Look! In the Sky! It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Bisexual Superman!

When I was growing up as a young boy in Maplewood, NJ, alone with going to elementary school and going to church, the other ritual of life was watching "Superman" on the black-and-white television set in our home, with George Reeves as Superman. Reeves was television's Superman from 1952-58.  I was enamored with Reeves as "Superman," especially the power to fly. I was so impressed by this power I thought I would try it out from time to time as a young child. For example, I opened up the bedroom window on the second floor of my parents' home in Maplewood, NJ, a towel as my cape, and climbed up a chair and had one leg out the window when my mom caught the towel and her son before my second leg was out the window. I also tried to jump from the apex of the detached garage of the same house with umbrella in hand, ala "Mary Poppins," jumped, and simply hurt my shins when hitting mother earth. 

Superman was a role model for me. I was smitten.

Since those experiences, I have continued to watch the various films and television shows of the "Man of Steel," in which Superman is thrown all kinds of challenges to test his strength, be it physical strength, emotional fortitude, and moral soundness. He has never failed any of those challenges.

But here's the thing: Superman is always portrayed as straight. He dated Lois Lane. Was pals with all these other straight friends. Even his enemies are straight.  

Zoom into the future, to November 2021, and there is this unexpected news. DC Comics says that the new Superman, Jon Kent, son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, is bisexual!  Not only is he bisexual, but he is in love with another bisexual man, pink haired Nakamura! 

Series writer Tom Taylor wrote in a recent CNN story: "Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice," Taylor said in a statement. "Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."

Not only has Superman made the change to the 21st century, so has "Batman," with the queering of Batman's sidekick, Robin!

For more on this story, go to: https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/11/entertainment/superman-comes-out-bisexual-jon-kent-cec/index.html

Holy Kaboly!

Why is this important? Role models are important when growing up. I can't tell you how many women pastors I have met who became pastors because they once saw a woman in a church's pulpit. That's why when I visit and preach in a guest church's pulpit, I introduce myself as the only out gay Presbyterian pastor in OR, because there is most likely someone "out there" in the congregation who is LGBTQIA+ and didn't know they, too, could be a pastor. 

And growing up, it would've been great for me, and my family and friends, and the world in which I was raised to know that that person in the sky? No, it's not a bird, nor a plane, but it's Superman, who happens to be bisexual!

May it be so.

Amen.