As the most famous female superhero of all time and a core member of the Justice League Trinity, Wonder Woman is and undeniably should be one of DC Comics' most important characters. An inspiration to millions both within continuity and among fans, Diana of Themyscira is an icon in more ways than one. And with her massive public profile, along with her Amazonian backstory, Wonder Woman’s sexuality has oftentimes been a topic of discussion, but that debate was settled longer ago than many fans may have realized.

Wonder Woman #38 by George Pérez, Mindy Newell, Chris Marrinan, Mike Machlan, Carl Gifford and Augistin Mas broaches the topic of Amazonian sexuality when the immortal denizens of Paradise Island invite representatives from across the world to the shores of Themyscira for their first cultural exchange in millennia. Unitarian minister Alan Witherspoon asks Mnemosyne of the Amazons if she and her sisters miss "the sharing God intended for the sexes?"

The bemused Amazon confirms that a few do indeed, before continuing to say, "But most of us find satisfaction in each other," emphasizing the length of their duration on Themyscira. In the years since, DC has spottily and occasionally confirmed Wonder Woman’s status as a queer hero, but this earlier explanation of the Amazons' romantic customs answered this question years ago.

Of Course Wonder Woman and the Amazons Are Queer

But DC Comics Must Show, Not Tell

This is far from the only instance explicitly conveying the Sapphic nature of Amazonian culture. But, having been published in 1990, it is one of the oldest concrete examples of canon confirmation. Especially considering the thousands of years that Wonder Woman’s Amazons spent cut off from the rest of "Man’s World," it would be ridiculous to imagine Themyscirans wouldn't engage in romantic relationships with each other. Of course, what's logically obvious and what's acknowledged in canon aren't necessarily the same.

An actual, intentional representation of Wonder Woman in a queer relationship would mean far more to her readers than a joking wink and nod or the occasional hints at the blatantly obvious.

Canon and Amazonian cultural context aside, it’s easy for DC Comics to identify Diana as one of the publisher's LGBTQIA+ icons, but it’s another thing entirely for the publisher to allow her to be explicitly portrayed as such on the page. After all, Wonder Woman’s sexuality has been "confirmed" on page for years, but she’s never been given a prominent ongoing love interest that wasn’t a man.

It certainly seems like DC wants to claim Wonder Woman is queer without actually letting it be part of her character, but considering what Wonder Woman means to so many people, the character and her fans deserve better. Greenlighting an actual, intentional representation of Wonder Woman in a queer relationship would mean far more to her readers than a joking wink-and-nod or the occasional hints at the blatantly obvious.

Wonder Woman’s Sexuality May as Well Be Theoretical

DC Comics Needs to Do More For Their LGBT Characters and Fans

It is easy for DC to say Diana is queer, but it’s another thing entirely to portray Wonder Woman in an authentic queer relationship. Yes, even a small on-page confirmation such as Mnemosyne’s is still leagues ahead of what many readers once dreamed they'd see in print, but, ultimately, it's not enough. The Amazons of Paradise Island confirmed their sexuality ages ago, but until DC Comics is able to put its money where its mouth is, it hasn't earned the claim that Wonder Woman is a queer hero.