France: Cartoon characters share gay kisses at equal marriage rally

in: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/01/28/france-cartoon-characters-share-gay-kisses-at-equal-marriage-rally/


The banner featuring the images was featured at an equal marriage rally in south west France (Image: Tumblr)

 

Famous cartoon characters were paired up in same-sex couples in a display as part of a rally for equal marriage in France.

Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck, Tintin and Captain Haddock, Asterix and Obelisk and Smurfette, and her un-named female friend, among others, were featured on a banner as part of demonstrations in support of equal marriage in Angouleme, southwestern France.

Cinabre, who posted images of the banners online, encouraged people to join the rally in the town, and explained where the images came from.

She wrote: “March for LGBT rights today in Angouleme, France… Angouleme is famous for the International Comics festival (FIBD), which starts in less than 2 weeks. So of course, here is the truck used in the march! In the background it’s (sic) the town hall.”

She goes on to say: “Notice the [wedding] rings on the hands of the characters.”

As many as a quarter of a million people gathered in the French cities of Paris and Lyon yesterday to support plans to introduce same-sex marriage equality.

Cinabre went on to say that she had a favourite out of the same-sex cartoon couples featured.

She wrote: “I think the best one is the one with the smurfette, because it mocks the fact that the smurfette is the only female in the smurfs world. She’s not alone anymore.”

On 7 November 2012, French President Francois Hollande’s government approved a bill to legalise equal marriage and allow gay couples to adopt.

When he approved the bill, the same day that three US states - Maine, Maryland and Washington - legalised equal marriage, President Hollande told his cabinet that it would mean “progress not only for individuals but for the whole of society”.

Polls show a majority of French voters support marriage equality, but it has divided the country’s left and right, with lawmakers from the conservative UMP denouncing the measure.

The President had previously conceded that the religious opponents of his equal marriage plans were proving to be “tough” to deal with.

In November, thousands of pro-equality demonstrators turned up to rally at the National Assembly in Paris, to show support for equal marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples.

Last August, a Guernsey artist caused a storm of debate by displaying a collection of artwork showing popular Disney characters engaged in same-sex kisses.




http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/01/28/france-cartoon-characters-share-gay-kisses-at-equal-marriage-rally/

Star Trek icon George Takei appears in new issue Archie Comics

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/star-trek-icon-george-takei-appears-new-issue-archie-comics051212

Encounters gay character of Kevin Keller at Science Fiction convention

George Takei, the openly gay actor who came to fame as Sulu in the original Star Trek television series, appears as himself in the just-released issue #6 issue of Archie Comics.

Takei encounters Kevin Keller at a science fiction convention. Keller is the first gay character in the history and married in issue #16 of Life With Archie.

'With Archie Comics, it’s a fun way and a natural way and an ideal way of advocating happily,' Takei tells the Washington Post.

Takei grew up reading the comics and will sign copies of the issue at Midtown Comics in Manhattan at 9 p.m. tonight (5 December).

He agreed to appear in the series after meeting artist and writer Dan Parent, a life-long fan of the science fiction star, during a comic convention.

When Parent pitched the idea of Keller meeting his dream idol by chance in a future issue, he said Takei was ‘thrilled’.

Archie Comics made international headlines when Keller married his doctor boyfriend with Life With Archie #16 targeted by anti-gay group One Million Moms. Soon after the spike in publicity for the issue, the comic sold out.

Takei married his longtime partner, Brad Altman, in 2006 and has been a high-profile advocate for LGBT equality for more than a decade.

 

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/star-trek-icon-george-takei-appears-new-issue-archie-comics051212

DC Comics pledges to add more gay characters

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

After Green Lantern Alan Scott has come out, DC Comics will ensure Earth 2 has a diverse cast

DC Comics has pledged to add more homosexual characters after the revelation Green Lantern Alan Scott is gay.

The new out and proud superhero will first appear in next week’s issue of Earth 2 published on 7 June.

But he will not be last, as writer James Robinson told gay website The Advocate.

Robinson said: ‘There is another character down the line, but that character won’t be appearing for some time, so it’s probably a bit too early to talk about that, but this book will definitely have a diverse cast. Alan Scott won’t be the only gay character in Earth 2, I promise you that.’

In the previous continuity of the DC universe, Green Lantern had a gay son called Obsidian. Robinson said if they were making the superhero younger, it would be a shame to lose that gay character.

He said: ‘When I began writing Earth 2, I wanted the book to be as diverse as possible, and so I thought, “Why don’t we make Alan Scott gay? Why don’t we make the leader of the Justice Society a gay man”’?

‘I suggested this to DC’s co-publisher Dan Didio, and to his credit there was never a moment of hesitation. He said, “That sounds like a great idea.” There wasn’t a lot of soul-searching about it. It really was a simple and logical decision.’

Comic books have steadily become more diverse. Marvel Comics character Northstar will be marrying his boyfriend in an upcoming issue of Astonishing X-Men.

Robinson was the writer of the first gay kiss in mainstream comic books back in a 1998 issue of Starman. 

http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Marvel Comics plans June wedding for gay X-Men superhero Northstar and boyfriend Kyle Jinadu

in: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA -- Wedding bells will ring this summer for Marvel Comics' first openly gay hero, super speedster Northstar.

The New York-based publisher said Tuesday that Canadian character Jean-Paul Beaubier will marry his beau, Kyle Jinadu, in the pages of "Astonishing X-Men" No. 51. That's due out June 20.

Northstar revealed he was gay in the pages of "Alpha Flight" No. 106 in 1992. He was one of Marvel's first characters to do so.

Since then, numerous comic book heroes and villains have been identified as gay, lesbian or transgender.

Marjorie Liu is writing the series. She says the decision to have the pair marry was fitting, noting that the relationship between Kyle and Northstar has grown in recent years.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2012/05/marvel-comics-plans-june-wedding-for-gay-x-men-superhero-northstar-and-boyfriend-kyle-jinadu.html#storylink=cpy

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