Scans_Daily

You couldn't be more wrong.

The reason why they didn't out Richie in the series is because they couldn't less they lose their Y7 rating (which is the most adult rating a children's cartoon can get here in the states). That's right here in the states, YOU CAN'T BE GAY ON A KIDS SHOW. They would've lost that rating and there would've been no Static Shock.

Furthermore that's like arguing Renee Montoya doesn't count as a lesbian because she wasn't out on Batman. Or Maggie Sawyer.

And THAT'S the reality we live in. The only way to exist in a children's cartoon or for that matter society is by being AN INVISIBLE GAY.

Because being visible, gets you fired from your job. Being visible means you get met with violence. Being visible gets you killed.

Don't believe me then go ask Duanna Johnson, Emille Griffith or Matthew Shephard (sp?) what being visible gets you.

Being visible gets you kicked out of your house. Being visible led to my friend's ex boyfriend committing suicide because his parents couldn't accept that he was gay.

Being visible means you get rebuked and attacked or denigrated because in large part to avatars of straight privilege, queer minstrels like Northstar and Rawhide Kid.

Being visible in this society catches you unholy hell especially if you aspire to be more than society's punchline.

Richie IS the authentic gay because for those of us who live in real world, we understand that the only way for him to exist in a cartoon is by invisible.

And for those of us who knew then and know now, we understand because it's a struggle too many of us have faced. But we salute him just the same because we know if he ever came out on that show his father, who flipped his shit for his son being best friends with a black kid, would damn sure lose it for having a gay son.

So we support Richie because we know the struggle. And we applaud Richie because he became an ass-kicking superhero and didn't allow himself to be boxed in. He did what he had to do and became a hero to many of us.

AND FOR THAT, Richie has earned his rightful spot on MY list. And for that, I will give that cute bespectacled geeky blond white boy the hawtest THANK YOU sex that he'll ever experience.