left it as a comment not an answer until my tiny brain decides to help out!!LOL xxxx

    It was good fodder for Jay Leno's monolog ; And I"m sure every radio morning talk-show will be talking about this, and making jokes about it.

    I loved DC comics as a kid "Cowboys ( now cow girls ) war heroes. ( now wearing "thongs ) I didn`t mind superman or batman "wearing "Panties. part of the outfit !! I want to "Hit them "Buggers with my handbag !! Them "Writers. "Weep !!  Must see DOC. DOO.

    Bob/PKB

    Some things were fine just the way they aren't any more.
    dowsa

    yes Bob I still live the dream of old !!


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