Archie keeps up with the times

Kilian Melloy of Edge Publications is reporting some fun news.  It's looks as though the Archie comic strip has taken a decidedly gay turn.  This ought to get the right wing up in arms.

According to Melloy:

The fictional city of Riverdale, home to Archie, Jughead, Veronica, and Betty, is about to welcome its first openly gay character, Kevin. The gay high schooler’s introduction is all part and parcel of Riverdale’s wholesome character, the comic’s producers say.

Kevin Kelleher is slated to be introduced to Riverdale in September, in Archie Comics title Veronica, issue #202, reported Newsarama.com on April 22.

"We’re trying to show that Riverdale is an accepting community, that everyone is welcome in Riverdale," writer-illustrator Dan Parent said. "We’re trying to show that Riverdale is that ideal town that everybody wants to be a part of."

Added Parent, "My daughter has openly gay kids in her high school and it’s accepted. Obviously this isn’t the case everywhere in the country. There are struggles that gay people have. But gay kids in high schools isn’t the big deal it used to be, and we want to reflect the way being gay is accepted in today’s society."

The times…they are a changin'