Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Gay Icon Superheroine

All the world is waiting for you and the power you possess. In your satin tights, fighting for your rights and the old red, white and blue!

- theme song to Wonder Woman-

As she twirls, her upswept hair falls loose, the owlish spectacles disappear and in a ball of luminous light, Diana Prince transforms into Wonder Woman. Who can forget the ethereal and forever gorgeous Lynda Carter in the aforementione role? Thankfully, Ms. Carter embraces the role and accepts the fact that Wonder Woman is indeed an icon. However, Wonder Woman is very much a special icon in the gay and lesbian community and that in itself is an accomplishment.

Aside from the camp factor, which I am sure some members of the GLBT embrace, Wonder Woman has traits that many in the GLBT community can relate to. In Ms. Carter's own words, it is "the secret self" that gives Wonder Woman her status.  As members of the GLBT community, we have had to create our secret identities in order to blend in with society's expectations of its denizens. Like other superheroes, however, our true selves lie dormant waiting until the time is right until we can unfurl our capes and show the rest of the world that we are indeed powerful, magnanimous and beautiful creatures.

Wonder Woman's origins also hold a definitive attraction to the members of the GLBT community.  Unlike Superman and Batman whose genesis is brought forth by tragedy Wonder Woman was solely created to be a warrior princess and the Amazon ambassador to Man's world.  Pure and simple, she is a natural superheroine.  As members of the GLBT community, we are drawn to things that are brilliant just because it is brilliant.  We are drawn to the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, Barbra Streisand and other strong and fearless women because we see their pure brilliance.

Even though Wonder Woman is considered an icon, she is still treated as an underdog.  There have been times when she had been de-powered, beaten and killed only to rise again stronger than ever.  She draws power from the Earth and the bond she shares with her Amazon sisters.  It is through these same outlets that we, members of the GLBT community, draw our strength.  Since her creation during the Golden Age of comic books, she will forever be an icon.