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LGBTQ Fans Mourn the Death of Comic Book Legend Stan Lee
"I may not have reached adulthood if not for Stan Lee's creations, who were always there to remind me it's OK to be different."
Just hours ago, TMZ reported that the father of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, has passed away at 95-years-old.
Stan's daughter told TMZ that he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he later died.
Stan co-founded Marvel with Jack Kirby in 1961 with The Fantastic Four. He’s responsible for creating numerous iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man, and The Avengers. He’s had a number of cameos in blockbuster Marvel films.
Many queer kids growing up, myself included, saw themselves in his comics. They were stories about heroes who were forced to hide a beautiful part of who their identity. Stan's creations also offered a form of escapism and taught us to celebrate what makes us unique.
That's why many members of the LGBTQ community have come together to mourn the loss of the legendary creator, taking to social media to post their condolences and appreciation for Lee.
\u201cSuch visions. How fortunate the universe is to have known you, Stan Lee.\u201d— Dustin Lance Black (@Dustin Lance Black) 1542052982
\u201cSTAN LEE \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— Detox... (@Detox...) 1542051349
\u201cStan Lee filled the Marvel world with people who made a Queer kid in Montana feel loved, known, and inspired to do right by a real world that often made her feel none of those things. \n\nI know I'm not the only one, but I lost someone special today. #Excelsior\u201d— If God's bothered, he knows where to find me. (@If God's bothered, he knows where to find me.) 1542050380
\u201cR.I.P to one of the great creatives of our time. His characters and stories were always something that we could escape to. As a queer person the underlying themes throughout the X-Men franchise always resonated with me. Thank you Stan Lee #ripstanlee\u201d— El Chico Del Apt. 512 (@El Chico Del Apt. 512) 1542051784
\u201c#stanlee will be missed. The Uncanny X-Men were a beacon of hope for this young Georgia boy as he grew up gay. @Marvel #lgbtq\u201d— Graham Dunstan (@Graham Dunstan) 1542053690
\u201cI don't usually get emotional when famous people die but @TheRealStanLee created a world where this awkward little gay boy could escape to when the real world was too much. Thank you for everything Stan. Thank you. #excelsior\u201d— Adam|Dalek (@Adam|Dalek) 1542050611
\u201cThank you for all of the heroes you brought to life, that helped a nerdy, gay kid in the country feel like he could be anything and wasn\u2019t alone. #nuffsaid #stanlee https://t.co/ZVL1B5JCw0\u201d— Justin Herren \ud83d\udc3b\ud83c\udf08 He/Him (@Justin Herren \ud83d\udc3b\ud83c\udf08 He/Him) 1542049895
Zachary Zane is a writer, YouTube influencer, and activist whose work focuses on (bi)sexuality, gender, dating, relationships, and identity politics. Check out his YouTube channel here.
Zachary Zane is a writer, YouTube influencer, and activist whose work focuses on (bi)sexuality, gender, dating, relationships, and identity politics. Check out his YouTube channel here.
