Ruby and Sapphire Kiss
Who/What: Steven Universe is a show written by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. The show has sparked many protest and conversations due to its LGBTQ+ and Feminist themes. In episode 12 of the second season (titled Keystone Motel,) two of the main female character share a kiss and a passionate moment. Many parents were upset that the show would present LGBTQ+ themes, to the point that there were a few online petitions to have the show censored or cancelled.
When: The pilot was released in July of 2013 with the first official episode coming out on November 4th of the same year. The episode "Keystone Motel" first aired July 14th of 2015.
Where: Steven Universe is an international broadcast (though the episodes that display lesbian themes are censored in a few countries)
Why: This show was bound to spark controversy from the get-to. The show's main focus is a boy named Steven who is raised buy sentient rocks. While this in itself isn't all that controversial the shows main characters as well as many side characters are either outright LGBTQ+ or strongly suggested to be gay or lesbian. But Ruby and Sapphire have been the center of controversy because their love is show explicitly shown and stated throughout the show. They two of them fuse together to create a larger gem named Garnet, who often talks about how strong the love between Ruby and Sapphire is. But despite the protest, there are many who appreciate the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in Steven Universe.
Works Cited
Green, Larz. "Censor LGBT Themes in Steven Universe and Clarence." Change.org. Change.org, 2015. Web. 01 Sept. 2016.
Sugar, Rebecca. "Keystone Motel." Steven Universe. Cartoon Network. Burbank, California, 14 July 2014. Television.
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