The family dynamic was what initially captured me. My first issue was during Fall of the Mutants and I remember this ad vividly:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fa...ant_Reg_Ad.JPG
The X-Men felt close to each other and acted like they truly cared for each other as they were fighting against those that hated them for simply being. I was a bit too young at the time when I started reading to connect it with being gay but later, that also was a big relating point for me.