Andrew Garfield Stumps for a Gay Spider-Man: 'Why Can't He Be Into Boys?'

[big_dog]

Source: The Orlando Sentinel


"The Amazing Spider-Man" star Garfield told EW that he would imagine his tights-clad character in a relationship with a guy, and even has a thought as to who could play his love interest.

According to Garfield, he broached the possibility during a talk with "Amazing Spider-Man" producer Matt Tolmach.

"I was kind of joking, but kind of not joking about MJ," Garfield said, referring to the nickname of Peter Parker's girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson. "And I was like, 'What if MJ is a dude?' Why can't we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It's hardly even groundbreaking! ... So why can't he be gay? Why can't he be into boys?"

There have been gay comic-book characters before, including iterations of The Rawhide Kid, Batwoman and the Green Lantern.



Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/sns-rt-us-spiderman-gay-20130710,0,2684781.story

---

Brave kid, I'm sure there will we lots of homophobic media backlash even in 2013....

[onehandle]

1. Because it wasn't conceived that way?

Sorry, but an action like this, with so major of an icon, would feed right into the 'gay agenda' meme.

[Ter]

2. Because he's straight

Not brave, just stupid.

[LonePirate]

28. Why does this lame tradition matter when the character is being re-invented in the movies?

The character and adventures are still the same regardless if he is straight or gay.

[Behind the Aegis]

35. And you win the thread!

Characters and storylines are always being reinvented (Smallville and Arrow are perfect examples). In a thread with people acting as if Garfield suggested someone paint a mustache on the Mona Lisa, you fucking get it! You made me smile for the first time in this thread (well, except when I look at my first post in this thread...yum!). Thank you!!!

[Ter]

42. Because his g/f hasn't been reinvented

Good ol' Mary Jane.

[brentspeak]

3. Not so much "brave" as dumb

Reminds me when I recently overheard some clueless teenage girl petulantly say "Cheap 'who'?" when someone pointed out the snotty punk band song she liked so much was actually a cover of a song first performed decades ago by Cheap Trick ("Surrender&quot .

Does this kid Garfield's knowledge of Spider-Man go any deeper than Playstation 3's Marvel Super-Heroes?

[alp227]

8. Which version of "Surrender"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_%28Cheap_Trick_song%29#Cover_versions

Less Than Jake did a cover in 2003 when "pop punk" was the rage. Green Day has covered it live in concert.

Or the That '70s Show theme song?

[brentspeak]

25. I think it was Less Than Jake

[LanternWaste]

11. Dumb is not knowing a detailed history of a fictional comic book superhero?

Dumb is not knowing a detailed history of a fictional comic book superhero?

Yikes... the definition has certainly broadened into the realm of esoteric and useless trivia.

[brentspeak]

24. Knowing that Peter Parker is straight is "detailed history"?

[Firebrand Gary]

4. Stan Lee should rise from retirement and create one more iconic gay superhero. nt

[Archae]

5. Right now Spidey isn't even Spidey...

In the comics his mind was switched with Doctor Octopus and he's in control.

[Kennah]

6. Wears a costume and into young boys? That's a priest, not Spiderman.

[msanthrope]

16. DUZY !!!

[reflection]

17. .

[earthside]

27. Zing!!! n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

7. As long as HE is still playing Spider-man!

He makes a good point because characters are getting redefined all the time, but making them gay seems to really piss some people off...as already evidenced.

[TM99]

10. Well, we could remake Brokeback Mountain

Last edited Thu Jul 11, 2013, 11:35 AM - Edit history (1)

as a straight love-story. It has been a few years, so let's freshen it up for another generation to enjoy.

Spiderman/Peter Parker was not written as a gay male character. His relationship with Gwen Stacey and Sarah Jane Watson are integral to his history and his complete story. Making him gay changes all of his relationships and therefore who he was, is, and would become.

One can support civil rights without having to redo and redefine everything. Hell, just create a damned gay super hero from scratch. If they could do it in Queer Like Folks, I am certain some brilliant young artists and story-tellers could do that. As a comic fan, I would enjoy reading such a story.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Yeah? That would actually change the entire premise of the story.

Not a very good example, but I am sure it seems funny to you. Spiderman, unlike BBM, is an on-going, EVER CHANGING, story. Yes, there are elements which are part of the mythos, but there is nothing to prevent a tweaking here and there, and it happens ALL the time in the comic book universe. Did you know that some gay people have heterosexual relationships prior to coming out?! GASP!? I know! Crazy, huh?!

Comic book characters have undergone transformations since they started. DC has had many a "do over" series, the first big one was "Crisis on Multiple Earths" in which a number of characters were re-vamped. It seems, though, some people have such an issue with gay people that even the mere suggestion of changing the sexuality of a character sends them into fits (e.g. "One can support civil rights without having to redo and redefine everything.&quot .

Also, it is Queer as Folk.

[TM99]

20. I wasn't being funny.

It was a simple example. The story is based on their homosexual relationship. So much of Spiderman/Peter Parker is based on his heterosexual relationships with two important women in his life. To change that DOES change the story.

I am a therapist. I know many homosexuals have had heterosexual relationships before they came out but I really don't think you want to go there as an example. Being bisexual is one thing, and lying to yourself and others about your homosexuality is another. There may be very good reasons prior to 'coming out' but really that isn't the example that bolsters your point.

Because I do not agree with changing a iconic comic character's sexuality does not mean I have issues with homosexuality. That is a specious argument.

Yes, you are correct, Queer as Folk, which was an excellent TV series I enjoyed from start to finish.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Sure seems that way to me.

Your example wasn't simple, it was stupid. The idea behind BBM was that it was about a gay affair. Spiderman, however, is NOT about his relationships with women, it is about his super powers and his crime-fighting. His relationships, while important, are filler material for the most part, with the exception of Gwen Stacy and J. Jonah.

I was a counselor, and I am well studied on gay sexuality. Do not conflate "bisexuality" and "coming out as gay" issues. It could easily fit a storyline for a Spiderman, that he struggled or that he is bisexual; either should be acceptable. Do you know Spiderman is over 60 years old?! And yet, I don't see Michael Douglas being cast for the part. Why is that? Oh yeah, the storylines keep changing to accommodate the ever new surroundings. Unlike stories like BBM or "To Kill A Mockingbird" which are set 'histories," they aren't on-going sagas, like comics are. Hell, look at the liberties taken with "Smallville" and "Arrow."

I am not saying it should happen or even if it is a good idea, but to act as if the very suggestion of it is the equivalent of painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa or part of a "gay agenda" is fucking offensive and absurd!

[TM99]

26. Then as a counselor,

I trust you are therefore aware of your own biases?

I am not going to waste time psychoanalyzing you here. But if it isn't a big deal, sexuality and its relational affects on our character, then there is no problem leaving him straight, right? The moment it does but only if he is gay or bisexual, then check your own shadow my friend.

[Behind the Aegis]

31. Are you aware of yours?

As I said earlier, and obviously must say again, I am not saying it should happen or even if it is a good idea, so obviously, there's that word again, I have no problem with his remaining heterosexual. So, you should be the one "shadow checking" because it seems the only one who has the problem with the nature of Spiderman's sexual orientation is you.

[TM99]

34. Always aware of mine.

Thanks.

Then there is no issue.

[Ash_F]

12. So much spandex... /nt

[Ken Burch]

9. It would add an interesting subtext to his confrontations with Green Goblin.

[Xyzse]

13. Too much history with Spiderman

It would have to be a different superhero.
The only way I could see them doing it to a popular or known superhero would be:

-Guy or Girl has never been mentioned to have been with any one. I'm trying to think up of one, but can't.
-Someone who has a very long life span, and their personal history has not been all told. An example could be Wolverine, who just recently got his memory back. He could have had a few experimental years, especially when much younger.
-Have it develop slowly. Maybe introduce someone new to a pre-existing hero's life, as a mentor or something.

So yeah, a bisexual Wolverine might be interesting.

I don't know. Either way, Garfield was probably just talking for fun, and used Spiderman as he is playing the character.

[alp227]

14. Garfield is feeding the trolls.

This kind of talk derails the gay rights cause.

Because it goes from wanting equality to shoving a "gay agenda" in everyone's face and appearing insecure.

Thus feeding the right wing homophobic trolls' confirmation bias.

[Behind the Aegis]

19. How does this "derail" the GLBT cause? How absurd.

"Because it goes from wanting equality to shoving a "gay agenda" in everyone's face and appearing insecure."

Really?! Are you channeling what a right-winger would say or is that something you think? I wasn't sure because of the wording.

[alp227]

30. What's the point of re-doing a superhero over sexual orientation?

As much as I support the movement for LGBT rights & equality, I don't see the point of Garfield's idea and fear that it'll only annoy more people and tarnish the movement.

[Behind the Aegis]

32. What's the point of making a superhero disabled?

Female? African-American? All of those things have happened to various superheroes over the decades of comics. Also, is it really "re-doing" the superhero or simply adding another aspect to his character?

[William769]

22. Apparently not only the right wing homophobes.

[TM99]

29. Let me ask you this question.

Say Spiderman had always been gay, from the beginning. For 60 years, comics were written with him as a superhero and all of his relationships were with men and not with any women. Of course the focus was never on his sexuality but his relationships still played an integral part of the unfolding storyline.

So, now, a new generation is supposedly needing to be introduced to this comic hero and his life (via reboots and rewrites), but a new writer wants to redo it so he is straight. His important relationship with Glenn Stacey is now with Gwen Stacey. Do you have any problems with that whatsoever?

I do not expect an honest answer but I will be pleasantly surprised if you give one.

[William769]

36. I stand my my original comment but will add

I don't care if you think my answer is honest or not but if a Gay character goes straight, more power to him.

It's about empowerment and bringing the disenfranchised to the table. A concept you can't seem to grasp.

[TM99]

38. Thank you for being honest.

No I don't often expect activists to be honest.

For you, sexuality sounds like it is a very fluid thing, am I right? So you don't have any issues with it moving in any direction from straight to bi to gay. That is even empowering for you.

Not everyone is like you. For just as many like you there are just as many for whom sexuality is not a fluid thing and never will be. Are you not willing to respect that as you ask others to respect your nature and choices?

That is the very grounding of empathy and understanding of the other as different from me and yet not bad, flawed, or whatever negatives we might wish to project on them.

Can you grasp this concept?

[William769]

39. Thanks for letting me know

My first instinct was correct.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. "Boys?" --yeah, way to provide fodder for homophobes with that careless use of the language.

Spiderman isn't into girls either, last I checked.

[alp227]

33. Mary Jane?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_Watson

[azurnoir]

37. I think the posterwas alluding to something else

perhaps the word boys vs the word men same with girls vs women

[Gormy Cuss]

41. yep

and saying that a straight adult male likes "girls" is usually interpreted as adult women whereas saying that a gay male is attracted to boys is more often interpreted as pedophilia by homophobes.

[William769]

21. Kick & recommended.

To all the shit heads with snarky ass comments. GO FUCK YOURSELVES!

We are here, we are queer, get the FUCK over it!

[Call Me Wesley]

40. Big hug to you!

P. S. on edit: They once killed Superman. Where, where was the outrage?

[KamaAina]

43. The Ambiguously Gay Duo

"cause you know that they are gay in an ambiguous way...

SNL had this nailed decades ago.