Warning: major spoilers ahead for Marvel's Voices: Pride #1!
Within Marvel's Pride month anthology, the first canonical LGBTQ+ hero has been confirmed. While the first LGBTQ+ hero in Marvel's publication history is Northstar, he is not the first in the chronological timeline. As per Marvel's Voices: Pride #1, that honor goes to Vnn - a caveman from the Stone Age.
Marvel's Voices: Pride #1 released on June 23, 2021. It features numerous stories focusing on Marvel's different queer heroes, including Hulkling, Northstar, Prodigy, and Iceman. It includes some of the most popular characters, but also some of least known - such as Jessie Drake, a transgender hero (Marvel's first) who hasn't appeared in a comic in twenty-five years. Thanks to an introduction narrated by Prodigy - a gay mutant who has been on the New X-Men and Young Avengers teams - the broad spectrum of Marvel's LGBTQ+ characters has been laid out from the very beginning.
Created by Luciano Vecchio with research by Mike O'Sullivan, "Introductions" kicks off Marvel's Voices: Pride #1. Within it, Marvel confirms that the first LGBTQ+ hero in the universal timeline is Vnn. He is described as an "outcast" who gains "the power of the Starbrand." The character first debuted in Marvel Legacy #1 in 2017, though his origin story was laid out in Avengers (2018) #26 in greater detail.
Although Vnn is the first canonical LGBTQ+ hero in Marvel's canonical history, he is not the first Starbrand. That designation goes to an unnamed Tyrannosaurus Rex,whom Vnn received the power from. This is fully explained in Avengers #26, where Vnn is seen in his original human form before his eventual transformation. For fans unfamiliar with the Starbrand, it is a cosmic force that imbues a host with massive power, allowing them to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial threats - like Celestials. According to this comic, Vnn knew he was different, so he left his tribe. He eventually rescued a man named Brrkk, whom he would love until Brrkk's tragic death. Following an attack by Deviants - enemies of the Eternals, both of whom will soon make their MCU debut - Brrkk and Vnn fall through a cave. Brrkk dies, but Vnn lives, falling next to the corpse of the first Starbrand. The Starbrand then latches onto him, transforming him into a Hulk-like version of himself, permanently.
Eventually, Vnn would join the Stone Age Avengers. He spends most of his time mourning his lost love and is largely unable to communicate with his team - though a couple members can understand him. Outside of his origin and the brief adventures of the Stone Age Avengers, Vnn has not been seen again. The last issue he appeared in was Avengers (2018) #38 and it was only for a single page. This brief history overview is his most recent, though it is hardly more than a mention. Nonetheless, it solidifies his place in Marvel's LGBTQ+ legacy.
Due to how few appearances Vnn has had overall, he is unlikely to gain the kind of following that more prominent characters like Iceman, Mystique, and Northstar have. However, given Marvel's focus on telling more stories from broader perspectives and having more diverse comic creators, it does seem possible that characters like Jessie Drake and Vnn could eventually have new adventures. After all, they're pioneer characters in the Marvel universe, regardless of when they debuted, how long they've been absent, and where they fit within the overall timeline.