posted
(For the purpose of this thread I'm not interested in whether or not the LSH DOES have a larger than average gay fanbase but rather how this became "common knowledge".)
I first heard about this at the Captain Comics website in 2000 or so. Someone wrote to Andrew Smith (he's the Captain) and mentioned this. I don't have the actual piece to quote, but if my memory holds, both had heard this in the 1970s. (I seem to recall 25% mentioned, but don't hold me to that.)
So I'm wondering...did any of you ever hear this? When? How? Message board are fairly new and I have a hard time imagining the letter columns of the 70s getting "controversial". Perhaps through APAs?
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Legion fandom has always been tight-knit, so I can imagine the APAs and such lending creedence to the theory. These MBs are really just the next evolutionary step for LSH fandom. Now we are tighter than ever before, so to speak!
hey! Didya know that, along with the alleged higher % of gay fans that the Legion also has always allegedly had a higher % of female fans? S'true. The most diverse fandom in the land!
posted
I believe I've heard that. One could, I suppose, count up the number of girls who had letters published (as well as one could guess gender from names) but that would just be a point of interest, not hard proof.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I heard that what appeals to us homos is the Legion's sense of family, belonging, tolerance for all except the stinky (see THE POLECAT and THE MESS) and whatnot.
I heard that what appeals to you chicks is the Legion's high number of femme castmembers.
posted
Well, Saturn Girl was definately ahead of her time! And rumors of Jan being gay go back to the early 1970's I think (read that in a Keith Giffen interview, so take it for what's its worth).
No idea as to why the reputation evolved into being. I just enjoy the fact that I have a chance to interact with such a diverse group of people here. I can honestly say that two experiences changed my life in how I interact with homosexuality: my first roomate in college being bisexual and meeting all the LMBPers who were around then, becoming friends with them when I was clearly in the minority of being strait! It was a fun experience that subtley shaped my view on the world (Seriously!).
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
The Jan-is-gay theory dates back at least to the following character synopsis by Jim Shooter:
"Hmm. An introvert who covers with snappy patter! Could be gay, who knows? He is confident, almost arrogant. He has a right to feel very special, and his is an overwhelming power."
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I know that Cosmic Boys costume attracted me seriously to the Legion....
Maybe it was Dave Cockrums fantastic costume designs coupled with the snazzy space age decor and uber liberal mentality? Or maybe it's just because we have such cultured taste?
From: home sweet home... unless i'm posting from work | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I do think the theory comes from judging active fandom. When I joined APA-LSH, there were a few other gay members, and there are still a few of us even as overall membership has declined. I've heard that Legion fandom has been the most active and most vocal the longest, so there has been plenty of time to gather anecdotal evidence.
Eric
-------------------- Geek Watch
From: Standing beside you in Ferndale, MI | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Sonnie is on the right track -- I always saw it as being the Cockrum Disco Era influence, at least for attracting initial attention in the '70s. Along with gay body-building culture, intersecting with the ultra-built and numerous men.
Also, part of it seems to me to lie in the Legion not really oozing machismo -- and gay culture is by no means strongly supportive of it, either. (Buff bodies and physical culture aren't necessarily macho, and that's a minority interest among non-hets anyway.)
The culture of the United Planets era seems to be almost intuitively anti-macho. The teamwork is emphasized on the Legionnaires' parts, more than "merely" pounding enemies into submission. The Earth culture is a maternalistic welfare state. (Levitz noted this explicitly in the Mayfair RPG sourcebooks.)
And beyond all this, differences are not merely tolerated, but entirely non-humanoid and exotic species are even hardly noticed on city streets. Against all that, two men or two women in a public display of affection would be small potatoes as to attracting notice.
That setting for stories came across strongly in the "Action"/"SLSH"/Levitz eras, and it would have been refreshing to anyone misunderstood, teenagers or closeted or not.
From: Starhaven Consulate, City of Angels | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I don't know how LSH got the rep of having alot of gay fans, but i purchased a Legion comic at my local Comic Shop and made an off comment about how I may be the only straight Legion fan. Just tongue in cheek stuff, nothing with any vitriol behind it. And the comic book guy at the store said that's nothing, "You should see the Wonder Woman fanboys. Legion fandom has nothing on them when it comes to gayness."
-------------------- Something Filthy!
From: NOVA by way of NOIN | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Ah, but you knew it was common knowledge - enough to make a lighthearted joke. Please, what was your source - APAs, personal knowledge (such as: every Legion fan you knew was gay), info from another collector, or something else?
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I came to comics really late. I didn't start collecting until I graduated from college in 1998. I really didn't know much about comic fandom or anything until I found message boards later that year. When the DC boards switched over and we as a group started our migration to other boards that shall remain unnamed, that's when I got my first inkling that the view about Legion fan's sexual orientation was an ongoing joke.
-------------------- Something Filthy!
From: NOVA by way of NOIN | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
i never knew anything about this -- as i was more an isolated fan in my social circles growing up and even now ... i've always been drawn to the vision of the future where anyone could join a group of idealistic tough superpowered men and women working towards a better universe (if a girl who could split into 2 and a fat guy could do it...) -- i guess there was a 'gay' element in a lot of the disco redesigns (as i found myself drawn to Tyroc, Cosmic Boy and Karate Kid)
From: Lauderhill, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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