artemispanthar:

So, here’s something I’ve been trying to articulate since “Reunited” and I don’t think I quite have my words right but here goes

I have so much respect for the crewniverse and their desire and pursuit to be the change they want to see, especially in terms of LGBT+ things. Whether they’re successful in all the areas they try to tackle is up to individual interpretation but it is important that they’re trying to make a positive mark and it’s important they’re making this show for kids to grow up with. There really wasn’t anything like this when I was a kid, there really wasn’t anything like this until I was an adult. And I know much of the crew were in the same boat. I know that much of the crew are trying to show things that they personally identify with and want to see.

I’m going to talk about Rebecca Sugar in particular here, since it’s her show and even though it is a group effort it does matter who runs it (also I can point to specific statements here). I have a whole lot of respect and admiration for her right now in this. She’s talked a lot in interviews over the years about one of her goals with the series which is to talk to kids about identity, to show kids representations of themselves, and to show kids that someone like them can be loved.

During a panel at SDCC 2016 in particular, Rebecca talked about this. Here’s a post about it but I’ll just quote it in its entirety here because it’s important.

Question 20: It’s clear that Steven Universe has strong themes that center around women empowerment and LGBT themes, Rebecca what inspired you to include these themes in the show? (46:20)

Rebecca says “In large part, its based on my experience as a bisexual woman.” These themes have so much to do with who you are. There’s an idea that these themes should not be shared with kids, but everyone shares stories about love and attraction with kids. So many stories for kids are about love, and it really makes a difference to hear stories about how someone like you can be loved. And if you don’t hear those stories, it will change who you are.

Rebecca says “It’s very important to me that we speak to kids about consent, that we speak to kids about identity, that we speak to kids about… There’s so much I have to say about this… I want to feel like I exist and I want everyone else who wants to feels that way to feel that way too.”

This is the very embodiment of the concept “Make the story that you needed as a kid,” this is very much taking a personal pain, a personal injustice and using it to help prevent that for future generations. It’s very admirable to me. She was wronged, having to grow up feeling like she ‘doesn’t exist’, I was wronged, so so many people were wronged this way (and continue to be), not being able to even discover who they are until well into adulthood but now there are a lot of kids who won’t grow up like that.

She’s certainly not the only one to do this, of course, and she shouldn’t be. Everyone should make what they needed as kids to ensure kids grow up. It doesn’t matter who did it first or who did it best, what matters is there’s more and more media talking to kids and showing them all the possibilities of their being and more and more media possibly helping kids not feel empty or broken or confused.

Not to be really sappy but this sort of thing means a lot to me. I just… have a lot of respect and admiration for Rebecca and the whole crew for this.