2000
Matt Madden produces the graphic novel ODDS OFF (Highwater Books, June 2000), which features a gay lead character.
Judd Winick produces the non-fiction graphic novel PEDRO AND ME: FRIENDSHIP, LOSS AND WHAT I LEARNED about his relationship with AIDS-activist Pedro Zamora (Henry Holt, September 2000) which is nominated for a Pulitzer prize and wins several other awards, including GLAAD’s Outstanding Comic Book Media Award, 2001.
Michael Chabon’s THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY (Random House, September 2000), a novel set in the early days of the comics industry, features a gay lead character.
Oscar Wilde’s play is modernized with an all-male cast in Tom Bouden’s graphic novel adaptation of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (MannerschwarmSkript Verlag, 2000).
2001
CIRCLES, a gay anthropomorphic series scripted by Andrew “Aethan” French, is first released (RABCO, January 2001) in a “0” issue, and has been followed by four issues to date.
The three-issue mini-series USER (DC/Vertigo, beginning January 2001), written by Devin Grayson, features a lead female character who poses as a man in an online role-playing game.
WILLOW and TARA, a lesbian couple and supporting characters from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, first appear in the comics together in ANGEL #16 (Dark Horse, February 2001) and clearly as a couple in BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #32 (Dark Horse, April 2001). They have since appeared in many Buffy comics and spin-offs, including some featuring Willow and Tara as the lead characters.
CAPTAIN KINETIC, written and self-published by zan, is previewed in an ashcan (June 2001). Two issues are published in 2002.
In GREEN LANTERN (v.3) #137 (DC, June 2001), supporting character TERRY BERG reveals his crush on Kyle Rayner and his sexual orientation, as written by Judd Winick. Based on that storyline, GLAAD names Green Lantern its Outstanding Comic Book, 2001. The character suffers a brutal fag-bashing in #154, and in response GLAAD again names GREEN LANTERN its Outstanding Comic Book, 2002.
CODENAME: KNOCKOUT, a tongue-in-cheek spy series with a female lead and a gay sidekick named ARRIGO “GO-GO” FIASCO, written by Robert Rodi, begins with a “0” issue (DC/Vertigo, June 2001) and runs 23 more issues.
Peter Milligan’s run on X-FORCE (Marvel) features several LGBT characters, beginning with BLOKE in #117 (June 2001), and including VIVISECTOR and
PHAT.
CALLING ALL BOYS by Eric Shanower (Hungry Tiger Press, July 2001) collects some of his short stories and sketches.
ANAL FANTASY (MMG, September 2001) is the first gay, erotic manga translated into English for American audiences.
PSYCHOTIX MEETS SEPARATUS by Griswold, a gay–themed graphic novel inspired by Asterix, is published (Landwaster Books, November 2001). It is followed up with  Psychotix Goes to Tiberius’ Palace (Landwaster Books, December 2002).
Colleen Coover launches SMALL FAVORS (Eros/Fantagraphics, 2001) which she calls an erotic romantic comedy about women who
love each other. Eight issues and a collection have been published to date.
2002
CAVALCADE OF BOYS! (Ten Minute Cartoons, Spring 2002), a gay romance comic, is launched by Tim Fish with Jay Laird. Seven further issues have been published.
Hints are scattered thoughout THE POWER COMPANY: JOSIAH POWER #1 (DC, March 2002) and the follow-up series THE POWER COMPANY that clearly indicate that JOSIAH POWER is gay, but writer Kurt Busiek never explicitly identifies Josiah as gay.
Michael and Justin, characters on the TV show Queer as Folk, team-up to create a super-hero comic with a gay lead, RAGE (Showtime, May 2002). A specially-made RAGE comic is included with the DVD box set for that season later sold through the network’s website.
HOMO-HERO’S BIG BOOK OF FUN AND ADVENTURE (Green Candy Press, May 2002) by Michael Troy, an adult activity book featuring the title super-hero, is released.
The online gay comic strip “YOUNG BOTTOMS IN LOVE,” primarily edited by Tim Fish, premieres (August 2002).
Henry Kujawa produces a super-hero fantasy for adults -- homosexual, bi-sexual, or heterosexual -- with the short graphic novel STORMBOY #1: STEAL YOUR HEART AWAY (Zodiac Comics, August 2002).
The first issue of GENUS MALE, an annual anthology of anthropomorphic gay comics is published (Sin Factory/Radio Comix, 2002), and three issues have followed.
2003
HOW LOATHSOME, a four-issue miniseries written by Tristan Crane, featuring tales from the lives of gender outlaw Catherine Gore and her queer collection of friends and associates debuts (NBM, March 2003).
WEIRD COMIC BOOK FANTASY, a play that posits what would happen if the Archie gang grew up to be gay written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, opens in Atlanta (April 4, 2003).
In NIGHTWING #78 (DC, April 2003) written by Devin Grayson, police officer Dick Grayson learns that his partner, GANNON MALLOY, is gay. Dick claims to be Gannon’s boyfriend in an attempt to stop anti-gay harassment from their fellow officers.
In a five-issue mini-series, Ron Zimmerman writes the first gay lead character in non-super-hero mass-market comics in the comedic western THE RAWHIDE KID (v. 3) (Marvel, beginning April 2003).
TRUE ADULT FANTASY, an erotic sketchbook collecting previously published work by Brad Rader, is released (Flaming Artist, Spring 2003).
In an extended storyline beginning in GOTHAM CENTRAL #6 (DC, June 2003) written by Greg Rucka, Gotham City police officer RENEE MONTOYA is outed to her co-workers and family by a vengeful enemy.
A scene in THE CROSSOVERS #7 (Crossgen, August 2003) by Robert Rodi depicts the domestic life of gay couple WAYNE and KENT (retired superheroes Prototype and Black Velvet).
2004
In the alternate timeline featured in Neil Gaiman's 1602, Jean Grey poses as a boy and in the eighth and final issue (Marvel, April 2004), ANGEL admits that he believes that he was in love with her thinking she was a man.
ANUBIS: DARK DESIRES #2 (Radio Comix, August 2004) features two erotic anthropomorphic stories featuring gay characters, "THE TOMB PLUNDERER" by Terrie Smith and "SECRETS OF ANUBIS" by Frank Gembeck Jr.
2005
SCANDAL SAVAGE puts off Deadshot's advances by asking him if he knows what a lesbian is in VILLAINS UNITED #5 (DC, November 2005), written by Gail Simone. Scandal confirms her orientation when she greets her lover Knockout in the following issue.
2006
After several years of hints, TODD RICE, charter member of Infinity Inc. as Obsidian, is confirmed to be gay in MANHUNTER (v.3) #18 (DC, March 2006), written by Marc Andreyko, when Todd shows up for a date with the title character's gay assistant Damon.
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