Gay character Kevin Keller is getting
married in an upcoming issue of Archie
Comics.
Kevin arrived at Riverdale High last
September, first coming out gay to Jughead at Pop's Chocklit Shoppe.
“Watch out for her, Kevin,” Jughead
says referring to Veronica. “She's a royal pain.”
“She's not so bad,” Kevin responds.
“I'm just not interested in dating her.”
Jughead insists: “Veronica's not
going to let that stop her!”
“It's nothing against her! I'm gay!”
Kevin says. “I guess I should just be up front!”
Instead of acting surprised, Jughead
wonders how long it will take Veronica to “figure it out for
herself!”
In Life With Archie #16, Kevin
returns from war to get married, while Archie separates from his wife
Veronica.
“Kevin followed in his father's
footsteps and is returning to Riverdale as a war hero, but that's not
all – It's Kevin's wedding day!” Archie Comic Publications said
in a release.
Opponents of gay rights criticized the
storyline.
“It is unfortunate that a comic book
series usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now
being used to advance the sexual revolution,” Peter Spriggs of the
Christian conservative Family Research Council told Fox News.
“I think whatever boost in sales
might come from the novelty or curiosity factor will be more than
offset by the number of both kids and parents who will be turned off
by this storyline and its obvious social and political agenda,” he
added.
Commenting at Mediaite.com
on the announcement, Jon Bershad sarcastically suggested that
children's entertainment should avoid reflecting the real world we
live in.
“Now I know what the argument is for
people who are going to try to make a big deal out of this,” he
wrote. “It's not that they have anything against gay people, per
se. They just don't think it's a subject that belongs in children's
entertainment. I totally agree. And, you know what? Race is a
tricky subject too! That's why every character on TV should be
played by a white person! Then, when the parent thinks their child
is old enough (lets say around the time they're shipping off to
college), they can explain to them that Maria on Sesame Street
was actually secretly Hispanic the whole time. That's so much
easier!”
The issue arrives on newsstands in
January.