I always thought it weird to find out characters I'd grown up reading are all the sudden gay or lesbian, but I got used to it.
It's not my property, they can do with them what they like. If it makes them more money, more power to them.
If I don't like something, I don't have to read it.
As to overweight characters...
Here's one of my favorite comic characters:
BB will be one of the lead characters in the Cartoon Network's upcoming Legion of Superheroes cartoon.