One Million Moms Can’t Stop LIFE WITH ARCHIE #16

by Betsy Gomez

In spite of an attempted boycott by the American Family Association’s One Million Moms, Life with Archie #16 — which featured the marriage of openly gay character Kevin Keller — sold out in record time. In the official press release from Archie Comics, C0-CEO Jon Goldwater says:

“Kevin will always be a major part of Riverdale, and we’re overjoyed, honored and humbled by the response to this issue,” said Jon Goldwater, Co-CEO of Archie Comics. “Our fans have come out full force to support Kevin. He is, without a doubt, the most important new character in Archie history. He’s here to stay.”

The issue attracted worldwide attention because of the subject matter. An early Huffington Post article on the addition of Kevin Keller to Life with Archie sums up the controversy:

Not surprisingly, the introduction of the fictional character, in addition to his marriage, has drawn both strong praise and harsh criticism. “I think it’s great that the reality of America’s loving couples are being portrayed in as many places as possible,” Evan Wolfson, the founder and president of Freedom to Marry, told Fox News.“We all want to be part of family and community –- that’s what marriage is about.” On the other hand, the Family Research Council’s Peter Spriggs noted, “It’s unfortunate that a comic book series usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now being used to advance the sexual revolution.”

For more on the issue and links to much of the news coverage on it, visit the Archie Comics website here and scroll down to the official press release.

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