DC Introduces First Transgender Character in Mainstream Comics

    By Laura Hudson
    04.10.13
    9:30 AM

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/04/transgender-dc-comics-batgirl/

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.

Simone attributed the inspiration for the character to a conversation she had with fellow comic book writer Greg Rucka several years ago at the Wondercon convention, after a fan asked why there were fewer gay male superheroes than lesbian ones. Rucka, who co-created (and rebooted) Batwoman as a lesbian character, replied that it would be a real sign of change for a gay male character to appear on a comic book cover — and an even bigger step for a transgender character to do the same.

Ho hum.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/04/18/archie-comics-gender-swap-issue-636_n_1435489.html

It would be more comforting if this sort of thing WASN'T big news. The Sandman had a great Transgender character years ago, and it wasn't a big deal, just part of the story.

I'm just happy there are people out there trying to make us feel like we belong. It is all well and good to just let us blend in, but before we can do that real well we need to gain the same rights and freedoms as everyone. Stuff like this will help.

If anyone read webcomics, Questionable Content is currently exploring a transgender character. The comic gained a massive new fanbase after the character was introduced. I've been reading it since the beginning though, so I already knew it was the kind of comic that isn't afraid to include everyone.