With Pride month, the overturn of DOMA and Prop 8, and strides towards possible legislation that would provide protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender, the nation has been in a whirlwind of progress for LQBTQAI+ individuals and their rights. And now, it seems like Hollywood might be close behind in supporting the equality cause; at least, if Andrew Garfield has anything to say about it.
Andrew Garfield, the actor who portrays Spiderman’s current on-screen incarnation, is not shy about his support for equality; he came out publicly about his support in April of this year, according to his Wikipedia page. When expressing his thoughts about his role in the 2006 play Beautiful Thing, which centers around a gay teenage boy named Jamie, Garfield proclaimed, “There is no argument against equality. How can anyone argue against compassion and understanding?”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Garfield claimed that, during a conversation with The Amazing Spiderman‘s producer Matt Tolmach, the subject of Peter Parker’s sexuality was broached. When talking about Mary Jane Watson (Parker’s love interest), Garfield said, “What if MJ is a dude? Why can’t we discover that Peter is exploring his sexuality? It’s hardly even groundbreaking! … So why can’t he be gay? Why can’t he be into boys?”
The likelihood of Garfield’s idea ever reaching the big screen is unlikely, though the future is murky. The LGBTQAI+ community has been teased with possibilities of queer-identifying heroes before, but with few promises kept, especially when it comes to popular blockbusters, like Spiderman. The idea of a bisexual Spiderman isn’t completely out of the question, however; Batwoman and Green Lantern have both seen queer-identifying incarnations. The fact that Garfield is so public with his support and ideas, however, is enough for many people in the LGBTQAI+ community; it sparks a conversation that could lead to bigger changes in the future.
This writer, personally, is incredibly supportive of a bisexual Spiderman. Tackling bi (and pan) erasure while bolstering LGBTQAI+ representation in media, especially popular media, would be a huge step in achieving equality and justice for every individual who prides themselves on being a member of the queer community.