She finds strength in helping others and her relationship with Renee Montoya is as beautiful as it is tragic. She’s kicked out of the military because of their prejudiced policy and finds a new path as a costumed vigilante who protects Gotham.
Kate’s life is explored in a deeply personal way. Williams, which still stands out as a masterpiece. She was featured in the weekly comic 52 and then given her own comic book by Greg Rucka and J.H. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne’s cousin, a trained military soldier, and a lesbian woman who’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life. In 2006, a new Batwoman was introduced to the world and because of that iconic symbol on her chest, she opened the door for others to follow. These two women might be bad sometimes, but together they’re very good. The two come together and realize how effective they are (with crime and their personal relationships) and this affection grows into a relationship. They’ve both been mistreated and objectified in different ways, which is why their friendship feels so freeing. Harley was manipulated by the abusive Joker, and Poison Ivy has had to fight a patriarchal society bent on harming the environment. The DC Pride 2022 comic spotlights these characters and shows a growing interest in advocating for more representation.īoth Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy’s pasts have been riddled with men who’ve done them wrong. As DC continued into the 2000s, more LGBTQ characters began appearing and have become favorites among many fans. In 1998, Mikaal Thomas/Starman had DC’s first same-sex kiss which pushed things forward since he was a bonafide hero without negative connotations surrounding him. It wasn’t until the openly gay Flash villain Pied Piper appeared in 1991 that things started to turn around. Its first attempts at gay representation, as addressed in an essay from The Mary Sue, were marred by outdated stereotypes prevalent in the era.
Marvel Comics was credited for its social justice narratives with stories tackling civil rights in the work of X-men in the 1960s, whereas DC was beginning to seem like a relic of a bygone era.
The comic book publisher hasn’t always been known as the forerunner when it comes to social causes, however. DC Comics has an ever-growing list of characters in the LGBTQ community who add to its representation and reflect the world as it is.