# How gay is Superman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398 "2006-06-20T04:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/21 "2006-06-20T16:48:07Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > If anything, the only “gayness” in Superman is that he is, like Batman, or John Wayne, an example of idealised masculinity. “Idealized masculinity” = “gay”? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/22 "2006-06-20T17:00:00Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > It’s like there is a world of Brodys out there obsessing whether the Thing’s wang is made of rock… Scarily enough, we’ve had this exact discussion in this forum before. As for **BrainGlutton’s** article, I’ll just say this: a thousand monkeys banging on typewriters might not be able to produce the works of Shakespear, but they will churn out at least a half-dozen articles speculating on the sexuality of various people and characters. As for Batman and Robin, they’re a victim of changing times. Notice how, when the movie _Batman and Robin_ came out a few years ago, Dick Grayson was already in his late teens when he first met Bruce Wayne. There is no way in Hell that any movie made in the last 20 years would have had a young boy moving into Wayne Manor. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/23 "2006-06-20T17:02:14Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > And then there’s the snopes urban legend of [“The Buggering Batman”](http://www.snopes.com/risque/homosex/batman.htm) which has this comment: > > > [@](#): > > > > Although in the overwhelming majority of the tellings the attacker is dressed as Batman, every now and then a Superman comes barging out of the closet. That line had me giggling like a schoolgirl as well. How gay is that? ---
**Author:** ![ululate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/59ef9b/32.png) [@ululate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ululate)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/24 "2006-06-20T17:06:58Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > I mean Superman was originally a strong man in tights and a cape written for kids. Why is all the subtext added? Slight hijack, but I’ve heard that when he was originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, part of the idea sprang from their experience as Jews; after all, the same restaurant that would seat you if you were clad in a business suit and slicked your hair back and gave some WASP-y name would turn you away if you introduced yourself as an immigrant named, well, “Jerome Siegel”, or some such, especially if you were wearing a prayer shawl and a yarmulke. In fact, they’d put _ **so much** _ focus on your outfit and name and curly hair that they really only saw “JEW” the first time around – and you could go back the next day and get seated, having disguised yourself with little more than a pair of glasses, maybe a fedora; you look like an average white male with dark hair. _ **Blacks** _ couldn’t usually pass, but Jews could. See also: Gays. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/25 "2006-06-20T17:12:24Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > As for Batman and Robin, they’re a victim of changing times. Notice how, when the movie _Batman and Robin_ came out a few years ago, Dick Grayson was already in his late teens when he first met Bruce Wayne. There is no way in Hell that any movie made in the last 20 years would have had a young boy moving into Wayne Manor. I know. Not just because of the sex thing, but because a superhero’s sidekick gets put in physical danger regularly. Once upon a time, that was a not highly unusual part of growing up, for a male. But we don’t have drummer boys in the army any more, or 12-year-old midshipmen in the navy (cf. _Master and Commander.)_ Why and how did we get so squeamish about putting young boys in harm’s way? What’s happened to us? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/26 "2006-06-20T17:27:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I know. Not just because of the sex thing, but because a superhero’s sidekick gets put in physical danger regularly. Once upon a time, that was a not highly unusual part of growing up, for a male. But we don’t have drummer boys in the army any more, or 12-year-old midshipmen in the navy (cf. _Master and Commander.)_ > > Why and how did we get so squeamish about putting young boys in harm’s way? > > What’s happened to us? ☹ We got civilised? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/27 "2006-06-20T17:39:50Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > We got civilised? On the evidence . . . nah. [_cough_]Abu Ghraib[_cough_] It’s gotta be something else. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/28 "2006-06-20T18:00:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > On the evidence . . . nah. [_cough_]Abu Ghraib[_cough_] It’s gotta be something else. I was explicitly replying to the “once upon a time it was a normal part of growing up to be exposed to danger (if you were a male)” (not true, incidentally, anymore than it was a normal part of growing up to be dressed in odd and brightly coloured uniforms by older men). I think that a lack of this amongst the child populations of some nations (not others, unfortunately) would be a sign of improving civilisation, therefore making it inappropriate for a superhero to have a child sidekick. Still, I agree that given the absurdity of the whole idea of superheroes, and the levels of wish-fulfilment already present, it’s not stretching credulity to ridiculous levels to have some of those running around with their underwear on the outside be children. The whole Batman-Robin thing, though, is just… weird. How many Robins has Batman had shot from under him now? As for the OP- Superman probably ain’t gay, although I’m guessing both he and Lois have some serious sexual hang-ups (for a start, she’s techincally a necrophiliac, and he’s deep into bestiality…this is, of course, assuming they’ve done the dirty. Someone oblige me with a “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex” link?) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/29 "2006-06-20T18:16:11Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > Someone oblige me with a “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex” link? [Gladly.](http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html) ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/30 "2006-06-20T18:25:55Z")
The point is not that Superman is gay, the point is that this is a person who lives a double life, carefully guarding each side of their life from the other. This sort of thing has been used as an example of the gay experience for years now. Superman, Batman,Buffy, X-men, etc,etc. As mentioned by a prior poster these parrallels have been drawn to show the jews experience in the early part of this century. It’s quite simply an extension of the double life that many gay people have to live. With the trans community becoming more visible I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of these things being said to be representative of their experience also. All that aside, the new superman is hot. I wouldn’t mind him being gay at all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/31 "2006-06-20T18:29:32Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > How many Robins has Batman had shot from under him now? I just got a disturbing NSFW visual from that. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/32 "2006-06-20T18:43:11Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > I just got a disturbing NSFW visual from that. [Mr. Burns]_Ex_-cellent.[/Mr. Burns] ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/33 "2006-06-20T19:47:59Z")
Ok, there’s the tights and the big red “S” and the cape. But the colors? No self-respecting gay superhero would wear only primary colors. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/34 "2006-06-20T19:57:42Z")
Super ? Fabulous. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/35 "2006-06-20T20:09:14Z")
Um, crap. Not equal sign not working. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/36 "2006-06-20T20:23:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Ok, there’s the tights and the big red “S” and the cape. But the colors? No self-respecting gay superhero would wear only primary colors. Most superheros wear primary colors (if you count green as a primary color). Secondary colors? Aquaman wears orange . . . a generally derided fashion choice. I can’t think of any who wear pastels. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/37 "2006-06-20T20:28:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Most superheros wear primary colors (if you count green as a primary color). Secondary colors? Aquaman wears orange . . . a generally derided fashion choice. I can’t think of any who wear pastels. Batman wears dark colours. Do they count as non-primaries? Joker wears purple. Purple is a pastel, right? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/38 "2006-06-20T21:54:17Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > Batman wears dark colours. Do they count as non-primaries? > > Joker wears purple. Purple is a pastel, right? _Lavender_ (or, in this case, Plum) is a pastel. Purple is far too robust a shade to count as a pastel. ---
**Author:** ![Phantom\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Phantom\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantom_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/39 "2006-06-20T22:08:23Z")
Superman is gay, but Clark Kent is definitely straight. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398/40 "2006-06-20T22:22:15Z")
Of course, it should surprise no one that various groups are tangling over whether Superman is one of their own — while no one claims, say, Superman’s arch nemesis, Lex Luthor. Except, of course, [Ms. Millicent Mehabitel Mudd.](http://www.ozyandmillie.org/2006/om20060517.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-gay-is-superman/361398.md?page=3)