# The gay character in Archie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490 "2011-01-21T20:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/1 "2011-01-21T20:27:04Z")
I don’t really follow Archie, but I couldn’t help noticing the news stories about the comic introducing a gay fellow named Kevin Keller last year. Now I remember when Marvel brought us the Rawhide Kid, to much fanfare, a character that apparently didn’t pan out all that well. Did Archie Comics do better? Do they use Kevin often? Is he handled well? Does he have a schtick except for being gay? Did they get any criticism, boycotts or the like from people who are Not Into That Sort of Thing? Any homophobic people in Riverdale? Any love interest/crush on Jughead on the horizon? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/2 "2011-01-21T20:34:35Z")
I’ve not seen any books with him, but the Archie comics that pile up in my basket of bathroom periodicals are typically quite badly written. I have to presume he _would_ be picked on by one person in Riverdale, followed by Pathos on the part of carrot top, worthy of the most shoddy after-school special. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/3 "2011-01-21T20:40:50Z")
I think Veronica is in love with him, but doesn’t know about his orientation–which leads to all kinds of yuks, it goes without saying. Jughead knows, so he can exploit it. That also goes without saying. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/4 "2011-01-21T20:44:30Z")
Most of the characters in “Archie” are gay, so Kevin is hardly unique. He’s just out. Holden, Banky, Alyssa and Hooper are sitting around a table drinking, talking, and smoking. _BANKY Archie, alright! Archie and the Riverdale gang were a pure and fun- lovin’ bunch. You can’t find dysfunction in those comics, because they were just flat out wholesome. HOOPER Archie and Jughead were lovers. (sips his drink) BANKY Shut the fuck up. HOOPER It’s true. Archie was the bitch and Jughead was the butch - that’s why Jughead wears that crown-looking hat all the time: he the king, of queen Archie’s world. BANKY Man, I feel a hate-crime coming on HOLDEN He’s got a point. Archie never did settle on Betty or Veronica. BANKY Because he wanted them both at the same time, you assholes! He never chose one because he was trying to get both of them into a three-way! HOOPER (pulls out a dollar and hands it to Banky) Here. I want you to go down to the corner store and buy yourself a clue. Go on. BANKY Eat it. Urkel. HOOPER I told you to watch it with that Urkel shit. Face it, girl - Archie’s a sister. BANKY (getting up; to Hooper) That’s it. You. HOOPER Moi? BANKY You are marching back across the street with me, and we’re going to pick up a shit load of Archie books, I am going to prove to you - beyond the shadow of a doubt that Archie was all about pussy. Come on. HOOPER (sliding out of booth) This boy is conflicted, I shall play mother-therapist for him. You two sit tight. We shall return promptly._ Banky and Hooper exit, leaving Alyssa and Holden alone at the table. –“Chasing Amy” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/5 "2011-01-21T20:46:18Z")
Does that mean that Archie only has Betty stalking him now? Poor guy. I’m thinking a cross-dressing Archie character would have richer potential with the kind of comedy they like to do, but maybe Riverdale isn’t ready for that yet. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/6 "2011-01-21T21:37:31Z")
Some random googling lead me to this story about Kevin getting his own mini-series. I think it’d be great if gay teenagers could have some comic-book characters to identify with that arent’t just the token boring, one-note homosexual pal of the hero or sage fashion advisor of the heroine. [http://perezhilton.com/2010-10-15-archie-gay-character-kevin-keller-gets-his-own-comic-miniseries](http://perezhilton.com/2010-10-15-archie-gay-character-kevin-keller-gets-his-own-comic-miniseries) BTW, the Chasing Amy scene was hilarious. I never got around to watching that movie but I guess I’ll have to now. At last I know what that crown is for and why Archie keeps turning down not one but two girls way more attractive than himself. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/7 "2011-01-21T22:33:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Does that mean that Archie only has Betty stalking him now? Poor guy. Well, and Cherry Poptart. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-character-in-archie/568490/8 "2011-01-21T22:42:51Z")
Just how old is youthful school-age Archie and gang now? Pushing 70?