Wired magazine revealed today that DC Comics, a “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender” (LGBT) friendly children’s comic book producer, will introduce the first transgender/bisexual mainstream comic book character. “Transgender Barbara” will appear in Batgirl #19 on sale April 10, 2013.
Once banned from the world of mainstream comic books by the infamous Comics Code Authority, LGBT characters now have a stronger presence in the world of superhero comics than ever before, with gay and lesbian heroes like Batwoman, Northstar and Green Lantern Alan Scott openly declaring who they are — and even getting married. Today, DC Comics told Wired that it will continue to expand the LGBT diversity of its superhero universe by introducing the first openly transgender character in a mainstream superhero comic.
In Batgirl #19, on sale today in both print and digital formats, the character Alysia Yeoh will reveal that she is a transwoman in a conversation with her roommate, Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl). Taking care to distinguish Yeoh’s sexual orientation from her gender identity, Batgirl writer Gail Simone noted that the character is also bisexual.
On the flip side, Apple yesterday announced the current issue of the hit comic book, Saga, will not be allowed for sale through Apple’s store. Two “postage stamp-sized images of gay sex” have led Apple to ban the acclaimed new comic by Brian K Vaughan
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