Tag Archives: Cartoon Network

Top 7 Queer Moments: Steven Universe

If you could sum up Steven Universe in one line, it would be this:

Giant lesbian space rocks and lots of self-care.

The show is a virtual safe space where gems fall in love, watermelons rule their own island, and Nicki Minaj voices a badass character.

It follows the adventures of Steven, a young boy with supernatural abilities, and the Crystal Gems, female aliens whose lives depends on their gemstones. The current Crystal Gems are Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Peridot.

Steven Universe fights racism; many characters are of color, and their differences are celebrated without being centralized. It fights misogyny; strong female characters abound. It fights xenophobia; one character admits she doesn’t have a license because she’s technically an illegal immigrant. And it fights classism; the main character’s father lives in a van and finds no value in money

But let’s look at the way Steven Universe handles queerness. All of the crystal gems are female, and they fall in love with each other – it’s natural. They also fall in love with human women. It’s natural. Their stories are handled with care and nuance, and all of the queer characters are fleshed out.

Let’s look at some of the top queer (and genderqueer) moments.

7. Desperate to impress Amethyst, Peridot saves her life – and winds up on top of her. Then she gives her a gift.

6. Pearl and Garnet perform the most erotic dance ever allowed on kid’s television, and then fuse into one person.

5. Steven rocks this aquamarine dress and pageant makeup. And never once does he bring up fragile masculinity.

4. Jasper returns from the bottom of the ocean to beg for Lapis to come back to her, but Lapis recognizes that Jasper was toxic, and ends the abusive relationship.

3. Ruby and Sapphire have been together for more than 3,000 years. And they still can’t stop flirting. This is the ultimate lesbian love.

2. Pearl falls in love with a woman who looks like Steven’s mother, Rose, whom Pearl was also in love with for thousands of years. She does have a type.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg0ZL10R2do

1. This. All of this. (Beware: Major spoilers for Season 1.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ct0Sq57u4c

What are your favorite queer Steven Universe moments?

Cartoon Network UK Censors ‘Steven Universe’ To Make It Less ‘Gay’

Steven Universe is the story of a boy that helps protect the universe with his gem powers alongside his three female sister/mother role models and superheroes Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl.

The show – which has already won praise for including a number of strong, female characters in a comparatively male-dominated genre – confirmed last year that characters Ruby and Sapphire are a lesbian couple, who are so in love they can’t bare to separate. The two female-presenting also combine to create the super-powered kickass warrior Garnet.

Steven_Universe_Ruby-02

The show is now playing in the UK, but cartoon is being censored, which has angered many fans.

The show has been edited to alter a scene that previously showed the two female-presenting characters dancing together. The UK broadcast replaced this intimate moment with frames of a male character’s face.

Steven_Universe_Ruby-03 Steven_Universe_Ruby-01

Sadly, Cartoon Network UK is taking much-needed role models away from vulnerable kids,’ a petition reads, which has already been signed by over 2,000 people so far.

Steven Universe is a beloved series acclaimed for its ground-breaking portrayal of queer characters. I’ve heard many young people say it changed their lives. In the UK and Europe, CN UK have censored a romantic dance between two female characters, Pearl and Rose Quartz. Queer youngsters treasure and cling to this moment. The same episode (“We Need to Talk”) has plenty of hetero dancing and kissing, so it looks like they’re censoring this because it’s two women.”

Ruby and Sapphire not the only characters, with a queer feel. There is also on there are Pearl’s (seemingly non-platonic feelings) for Rose, Amethyst and Peridot’s crushes on each other and the fact that Steven and his best friend Connie joined together (fused) to become ‘Stevonnie’, a character of colour who uses ‘they’ pronouns.

When Cartoon Network in France did something similar, there was also outrage. The channel listened and let the original broadcast go out in future airings.

Cartoon Network UK has yet to respond to the petition.

Cartoon Network Execs Confirms Lesbian Romance on Show

A Cartoon Network show has become the first on its network to confirm two of its lead characters are in a lesbian couple.

Steven_Universe_Ruby-02

Steven Universe is the story of a boy that helps protect the universe with his gem powers alongside his three female sister/mother role models and superheroes Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl.

The show, which has already won praise for including a number of strong, female characters in a comparatively male-dominated genre, has now hinted at further diversity.

Characters Ruby and Sapphire – who are shown to be incredibly close on the show – sparked curiosity among some of the show’s adult fans.

Steven_Universe_Ruby-03

Responding to a fan’s questions on Twitter, the show’s former co-executive producer Ian Jones-Quarterly said…

When asked whether it is fair to interpret the pair as “nonbinary femme presenting lesbians”, he responded: “by human standards & terminology that would be a fair assessment!”