xmen=lgbtq?

I think they probably had racial discrimination and prejudice in mind when they created the X-men. Given the fact that they were created during the civil rights era 60s. But your idea works pretty well too.

I remember Ian McKellen saying that he saw X-Men as an allegorical story for being gay.

It's odd that people can't think of anyone being outside of the mainstream without being lgbtetc.

The 90's animated series aired when groups were trying to pass ballot initiatives against gay people themselves. A measure in Colorado passed in 1992, but one in Oregon did not. The Colorado measure was struck down in 1996.

But it's also a metaphor for disability. Cyclops has to wear special glasses or a visor and Professor X is in a wheelchair (in the 1990's its a power/hoverchair). Both Cyclops and Professor x who have visible disabilities are the official team leaders. They speak to others outside of the school. The x-men with invisible disabilities do not have those mentioned leadership roles.

Jean Grey who is Cyclops's romance gets incapacitating migraines. Rogue cannot really control her episodes of draining the energy of others like somebody with epilepsy, diabetes asthma may look 'non disabled' bc of their hidden disabilities until they have their breakthrough episode. So she accommodates by not touching others. Wolverine has PTSD, and Storm is claustrophobic. There is a pecking order inside the disability community itself. Physical and visible disabilities being the most 'legitimate' and invisible/episodic disabilities next. And mental illness is last re recognition and support.

X-men started in 1962 when local public schools were allowed to bar children with disabilities from enrollment. Residential schools (originally called asylums) were established so people with disabilities could be with "their own kind--vs their very own families and local communities. Like those schools, the Xavier Institue's ability to successfully enroll somebody depends on available space. Available enrollment space is not something a person attending the local public school has to consider. None of the x-men's parents come to visit them at the Xavier institute and Gambits are gone. Special education did not exist in America until 1975, after the concept was created.

It is interesting though that a person with disabilities themselves runs this facility vs having 'another' person (without disabilities) do it. The cartoon reflects that it aired just after the ADA was passed. The x men do not need permission from professor x....etc to go off campus. And even though he is a mutant, Gambit has no problem openly flirting with women who are not. The X-men etc expect access to public officials just like people who are not mutants. They expect to be listened to.

One of my other favorite cartoons, the adaptation of teen wolf aired pre-ADA (1986) . So the Mayor in that cartoon actually spends several episodes trying to hunt down people who are werewolves--even though the Howards also pay for his office etc. They might not like what is happening but that family do not go to talk with him about it and do not insist others recognize them as part of the town The difference between these two cartoons is amazing. It reflects what changed re disability.

I remember reading as a kid in the 90s that the X-Men comics were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as an allegory for discrimination and the civil rights movement, with Professor X supposedly representing Martin Luther King Jr., and Magneto representing Malcolm X.

Stan Lee has mentioned that the X-Men were a metaphor for the fight against bigotry, but I'm not entirely sure how accurate those interpretations about MLK and Malcolm X are. Regardless, I can understand why one might think so. I also believe your view that it parallels the gay rights movement is valid as well.

I think prejudice against mutants, non mutant super heroes, and non mutant super villains makes sense. After all super powers can be dangerous. Plus a human parent finding out their son and daughter aren't even human could be devastating. Plus if a super hero and super villain fight each other and it results in peoples' houses and cars getting damaged, it's understandable people would be upset about it.

isn't everything these days?