Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier) is a Canaian mutant and one of the few openly gay characters in the Marvel Universe. Through his mutation, Northstar gains superhuman powers which he uses for the betterment of society. Although originally a member of Alpha Flight, a fictional team of Canadian superhumans, Northstar is later portrayed as a member of the X-Men. Northstar is also noted as one of the first openly homosexual superheroes in American comic books.