Rebecca Sugar on the importance of queer characters in children’s media, discussing Steven Universe on the MoCCA 2016:
![Queer Representation: Quote from Rebecca Sugar-[B]Rebecca Sugar on the importance of queer characters in children’s media, di](https://image.staticox.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpm1.aminoapps.programascracks.com%2F6473%2F7b6d16969f53721b30c1343a35e7f10722b6720a_hq.jpg)
"I think there’s this idea that that [queer characters] is something that applies or should be only discussed with adults that is completely wrong.
"And I think when you realize that talking to kids about heteronormativity is just like air that you breathe all the time, it’s kind of amazing that that is not true in any other capacity.
"I think if you wait to tell kids, to tell queer youth that it matters how they feel or that they are even a person, then it’s going to be too late!
"You have to talk about it–you have to let it be what it gets to be for everyone.
"I mean, like, I think about, a lot of times I think about sort of fairy tales and Disney movies and the way that love is something that is ALWAYS discussed with children.
"And I think also there’s this idea that’s like, oh, we should represent, you know, queer characters that are adults, because there are adults that are queer, and you should know that’s something that is happening in the adult world, but that’s not how those films or those stories are told to children. You’re told that YOU should dream about love, about this fulfilling love that YOU’RE going to have. […]
"The Prince and Snow White are not like someone’s PARENTS. They’re something you want to be, that you are sort of dreaming of a future where you will find happiness.
"Why shouldn’t everyone have that? It’s really absurd to think that everyone shouldn’t get to have that!"
Comments (6)
I absolutely agree with this. With Steven Universe leading the pack in kids entertainment, and Legend of Korra and most recently Star v The Forces Evil, I'm really happy there's at least some queer representation. Coming from a lesbian, this is extremely important issue in my eyes
Yes. Well said. It's wonderful to see people like us in our entertainment so we realize we are part of the world and have a place in it.
I really agree with this as someone who is bi. I don't think youth is educated very often.
Yep! Rebecca came out as bi while discussing this issue at a con once, too. And as a queer person who is only just starting to see representations of her identity in mainstream media, I appreciate it more than most people know when I can get incidental, appropriate, accurate representation outside of a Very Special Episode.
This is beautiful.
I love her so much. It's totally similar to what I say in my writings about representation!