first openly gay superhero?

The Comic Book Code had some very interesting interpretations as to decency standards, especially in the 70's, with Howard the Duck and Green Arrow bridging the sublime to the ridiculous.  The Powers that Were told Marvel that it was unacceptable for Howard, a duck, to visit the apartment of his GF, Beverly, as the latter was wearing a nightgown and Howard was not (ever) wearing pants.  Stan Lee agreed to change the illustrations if the board would put in writing exactly why they objected and what they thought was going on.  With Green Arrow, the objection was to his ward, becoming addicted to heroin.  With such small minds at work, there should not be any wonder that the bigger, broader issue of homosexuality should be stomped on by the censors.  In the former case the book received the approval stamp with no changes and in the latter, there was actually an issue that did not receive the stamp of approvalk, which means it does not appear on the cover.  Not certain of the issue.

NorthStar was 1991, but much earlier was Element lad of the Legion of Superheroes in DC. It was alluded to early on, but when Geffin did the book in the late 80's, It was revealed that Schvahn Erin of the Science Police was actually taking a gender switching drug to be with him, and Jan (Element Lad) admitted he would have liked Schvahn better male - he went back to Sean.

Also, Lightning Lord and Raxxas, both Villains.

Pyro and Avalanche - marvel villains

I'm pretty sure the Green Lantern/Greeen Arrow issue is 89

I do believe currently Colossus and Northstar are gay together in Ultimate X-Men as well. Along with Sunfire and Spider-Woman in Exiles.

Other alluded to gay comic book heros

Toad-soooo had the hots for Magneto
Lightspeed of Power Pack-Rainbows flew out her ass...literally
Falcon-loves blonde hair and blue eyes
Doctor Druid-nuff said

So, in some of the recently current comics, we have more gay characters.  However, this is only recently.

I'll be honest and say that I always thought Bugs Bunny was gay.  He dressed in drag a lot... kissed Porky and Elmer a ton of times... and always was munching on something phallic. 

"Sometimes a cigar is only a cigar."
Sigmund Freud

Its the "openly" part that throws me.  Stompa from Kirby's early 70s Forever People seemed to fit the bill, but was not open.

So, in some of the recently current comics, we have more gay characters.  However, this is only recently.

I'll be honest and say that I always thought Bugs Bunny was gay.  He dressed in drag a lot... kissed Porky and Elmer a ton of times... and always was munching on something phallic. 

That's just crossdressing for comedy of that era.

Charlie, care to elaborate?