Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 04:00:00 -0600
AFA Action Alert!
Marvel to 'strip' openly homosexual cowboy in comic book
"If the new Rawhide Kid comic series is not an attempt to promote homosexuality, then why purposefully change a character into a homosexual?" - Ed Vitagliano, AFA Journal
Marvel Comics <http://www.marvel.com> plans to break new ground in the comic book industry by introducing the first openly gay title character in a comic book. Marvel expects a February debut of "The Rawhide Kid."
A new story line will reveal the Kid's keen fashion sense - including a stylish leather outfit - in what one Marvel editor boasted would be "the first gay Western."
Marvel is the home of more old-school comics like Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Incredible Hulk. The Kid made his debut in 1955, when comic book sexuality was not an issue and Marvel was looking to cash in on the success of the classic TV show "Rawhide."
"He doesn't come out and say he's gay," explained Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief at Marvel. "But it's obvious through his actions and the things he says that his preference is men, not women."
Ed Vitagliano, news editor of the AFA Journal <http://www.afa.net/journal>, said the comic is an attempt to introduce children to homosexuality. "If the new Rawhide Kid comic series is not an attempt to promote homosexuality, then why purposefully change a character into a homosexual? It seems reasonable to assume that there is some agenda at work."
The new series pairs the original artist, John Severin, now 86, with Ron Zimmerman, a writer for the "Howard Stern Show."
In a bubble in the first edition of the series, Rawhide Kid comments about the Lone Ranger: "I think that mask and the powder blue outfit are fantastic. I can certainly see why the Indian follows him around."
Marvel is planning six stories over the next six months. After looking at the response to those issues they will decide whether to continue production and whether they would be interested in more series with gay title characters.
ACTION NEEDED
Ask Marvel to scrap plans for homosexual characters.