SU was mentioned in this neat article about how LGBTQ+ character are portrayed in modern television, both live action and cartoons. There are a lot of common tropes and even jokes surrounding characters that do not fit the heterosexual "norm", and progress away from that is very slow. Steven Universe seems to be one show that gets representation right!
Aimed toward a younger audience, Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe is a popular cartoon that often discusses and subverts gender and sexuality tropes.
Niko Harrington, a freshman studying games and animation, believes Steven Universe’s portrayal of LGBTQ-identifying individuals is not only done positively but it also is done realistically compared to other television series because the characters’ personalities are further developed past their sexual and gender identities.
“Garnet, for example, is basically two lesbians in a trenchcoat,” Harrington said. “(But) that’s not all of her identity. She’s seen as someone strong and supportive, and she’s more than just the sum of her parts.”
Although the cartoon has been criticized by conservatives for having themes of gender and sexuality, bautista said the cartoon is “a possibility for (children) to find safety (and) to learn that being different is OK.”
“It’s a show (that introduces topics such as having) feelings for people of the same gender without over-sexualizing it,” Harrington said.
Do Portrayals of LGBTQ+ Individuals on TV Reflect Reality?
