Lesbian Batwoman is coming to a TV near you
Batwoman came out in 2006 (DC Comics)
A Batwoman TV show is being developed – and the lead character is a lesbian.
The programme – which will be shown on The CW next year, assuming that it gets picked up to series – is set to remain true to DC Comics’ portrayal of the superhero as openly gay since 2006.
Prolific producer Greg Berlanti – who has overseen numerous CW shows, as well as hit film Love, Simon – will executive produce the new show.
Kate Kane is a Jewish lesbian “armed with a passion for social justice” (DC Comics)
It will follow Kate Kane, a Jewish lesbian who, according to the network, is “armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind.”
In the new series, she “soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence.
“But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a saviour, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.”
Kane will make her on-screen debut during a CW crossover event in December (DC Comics)
Kane will make her on-screen debut during a CW crossover event in December.
The CW has placed itself at the forefront of LGBT representation on TV, with several queer characters now starring across the network’s programming.
In 2016, Supergirl‘s Alex Danvers came out as gay in a widely praised storyline which eventually saw her get together with police detective Maggie Sawyer.
In the comics, Batwoman got engaged to Maggie Sawyer (DC Comics)
The couple split up last year, a fact made especially interesting by this latest news, as Batwoman became engaged to Maggie in the comics.
Supergirl is also set to introduce its first ever transgender character, Nia Nal, later this year when it returns for the show’s fourth season.
Black Lightning features Anissa Pierce, a black lesbian medical student, teacher and – as it turns out – superhero by the name of Thunder.
Nafessa Williams plays Anissa Pierce aka Thunder (PinkNews)
If you’ve been watching Legends of Tomorrow, you will have also cheered at Sara Lance and Ava Sharpe kissing earlier this year to make their romance canon.
And it’s not just the network’s superhero shows which include LGBT characters, with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
featuring gay trainer Josh and Darryl, who came out as bisexual in 2016.
Marvel’s Runaways also features a lesbian superhero, in the shape of Karolina Dean, a main character who slowly realises her sexuality while also figuring out her powers.
Karolina with friend (YouTube/Hulu)
And Freeform’s The Bold Type, a US drama about women who work at a feminist magazine in New York City, features a Muslim lesbian getting together with a queer black woman.
(Freeform)
The show attracted praise for its representation of a lesbian couple involving two women of colour, one of whom unapologetically embraces their faith without feeling guilty about their sexuality.
