Arts & Entertainment
Kevin Feige defends Marvel’s controversial gay character
The Marvel president says it was ‘never meant to be first hero’

President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige is defending Marvel’s first openly gay character who appeared briefly in “Avengers: Endgame.”
In a scene in the film, an unnamed man played by co-director Joe Russo, is seen at a support group for people who have lost their loves one to Thanos at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War.” The man describes going on a first date with another man but they both end up crying over their lost loved ones before they get their food.
While promoting the film, brothers and co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo explained why it was important to include that scene.
āRepresentation is really important,ā Joe told Deadline. āIt was important to us as we did four of these films, we wanted a gay character somewhere in them. We felt it was important that one of us play him, to ensure the integrity and show it is so important to the filmmakers that one of us is representing that.ā
Some fans weren’t impressed with the LGBTQ inclusion since Marvel included its first openly gay character but he was never named and shown in a small part.
In an interview with i09, Feige says the character was meant to be representative but not hailed as Marvel’s first gay hero.
āThat was never meant to be our first focused character,” Feige told i09. “That was just meant to be a matter of fact and a matter of life and a matter of truth. And I liked it that our hero, Steve Rogers, doesnāt blink an eye at that fact. It is just truth and is heartbreaking for his loss and for the life heās trying to put back together. It was never meant to be looked at as our first hero. I guess itās the first reference, so it does, of course, get a lot of attention.ā
Feige teased that fans looking for more LGBTQ representation in the Marvel universe won’t have to wait long. He also promised that the LGBTQ characters will have bigger roles.
āWe havenāt been shy about saying that thatās coming and that thereās much more prominent LGBT heroes in the future,ā Feige says.
Theater
Timely comedy āFake Itā focuses on Native American themes
Arena Stage production features two out actors

āFake It Until You Make Itā
Through May 4
Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St., S.W.
Tickets start at $59
Arenastage.org
A farce requires teamwork. And Larissa FastHorseās āFake It Until You Make Itā now at Arena Stage is no exception.Ā
The timely comedy focuses on Native American nonprofits fractiously housed in a shared space. Friction rises when rivals River (Amy Brenneman), a white woman operating in the Indigenous world, goes up against the more authentic Wynona (Shyla Lefner) to win a lucrative Native-funded grant.
While Brenneman (best known for TVās Judging Amy) is undeniably a big draw, it takes a group collaboration to hit marks, land jokes, and pull off the well-executed physical comedy including all those carefully timed door slams.
As members of the six-person āFake Itā cast, Brandon Delsid and Eric Stanton Betts, both out actors of partly indigenous ancestry, contribute to the mayhem. Respectively, Delsid and Betts play Krys and Mark, a pair of two-spirited Native Americans who meet farcically cute and enjoy one of the playās more satisfying arcs.
For Krys, every attractive man is a potential next fling, but when Mark, handsome and relatively reserved, arrives on the scene, itās something entirely different.
Both onstage and sometimes off, Betts plays the straight man to Delsidās waggishness. But when it comes down to real life business, the friends are on the same page: not only are the L.A.-based, up-and-coming actors intensely serious about their film and stage careers, but theyāre also particularly engaged in the themes of Indigenous People found in āFake It.ā
On a recent Wednesday following a matinee and an audience talkback, they were ready for a phone interview.
In establishing whose voice was whose, Delsid clarified with āIām the one who sounds a little like a Valley girl.ā
WASHINGTON BLADE: Brandon, youāve been with the show since its early work-shopping days in 2022 and through its debut in Los Angeles and now Washington. Have things evolved?
BRANDON DELSID: Definitely. Iāve grown up in the last couple of years and so has my character; itās hard to know where I end and Kry begins. Thereās been a real melding.
Eric and I are both queer, and to get to play these roles that are so human, imperfect, sexy, and interesting is really joyful.
As queer artists you donāt always get the chance to do work like this. So many stories are queer trauma, which is incredibly important, but itās liberating to feel joy and ride it off into the sunset, which, without revealing too much, is kind of what we get to do.
BLADE: Thereās some race shifting in āFake Itā particularly with regard to āpretendianā (a pejorative term describing a person who has falsely claimed Indigenous status).
ERIC STANTON BETTS: The last few years Iāve been on a journey with my cultural identity and place in the world. Iām a mixed BIPOC artist, my dad is Black and Native American by way of the Cherokee tribe and my mom is white.
Since 2020, Iāve tried to figure out where I belong in this cultural history that I havenāt had a tie to throughout my life; itās gratifying to find my way back to my indigeneity and be welcomed.
In the play, race shifting is introduced through farce. But itās never in a disrespectful way; itās never mocked or done in a way to take away from others. The playwright parallels race shifting with gender fluidity.
DELSID: But in life, there are people posing as Indigenous, actively taking grants, and the play goes there, we donāt hold back. Larissa, our playwright, has made it clear that sheās not trying to figure it out for us. With that in mind, we hope people leave the theater interested and curious to learn more.
BLADE: Mark arrives kind of the middle of some crazy drama, bringing along a jolt of romance.
BETTS: Yeah, when I show up, weāre all sort of shot out of a cannon, struggling to keep up with the initial lie.
DESLID: A very gay cannon.
BLADE: Whatās up next for you two?
BETTS: Both Brandon and I are up for the same part in a TV pilot, so one of us may be getting some very good news. I also have a Tyler Perry film coming out soon [he plays a model, not an unfamiliar gig for Betts].
DELSID: Coming up, I have a recurring part on HBOās āThe Rehearsal,ā and a supporting part in āJune and John,ā a John Besson film. But doing āFake It Until You Make Itā in L.A. and now D.C. has been a special time in our lives. Itās 23/7 togetherness. Thereās that hour for sleep.

Point Foundation will host its annual āTaste of Point Receptionā on Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Room & Board.Ā
The popular event will take place on the top floor and outdoor terrace at Room & Board, featuring small plates from area restaurants, hand-crafted cocktails from local mixologists, and a speaking portion where guests will hear directly from Point Foundation scholars. This year, Point is supporting a record-breaking class of 755 scholars and guestsā support will allow Point to continue its mission. Point Foundation is the nationās largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit.
Tickets are tax deductible and can be purchased at Pointās website.Ā

Friday, April 25
Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans* people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
Go Gay DC will host āLGBTQ+ Community Happy Hourā at 7 p.m. at Uproar Lounge and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā
Saturday, April 26
Go Gay DC will host āLGBTQ+ Community Brunchā at 11 a.m. at Freddieās Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black lesbian. You do not need to be a member of the Beta Kappa Chapter or the Beta Phi Omega Sorority in order to join, but they do ask that you either identify as a lesbian or are questioning that aspect of your identity. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
Sunday, April 27
āTrans Open Mic and Author Talk with Jeanne Thorntonā will be at 5 p.m. at Busboys and Poets 14th & V. Itās a difficult time for trans people in the USA, and Jeanne would like to extend the opportunity to local trans fiction writers to build community by coming on stage and sharing their work as part of an opening āopen micā to this event. There are spaces for up to 6-8 readers to share work of up to five minutes each. If you are interested in reading, please select the āOpen Mic Ticketā and find Jeanne before the show at 4:30 p.m. The reading will be arranged on a first come, first served basis on the night of the event. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, April 28
āCenter Aging Monday Coffee & Conversationā will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This monthās reading is āAll Systems Red and Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries Book 1 & 2)ā by Martha Wells. For more details, email [email protected].Ā
Tuesday, April 29
āOutPro Meaningful LGBTQ Networkingā will be at 6 p.m. at Number Nine. Out Pro creates an environment that is welcoming to the full diversity of the LGBTQ community, as well as supportive allies. Guests are encouraged to embrace purposeful networking with the goal of helping connect people with opportunities. If you’re hiring, please come and meet motivated, aspiring LGBTQ professionals. As always, our events warmly welcome community allies. For more details, visit Eventbrite.Ā
Wednesday, April 30
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking ā allowing participants to move away from being merely āapplicantsā toward being ācandidates.ā For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Thursday, May 1
API Queer Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for the Asian and Pacific Islander queer community. For more information, email [email protected].Ā
Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Communityās website.
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