LGBTQ males love their female icons, and that includes superheroes. And arguably, the most prominent female gay icon of the superhero set is Wonder Woman. This was thanks to Lynda Carter’s tough and tender (and fabulous) depiction on the 1970s live-action series. Carter has embraced her gay fanbase over the decades and has served as a powerful ally and supporter of not just gay rights, but women’s equality, things that are epitomized by Wonder Woman.
Someone didn’t get the memo.
Silver Bracelets Not Needed To Deflect Trolls
In honor of June being Pride month, Carter tweeted:
Happy Pride! So excited to celebrate with all my LGBTQIA+ friends and fans 🏳️🌈 Art by Paulina Ganucheau for @DCComics ✨ pic.twitter.com/zpPKELsQkp
— Lynda Carter ☮️ (@RealLyndaCarter) June 1, 2022
To which one user replied: “Wonder Woman IS NOT A SUPERHERO FOR GAYS!”
Dumbass, Wonder Woman is THE superhero for gays.
Carter used her bulletproof bracelets to deflect that comment and clapped back:
You’re right. She’s a superhero for bisexuals! https://t.co/G2m7guvmYc https://t.co/MLssq1yYiK
— Lynda Carter ☮️ (@RealLyndaCarter) June 1, 2022
The Acknowledgement Of Wonder Woman’s Sexuality
Many have speculated and even joked about the fact that Wonder Woman/Diana grew up on an island of all women, implying that she and the other Amazons MUST engage in same-sex relationships. But comics have traditionally been a “children’s” medium, so homosexuality was largely verboten up until recent years. And in that time, it has been acknowledged that Diana is bisexual.
Carter accompanied her response with a link to a 2016 interview in which Wonder Woman writer Greg Rucka acknowledged Diana’s sexuality. As part of the interview, Rucka proclaimed:
“‘How can they not all be in same-sex relationships?’ Right? It makes no logical sense otherwise.”
Carter didn’t let the naysayers dissuade her. She went on post a tweet speaking out against the “homophobic relatives” of LGBTQ+ individuals:
Well, it seems I’ve stirred things up a bit… 😘 While you’re here, you should consider supporting these orgs during #Pride: @audrelorde @SRLP @TransLifeline… and if you’re a parent, there’s always @PFLAG!
— Lynda Carter ☮️ (@RealLyndaCarter) June 2, 2022
She followed that up by posting links to LGBTQ+ charities:
Well, it seems I’ve stirred things up a bit… 😘 While you’re here, you should consider supporting these orgs during #Pride: @audrelorde @SRLP @TransLifeline… and if you’re a parent, there’s always @PFLAG!
— Lynda Carter ☮️ (@RealLyndaCarter) June 2, 2022
Lynda Carter Gets The Final Word
Wonder Woman remains Carter’s most famous role. She has continued to work consistently through the years, including a great supporting role in the criminally underrated Disney movie Sky High, the role of President Olivia Marsdin on Supergirl, and a cameo as Asterea in Wonder Woman 1984.
Perhaps to wrap things up, Carter wrote:
“I didn’t write Wonder Woman, but if you want to argue that she is somehow not a queer or trans icon, then you’re not paying attention… Every time someone comes up to me and says that WW helped them while they were closeted, it reminds me how special the role is.”
Honestly, it’s astounding how often the straight community simply doesn’t get gay representation or even queer coding and subtext in mainstream media. However, to not be aware that in the real world, a character like Wonder Woman, who owes a huge percentage of her popularity to the gay community is absurd and just delusional.
Embrace your inner Amazon and enjoy the rest of Pride Month!
