GEEKERY AND HOCKEY

gailsimone:

…and what should be done about it?

The bigot group ONE MILLION MOMS is protesting Archie Comics for their positive and prominent portrayal of a gay male character, Kevin Keller, in their recent books. They are also protesting Toys R Us for displaying and selling these books.

These are the same awesome bigots (who, by the way, number in the tens of thousands, nowhere near a million) who tried to shame JC Penneys into dropping Ellen Degeneres as a company spokesperson because she was gay. They are the same philosophical type that successfully bullied Lowes and other companies to dropping commercial ads for a tv series about a Muslim family because the show didn’t present them as appropriately terrorist-y enough.

Simply put, they want to shame and bully companies into pretending gay people do not exist. The very idea of gay people being visible in the media upsets their delicate bigot brains.

Of all the mainstream comics companies, Archie is doing some of the most progressive and positive stuff out there right now. They have a book with a lead male character who is gay, and prominently did a story of him marrying another man. Without shame, without judgment, in a joyful spirit and in a very entertaining manner, at a time when a lot of lgbtq young people are hungry for positive messages.  When some people asked if they were worried about controversy, Archie reps literally said, “We don’t care if bigots don’t read our comics.”  I love them for that.

So of course, some small minded people want them to sit down, shut up, and pretend it’s 1950.

Here’s the story: http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/29/it-had-to-happen-one-million-moms-targets-archies-gay-marriage-and-toys-r-us/#comment-177206

What I propose is this:  even if you are not a regular Archie reader, when you go to the local comic store to get your books this week, pick up one or several Archie comics. Make your voice heard at the retail level. Same thing with Toys R Us, if you happen to be there.

Just as importantly, let the retailer know you support what Archie is doing. I’ve been kidding around, calling this Occupy Riverdale, but the message is serious. Pick up a couple or a few Archie books and let the retailer know why you support them (aside from the fact that their comics are always lots of fun and gorgeously drawn).

I would love to see the industry stand up to these bullying zealots for once instead of quietly hoping the little squalls don’t become a big storm. We all can help!

Please spread the word, buy Archie comics and make a bigot cry!