Photo courtesy of Dev, Unsplash.
On Oct. 11 the world celebrated National Coming Out Day. It is a day for people to celebrate alongside others who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
DC Comics made an announcement that would change the comic book industry. Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the Superman comics, will come out as bisexual. This news has become a major topic of discussion across multiple platforms. Having a bisexual main character is not commonly portrayed throughout media, and this is a step in the right direction towards equal representation.
Tom Taylor, the author of the comic, made a statement about his thoughts on this announcement. He told the Washington Post, “I’ve always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I’m very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea.”
As someone who identifies as bisexual, seeing fictional characters begin to mirror my own identity is incredibly comforting. There used to be a time where members of the LGBTQIA+ community were ostracized for simply speaking out about who they are. There has been a significant change since that time period but that does not erase the conversation that members still find themselves facing discrimination.
Awareness of the experiences of LGBTQIA+ members is crucial to learning how to provide the proper support needed. Hopefully DC Comics takes this opportunity to raise awareness of the struggles of those who do not identify as heterosexual. Audiences hope that this character is not solely based on his sexuality and allows for him to develop as any complex character would.
Most attempts that are made to portray LGBTQIA+ characters are one-dimensional, meaning their entire character is built around their identity and they are not provided any more depth. Although it is understandable that the intention is to do good, sometimes those intentions are not conducted based on sufficient research or knowledge. And so, the hope remains that DC Comics portrays Jon Kent as a bisexual superhero that aims to do good and protect mankind.
Representation is crucial and using a famous comic to integrate modern problems is fantastic. The official release of the comic will be historic and interesting to keep up with. It is a new standpoint to have the main character in a superhero comic be bisexual and it creates another safe space for people to see themselves represented.
To think that sexuality is being shown through several lenses throughout multiple platforms is astonishing. Although there is still backlash against such decisions, the progress being made is commendable.
Slowly but surely, LGBTQIA+ members will be able to feel fully welcomed by society and not be judged for not following heteronormative expectations. The countdown to Nov. 6 begins now. It is with great excitement that the world awaits Jon Kent’s grand debut as a new face in the world of bisexuality.
dgonza15@ramapo.edu
