On the whole, comic readers and enthusiasts have been rather accepting – even welcoming – to the non-traditional expressions of gender identity and sexuality. There’s an added benefit: while few mainstream characters in music, sport, or film are openly out-of-the-closet, LGBTQ youth and adults can find characters to identify with from within the comic world. And the character representations are generally positive and reflect the true experiences of LGBTQ youth – from family acceptance to being kicked out of the house to hiding their sexuality for decades. From a sexually-fluid, gender-fluid shapeshifter to a gay teen superhero couple to a gender-queer stretch of road, here are 25 LGBT Superheroes and Villains You Probably Thought Were Straight. If you enjoyed learning about these LGBT Superheroes and villains, check out The 25 Most Powerful Superheroes of All Time.
