Cartoon Network and LGBT representation

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Rebecca Sugar gives an acceptance speech at the 78th annual Peabody Awards in July 2019

Cartoon Network and LGBT representation concerns representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters on American cable TV channel, Cartoon Network, which launched in 1992, and Cartoon Network's American adult-oriented nighttime programming block, Adult Swim which was founded in 2001.

In the 2010s, Cartoon Network featured multiple cartoons whose main characters expressed their identity and were featured in LGBT-focused storylines. These characters include Garnet, Pearl, and Princess Bubblegum. The network hosted shows which were said to be "strong champions for LGBT representation," such as Adventure Time and Steven Universe.[1] This representation was difficult to achieve, as Rebecca Sugar, the creator of Steven Universe, was told by executives that the inclusion of a central queer romance could have ended her show.[2]

The role of Cartoon Network shows in LGBTQ representation would continue in the 2020s, with the airing of Steven Universe Future on the network and Adventure Time: Distant Lands streaming on HBO Max, along with characters in DC Super Hero Girls. Other series, like OK K.O.!: Let's Be Heroes and Craig of the Creek would have LGBTQ characters as well. In December 2020, Amy Friedman, head of programming for Cartoon Network and HBO Max Kids & Family, stated that they are looking "at ourselves across the inclusion and equity spectrum," including the LGBTQ+ community, to evaluate projects in production, development, and post-greenlighting.[3]

Comparison to other networks[]

Some reviewers argue that, when Disney and Cartoon Network are compared, it is "easy to see who actually cares about LGBT representation," noting that for shows on Cartoon Network, "LGBT characters aren't centered around their sexuality."[4]

Lesbian characters[]

Many Cartoon Network series had lesbian characters over the years. This included Steven Universe, Clarence, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, We Bare Bears, Victor and Valentino, DC Super Hero Girls, Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Craig of the Creek and Elliott from Earth. There were also lesbian characters in Adult Swim series like Moral Orel

Steven Universe[]

Uzo Aduba voiced Bismuth in the episode "Bismuth Casual"; She had also voiced Bismuth in the Steven Universe: The Movie and in nine episodes of Steven Universe.

Some of the most prominent lesbian characters in Steven Universe were Ruby and Sapphire, who fuse as Garnet. This was first shown in the Season 1 finale, "Jail Break" which aired on March 12, 2015. Some critics called the episode "one of the queerest episodes of a children's cartoon in the history of television" as it involved Ruby and Sapphire, the two Gem beings, celebrating their relationship.[5] In their 2015 report, GLAAD stated that the show reflected the "diversity of the real world," noting that one of the show's protagonists, Garnet, is "the physical form of two female-presenting Gem beings who are in love"[6] On January 4, the episode "The Answer" aired,[7] focusing on how the romantic relationship between Ruby and Sapphire, who were in a permafusion named Garnet (an embodiment of their love), developed, leading some to say the show has "heavy queer undertones."[1] "The Answer," an episode depicting the romantic meeting of two female characters, Ruby and Sapphire, earned the show its second Emmy nomination, one of the six for the show.[8] In the summer of 2018, Steven Universe would make headlines with a gay wedding between two characters: Ruby and Sapphire, challenging Cartoon Network's history of "not overtly depicting same-sex marriage"[9] as Sugar struggled to get any LGBTQ+ representation on the show, with the network ultimately accepting her reasoning.[10][11]

The episode, "Reunited," which aired on July 6, which she and the crew had worked on for years,[12] was praised as an example of the network's frank portrayal of "sexuality and gender identity in children's programming," and it was positively received by the LGBTQ+ community and fans.[13][14][15] This episode made Steven Universe the first kid's show on U.S. television to feature a lesbian wedding.[16] The creator of Gravity Falls, Alex Hirsch, believed that because of this episode, it meant that Sugar was moving everyone in kid's programming forward in terms of LGBTQ+ representation. ND Stevenson praised the episode as "bold and courageous," serving as a moment which "knocked down so many walls" for other storytellers.[17][14]

Other lesbian characters in the series included Pearl, who had feelings for Rose Quartz, the mother of the series protagonist,[18][19] and Bismuth. In the latter case, Bismuth was implied to have a crush on Pearl in the Steven Universe Future episode "Bismuth Casual."[20]

OK K.O.![]

Red Action in OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is a lesbian character. She later entered a relationship with Enid, and kissed her in the episode "Red Action 3: Grudgement Day".[21] It was later confirmed that Yellow was possibly Red's ex-girlfriend.[22][23] On the day of the series finale, Jones-Quartey called Enid and Red a "committed couple," and saying their relationship developed "very naturally."[24][25]

Some reviewers stated that Enid has possible romantic feelings toward Elodie.[26] Jones-Quartey later said that Red Action and Enid "run a dojo together and kiss."[27]

Craig of the Creek[]

Two lesbian characters were confirmed in Craig of the Creek in April 2018. In their debut episode, "The Curse," Tabitha refuses to go to college in favor of spending time with Courtney, who blushes, and they hold hands at the conclusion of the episode.[28] In "The Haunted Dollhouse", they have feelings for each other, which is confirmed, and they kiss.

J.P.'s openly lesbian older sister, in the episode "Jextra Perrestrial" is shown to be in a relationship with a girl named Kat.[29] Laura is voiced by openly lesbian comedian Fortune Feimster. In the episode "Cousin of the Creek", Jasmine tells her cousin "I am texting my girlfriend, mind your business."[30]

The season 4 episode "Fire and Ice" focuses on Kelsey and Stacks' relationship as they confessed their love to each other.[31]

Final Space[]

In the Final Space episode, "Forgiveness," on May 8, 2021, Ash Graven meets a genderless being named Evra, voiced by Jasmin Savoy Brown. Evra becomes Ash's friend and helps her "take her anger out," with both sitting and watching a formation of lights like the aurora borealis together.[32][33] Her relationship with Evra makes clear her sexual orientation as a lesbian woman,[34] in addition to being angry at a man named Jordan Hammerstein, in the episode "Arachnitects," for rejecting her at prom. Rogers, in a podcast about the episode "Forgiveness" that David Sacks, who wrote the episode, came from a place of "two souls connecting to each other" and noted that if the show had fourth season, they would have expand on the relationship between Evra and Ash.[35]

However, the series, which aired on Adult Swim, was cancelled on September 10, 2021, before it could ever happen.[36] One reviewer argued that having Ash as a lesbian character was "one of the best representations of LGBTQ characters in mature animation for some time," as shown in the episode "Forgiveness," and saying she is a lesbian, not "ambiguously bi."[37] The reviewer also noted that Ash, even as an antagonist, does not "fulfill common stereotypes or tropes," comparing her experience to the manipulation of Cassandra in the final season of Tangled by Zhan Tiri, saying both are complex characters who experience trauma and have "troubled pasts," with Invictus exploiting Ash's Trauma triggers. The review ends by noting Ash's development through the series, with Evra helping her grow, and hoping the series would "move forward mature animation in a better and more inclusive direction" if there was another season.

Other series[]

Lesbian characters appear in series like Cow and Chicken, Moral Orel, Clarence, Victor and Valentino, DC Super Hero Girls, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, and Elliott from Earth.

The banned Cow and Chicken episode "Buffalo Gals" aired on February 20, 1998. It only aired once, as frequent complaints prevented future airings. Complaints were made about its overt innuendos, frequent double entendres, and lesbian stereotypes. It no longer airs on television and has been replaced in future reruns with "Orthodontic Police."[38][39]

A lesbian character appeared in Moral Orel, which aired on Adult Swim from December 13, 2005 to December 18, 2008. Stephanie Foamwire-Putty is a lesbian character in Moral Orel who's revealed to have fallen in unrequited love with her old high school best friend, Kim Latchkey.[40]

In The Venture Bros., Virginia "Ginnie" Dunne, who is Dr. Quymn's bodyguard, is very masculine, and a reported "man-hater.".[41] In the episode "Dr. Quymn, Medicine Woman," she is shown to be a lesbian[42] who is trying to convert Dr. Quymn.

In the episode "Jeff Wins" of Clarence, on December 4, 2014, EJ Randell and Sue Randell were introduced as Jeff's mothers.[43][44]

The series Victor and Valentino, which began in March 2019, features Xochi Jalapeño, a lesbian character. Xochi is Don Jalapeño's rebellious teenage daughter who sometimes babysits the protagonists,[45] has a crush on her friend, Amabel as shown in the episodes "Band for Life," "Escaramuza," and "Carmelita."[a]

The DC Super Hero Girls episode #HouseGuest, on April 17, 2020, featured the two mothers of Jessica Cruz, also known as Green Lantern. When asked about this by Taimur Gur of ComicsBeat, series creator Lauren Faust said that everyone was "on board with this idea" and that she was glad it was approved.[46]

Ben 10 co-creator Duncan Rouleau confirmed Rojo is a lesbian on April 2020 and was in a relationship with fellow gang member Azul.[47]

Tony Cervone, a producer of Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated stated, in July 2020, that Velma is a lesbian while James Gunn, who wrote the screenplays of Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, she was "explicitly gay."[48] She has feelings for Marcie "Hot Dog Water" Fleach.[49]

In Elliott from Earth, which began in March 2021, the main character Elliott lives with his single mother Frankie. In "Wednesday Part 2", Frankie tells Elliott that "your mother and I" were planning to call him Maureen when they thought he was a girl, revealing that she is a lesbian.[50]

Gay characters[]

Some Cartoon Network series have been confirmed to include gay characters. This includes DreamWorks Dragons, Clarence, Steven Universe, Summer Camp Island, Craig of the Creek, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes and Young Justice. Adult Swim shows like Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Mission Hill, The Venture Bros., and Mike Tyson Mysteries also featured gay characters.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast, which aired on Cartoon Network (1994-1999; 2001); Adult Swim (2001-2004), and GameTap (2006-2008), included a gay character. On December 25, 1994, Lokar, a locust alien and member of the Council of Doom, was introduced in the Space Ghost Coast to Coast Christmas special A Space Ghost Christmas. Supplementary material for the series had Lokar referred to himself as a Confirmed bachelor while an article on the official Cartoon Network website featured a reference to a slang word for gay sex.[51][52] His sexuality was confirmed in audio commentaries for the Space Ghost Coast to Coast Volume 2 DVD and it was revealed that Lokar died at some point during the series.[53][54] However this was eventually contradicted when Lokar returned in the Season 11 episode "Stephen" in where he is shown to be alive and well.

Mission Hill, which aired on The WB from 1999 to 2000 and Adult Swim in 2002, Gus Duncz and Wally Langford, a gay elderly couple in their late 60s, even winning an award from GLAAD for this representation.[55] In The Venture Bros., which aired on Adult Swim from 2004 to 2018, Colonel Horace Gentleman is always, openly, and proudly gay.[56] However, he has an ex-wife, Mz. Quymn, as indicated in the episode "Dr. Quymn, Medicine Woman," and a former lover, Kiki, shown in the episode "Past Tense," who he lived with at his home in Tangiers, Morocco for years. Also, The Alchemist and Shore Leave were in an on-again, off-again relationship, shown in episodes such as "Fallen Arches." According to the show creators, The Alchemist is gay in a way that is "just incidental" while Shore Leave is a very "openly swishy queer proud guy."[56]

The Oblongs features Biff who is implied to be gay.[57] He was confirmed to be gay in a bonus feature from The Oblongs Complete Series DVD.[58]

On May 18, 1996, Silver Spooner, the sidekick to Barbequor, appeared in an episode of Dexter's Laboratory titled "Dial M for Monkey: Barbequor." Both characters are parodies of Silver Surfer and Galactus, with the episode banned. While some said this was because Silver Spooner was a stereotype of gay men, with complaints to that effect after it aired,[59][60][61] others said it had more to do with copyright infringement as the estate of Jack Kirby threatened to sue Cartoon Network over the parody character.[62][63] The episode was, in later broadcasts, and on its Season 1 DVD (Region 1), replaced with "Dexter's Lab: A Story", an episode from season two.[64]

Time Squad which aired from 2001 to 2003 on Cartoon Network, arguably had a gay character. In 2012, the voice actor of Larry 3000, Mark Hamill, implied that Larry could easily have been interpreted as gay,[65] due to his femininity and presentation as the "gay best friend" to Cleopatra in "Shop like an Egyptian", even though Larry has stated on multiple occasions he dislikes humans in general. However, the show never directly stated his sexuality. Even so, Hamill described Larry 3000 as "fierce" and "flamboyant."[66]

In the August 2005 episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, titled "One Crazy Summoner", it was revealed that Dean Toadblatt and Squidhat, were gay lovers, marrying each other in the episode. One critic noted that while you could call them Cartoon Network's "first gay couple," it was actually Steven Universe, also airing on Cartoon Network, that "broke down representation barriers" years later.[67]

Jean Baptiste Le Ghei and Paul Guaye are inmates and a recurring couple as shown in the Superjail! episode "Superbar" and others. In an interview with the creators of the show, co-creator Christy Karacas called them well-rounded characters, who are a couple, with Paul as more feminine and intelligent than Jean who is "the bad boy."[68]

The first two seasons of DreamWorks Dragons aired on Cartoon Network from 2012 to 2014, and from 2015-2018 aired on Netflix. In February 2019, Gobber, the blacksmith of Berk, Stoick's closest friend, who appears in the films of the How to Train Your Dragon and DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders was confirmed as gay[69] In an episode of The Boondocks, aired in June 2015, many gay characters appeared, including Gangstalicious, a closet homosexual who goes to great lengths to keep his identity as a gay man hidden from the public.[70] Marquess of Queensbury, appeared on Mike Tyson Mysteries, which started on October 27, 2014. Eric Thurm of The A.V. Club argued that Marquess was a gay character[71] and he was based on a man named John Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry.

Spencer Rothbell, a writer, head of storywriting,[72] and voice actor of multiple characters, for the show Clarence, said in October 2014 that they had to change a scene in the episode "Neighborhood Grill", which showed two gay characters after pushback from Cartoon Network executives.[73][74][75] According to Rothbell, the original scene showed the two characters kissing on the lips, noting that "originally the guy had flowers and they kissed on the mouth." Later he lamented that the scene in the episode is "better than nothing," adding that "maybe one day the main character can be gay and it won't be a big deal." Despite this step back, there were some moves forward.

A Steven Universe storyboarder stated in 2017 that Harold Smiley and Quentin Frowney were a gay couple which was also confirmed by official artbook released the same year, titled Steven Universe: Art & Origins which showed that episode concept art for "Future Boy Zoltron" indicated that Mr. Smiley and Mr. Frowney were in a relationship.[76][77] In Summer Camp Island, Ghost the Boy, a ghost and Betsy's ex-boyfriend, has two dads Kent and Cole as his parents, introduced in a July 2018 episode.[78] Young Justice, in July 2019, introduced Wyynde, a gay character.[79]

Raj and Shawn in Craig of the Creek, Honeysuckle Rangers from a neighborhood nearby,[80] are implied to have feelings for each other in several episodes.[81] Raj is voiced by openly gay actor Parvesh Cheena. Joff and Nick Army, two recurring heroes, in OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes are a married couple.[82] In the final episode of the series, in September 2019 both have a same-sex wedding.[83] [84] Before the episode aired, Jones-Quartey confirmed Army and Joff as a canon gay couple.[85]

Journalists for Insider said that Eduardo "Ed" Dorado Jr in Young Justice was gay in June 2021.[86] This was confirmed by Greg Weisman in July 2021.[87] In the Elliott from Earth episode "Wednesday Part 4", a male alien mentions his husband.[88]

Transgender characters[]

In the 1998 Cow and Chicken episode "Who's Afraid of the Dark?", the Dad character tells his wife that adopting the disguised antagonist was the "best idea he's had since becoming a man." This would imply that he is a transgender man who was not assigned male at birth, making Dad the first openly transgender character on Cartoon Network. Trans characters also appeared in Superjail! and The Oblongs. Superjail! included Alice, a hulking and muscular head prison guard of Superjail and a trans woman[89] who regularly engages in sadomasochistic rituals with the prisoners, and rebuffs The Warden's constant advances as shown in episodes like "Jailbot 2.0."

Non-binary characters[]

In the Cartoon Network series Steven Universe, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Summer Camp Island, Steven Universe Future, and Craig of the Creek, featured non-binary characters.

Steven Universe introduced a non-binary and intersex character named Stevonnie on January 19, 2015. Stevonnie is a fusion between Steven and Connie[90] debuted in the January 15th episode Alone Together, using they/them pronouns.[75] Rebecca Sugar, the show creator, said that Stevonnie challenges gender norms as a "metaphor for all the terrifying firsts in a first relationship."[91] Later, the show earned a Emmy nomination in 2018 for the episode "Jungle Moon" centered around Stevonnie, a non-binary character.[92]

In OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Gregg, a minor character, was confirmed as non-binary by the series creator.[93] In Summer Camp Island, Puddle is a non-binary alien who uses they/them pronouns and their husband, Alien King, is the king of their planet.[94][95] The limited epilogue series, Steven Universe Future began airing on Cartoon Network in late 2019.[10] The series included one-time non-binary characters like Shep, the romantic interest of Sadie.[96]

In December 2018,Transformers: Cyberverse writer Mae Catt confirmed that the character Acid Storm was genderqueer, saying they like to switch between male and female genders.[97]

Craig of the Creek confirmed in December 2019 that the show had a non-binary character named Angel José. Their voice actor, Angel Lorenzana, who also uses they/them pronouns, an agender storyboard artist for the show, confirmed this.[98] In later tweets, they added that their "cartoon self" used they/them before themselves, gave a shout out to the show's crew, and said that while this is a small contribution to LGBTQ+ representation, they hope "fans can take comfort knowing that there's also non-binary people working behind the scenes" on every of the show's episodes. Additionally, there is a non-binary character named Merkid who appears as a mermaid in the episode "Beyond the Creek" and cameos in the episode "In the Key of the Creek."[citation needed]

Bisexual characters[]

Bisexual characters appeared in Cartoon Network series, such as Adventure Time, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, and Young Justice, and in the Adult Swim series Tuca and Bertie and Moral Orel'.

The season 2 premiere of Tuca and Bertie, titled Bird Mechanics, in June 2021, confirmed Tuca to be bisexual as she made out with a female bird mechanic.[99][100] From the episode "Nighttime Friend" on, she tries to get into a serious relationship with a woman named Kara.[101] Kara dumps Tuca in the season 2 finale "The Flood".[102]

Marceline in Adventure Time: Distant Lands is voiced by Olivia Olson.

In Adventure Time, Marceline the Vampire Queen (Marcy) is a bisexual character. A September 2011 episode "What Was Missing" began hinting at romantic subtext between her and Princess Bubblegum (Bonnie), called "Bubbline" by fans.[103][44] but some of those behind the show played down the relationship. Some reviewers hoped that "queer cartoon subtext" turns into "a queer cartoon subplot" or even a main plot in the future, and pointed to the Adventure Time Presents Marceline and the Scream Queens comic, created as part of the franchise, as fleshing out this relationship.[104][105]

In August 2018, Olivia Olson confirmed that Bonnie and Marcy had dated and in the season finale of Adventure Time, "Come Along With Me", Marcy and Bonnie kissed, which confirmed them as a couple.[106][107] The kiss itself in the episode was not scripted, as series creator Adam Muto admitted, only added after a storyboard artist, Hanna K. Nyström, advocated for it.[108][109] In an August 2020 interview, Sugar explained that Bonnie and Marcy that both characters were "centuries-old, millenniums-old," with a relationship in the past, which they were unpacking in an apparent way, and noted that she was trying to, when entering the show in 2010, show the "characters actively in a relationship happening in real-time."[110] Before Bonnie, Marcy had an ex-boyfriend named Ash.

In OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Professor Venomous, a villain has feelings for Lord Boxman,[111][83][84] On the day of the show's series finale, show creator Ian Jones-Quartey confirmed Venomous as bisexual, but not non-binary.[112][113] In the same series, Enid appeared, a bisexual ninja and witch, with her bisexuality confirmed by Jones-Quartey and Toby Jones.[114][22] She and Red Action were recognized by GLAAD as a couple,[115] and kissed in one the episode.[84][83]

Young Justice introduced Harper Row in July 2019. She is a bisexual friend to Violet Harper and Fred Bugg.[116][117][118]

Moral Orel, first released December 2005, had various LGBTQ+ characters. Coach Daniel Stopframe was Orel's bisexual coach as well as Shapey's biological father,[40] Daniel lusts after their father, Clay,[119] and at one point has sex with three women and a dog in episodes like "The Blessed Union."

The creator of Final Space, Olan Rogers, told fans in 2020 that he always saw Clarence as bisexual.[120] Clarence, a recurring character, has an ex-wife, several since-deceased wives, two adopted children (Fox and Ash Graven), is implied to be in love with General Cataloupe, and has unrequited love on Sheryl Goodspeed. One reviewer argued that the death of Clarence was not unique because "over 50 characters have died during the course of the series."[37]

Other LGBTQ characters[]

There are other LGBTQ characters in Cartoon Network series like Adventure Time, Young Justice, Steven Universe, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Transformers: Cyberverse, and Adventure Time: Distant Lands.

In Adventure Time, Princess Bubblegum is a queer character. Early episodes hinted at romantic subtext between her and Marceline the Vampire Queen.[103][44] Some reviewers hoped that "queer cartoon subtext" turns into "a queer cartoon subplot" or even a main plot in the future, and pointed to the Adventure Time Presents Marceline and the Scream Queens comic, created as part of the franchise, as fleshing out this relationship.[104][105] It was also confirmed that Bonnie and Marcy had dated, and their relationship was confirmed in the season finale of Adventure Time, "Come Along With Me" when both kissed.[106][107] While Bonnie seems to have dated a male character named Mr. Cream Puff,[121] her exact sexuality, unlike Marcy's,[110] has not been confirmed. As such, reviewers have argued that she is either bisexual,[122] non-binary,[123] queer,[123] lesbian,[124] or a combination of some of the latter, as both live in a world where "sexuality is somewhat fluid."[125] The show also featured agenderfluid character: BMO.[126] The relationship between Marcy and Bonnie was the main focus of the Adventure Time: Distant Lands episode, "Obsidian",[127][128]

Young Justice writer, Greg Weisman, confirmed Marie Logan as lesbian or bisexual in September 2012.[129] In July 2019, Weisman confirmed Kaldur'ahm as polysexual.[130] 2019 also saw the introduction of a genderqueer character, Violet Harper, in the show's third season.[131]

In Steven Universe, Rose Quartz, a pansexual character, was introduced on April 9, 2015. An episode with Pearl and Rose Quartz dancing together in a romantic fashion was censored with a UK Broadcaster, deeming that the song was "too risque,"[74] Later in the series, Fluorite, a representation of a polyamorous relationship,[107] appeared and a minor show character, Kiki Pizza, was shown as a pansexual character in the comics, level 2 canon for the show, when she asked out Stevonnie on a date.[132] In March 2020, Peridot, a popular character in the same show, was confirmed by storyboarder Maya Peterson as asexual and aromantic.[133] She said this despite her reservations that she is only a secondary creator on the show,[134] pleasing fans. However, she said that she didn't believe Peridot was autistic.[135][136] However, before, and after this point, fans had shipped Peridot with various other characters, specifically Lapis Lazuli and Amethyst, with some reviewers seeing Peridot and Lapis in a "close, loving relationship."[137]

Ian Jones-Quartey at San Diego Comic Con 2013 with other creators from Cartoon Network

Lord Boxman, in OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, is a villain who has feelings for Professor Venomous[111][83][84] On the day of the show's series finale, show creator Ian Jones-Quartey confirmed Boxman as pansexual.[138] In October 2020, Jones-Quartey added that Professor Venomous and Lord Boxman of OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes were married at the end of the series.[139][b] Jones-Quartey also said that The Hue Troop, which Red was once part of, are all LGBTQ characters.[140] The same day, Toby Jones, one of the supervising directors, confirmed Radicles "Rad" as genderfluid[141] In June 2021, Insider said that all those in the Hue Troop, Blue Power, Yellow Technique, Green Guts, and Black Strategy, were all lesbians.[86] Bobo was implied to be agender by Jones-Quartey.[93]

In June 2020, the first episode of Adventure Time: Distant Lands series, the name for four hour-long streaming television specials based on Adventure Time, began streaming on HBO Max, and it introduced Y5, an anthropomorphic rabbit and teenage scientist between age 11 and 13 who lives in The Drift.[142][143] Originally named "Y4", Y5 chooses her new name[144] with BMO's encouragement and eventually becomes the robot's "deputy."[145][146][147] Y5 struggles with managing the expectations of her parents (voiced by Tom Kenny and Michelle Wong, respectively), and finds herself forced to disobey them in order to save the Drift—all the while discovering her own identity.[146][148] Y5—with the titular robot's assistance—helps the citizens of the Drift defeat Hugo, and after their overlord is dethroned, she proposes a new form of social organization based on cooperation that will ideally allow the Drift to flourish.[149][150] Voice actress Glory Curda later argued that Y5's story has a lot of context and is representative of coming out into your own identity and defining yourself with whatever terms are comfortable for you.[151] Curda, in a Q&A on Reddit, said that after BMO left, Y5 grew and developed into "a leader and trailblazer to help save the drift,"[152] and noted that she was a big Adventure Time fan before getting the part.[153] In February 2021 it was announced that Adventure Time: Distant Lands episode "BMO" had won a Kidscreen Award for Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie.[154][155]

Pansexual characters were implied in Rick and Morty. The season five Rick and Morty episode, "Mort inner Rick Andre," was confirmed that the father of Morty, Jerry Smith, is queer because he, and Beth, his wife, have a threesome with the King of the Ocean, otherwise known as Mr. Nimbus.[156] Jerry has feelings for Mr. Nimbus, and due to the fact he has a wife, it means he is either pansexual or bisexual, with both he and Beth in a "sex-positive place" in their relationship, according to Jerry's voice actor, Chris Parnell.[157] The fact he is queer was already hinted in the episode "Total Rickall." In the Final Space episode "The Closer You Get," the character Tribore tells another character, Shannon, that "he is in love with his other half", because his species flips gender twice a year. Ajay Aravind, writing for Screen Rant, calls this "an amazing non-binary bit of the episode".[158] Series creator Olan Rogers later described Tribore as "narcissi-sexual" because he "loves himself a little too much."[120]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Sam Cleal of BuzzFeed calls her "LGBTQ" but never explains more than that.
  2. ^ Also, on September 6, 2019, Jones-Quartey and Toby Jones confirmed that Boxman and Venomous were a romantic couple.

References[]

Citations[]

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