I'm proposing gays and LGBT supporters see this for what it is. A money making scheme by DC and not some historic progressive moment in the history of comics. In a year, maybe less, this Green Lantern and the comic series he's involved with (Earth 2) will be gone and forgotten. You won't hear a peep out of either DC or Marvel about gay characters until they need another publicity boost. DC and Marvel both have a long history of using popular movements (Women's Lib, Civil Rights) to put out temporary characters and storylines to boost interest, generate publicity and increase profit margins. But at the end of the day their universe's are still run exclusively by white anglo-saxon male characters (or their alien equivalent in Superman's case). The only true progress being made toward LGBT equality in comics is all from the small Indy press.

Actually Superman was rebooted in the 90s as an electric powered hero instead of the traditional x-ray vision, man of steele. So there is precedent. Just because the Superman reboot failed infamously, doesn't change the fact that DC tried to reinvent the entire character after his resurrection.

John Stewart is to the Justice League what Garrett Morris was to SNL. The token black guy. He was never taken very seriously, and always considered an usurper. Kyle Rayner and the other white GL's always surpassed him in popularity and face time in the comics. I suggest DC and Marvel both become more ballsy and pick a major iconic character. Both companies have no problem totally rebooting their universe's every decade or so. They've both done complete universe reboots multiple times since the 1990s. So there shouldn't be a problem rebooting an icon instead of a third stringer. All it takes is conviction and balls. Will they lose some readers? A few. But will the vast majority of readers remain and support them? Absolutely. Comic fans are among the most open and accepting in the world.

@Ted and John
Really? Where are the major black characters today? There still are none. Do Storm, Black Panther or Luke Cage have their own comics? No. Black Nick Fury is a World B type guy. He doesn't exist in the "prime" Marvel continuity. So, what you're saying is that if gays don't mind the pandering and sit back and be nice boys and girls, in 40 years they still won't have broken through the white male barrier in superhero comics too? Yay for progress.

Gays should be insulted that DC (and Marvel) are just using them for quick ratings boosts and don't genuinely give a damn about them. That's why the "gay" hero is always from World B or a 5th stringer and never someone truly important. DC and Marvel are playing the LGBT community so hard to earn a buck from their struggle and gays don't even seem to realize it. Most of them applaud it. Jeez Louise.