Steven Universe Is Trans And Here's Why

[@thealrightoddity]

EDIT: The captions are now up! I hope you enjoy :D It will forever upset me that KZbin has disabled community captions, I'm working on them individually and hope to get them done by Sunday! Hopefully!

[@sockruhtease]

This show made my ex realize she was a transwoman and that I'm nonbinary. It's so weird to think about now (we are still friends and this show actually helped us connect because it helped us see who we really were) I'm glad this video somewhat expressed the feelings we had, and how it was expressed in this show

[@SleepiPotionsXD]

Im so happy for y'all!!

[@rue...whenwasthis]

The straights: *watches Change Your Mind* also the straights: "So you're telling me a queer coded this?"

[@thealrightoddity]

this is one of the best comments on this video, hands down.

[@foxtatertot]

YES. I've ALWAYS seen this allegory, literally as far back as when I was watching this arc for the first time when it aired. And I'm SO glad that somebody has finally addressed it and broken it down! This video is and you are so awesome for that.

[@thealrightoddity]

thank you! and I am still SO surprised it hasn't been made into a video yet (other than mine). or at least a video I've seen!

[@TheMarineIguanaStudios]

Oh, God bless you! As someone with gender dysphoria (though I have not transitioned), interpreting this from a "trans lens" was something I've been doing for quite a while, and it's heartening to see others who share this interpretation :)

[@Mariathinking]

I feel like there's multiple allegories going on at the same time. One is the trans element. The other is that of naricistic families and cycles of abuse. Steven is reliving Pinks life as both a victim and perpetrator of the abuse she endured and committed. He is trained to take on her role as Rose by the crystal gems, then as Pink by the diamonds. He feels its his duty to fix Pinks sins. After a series of metaphprical breakdowns (white diamond taking out his gem splitting him, Steven turning into pink Steven, and then the pink godzilla corruption), he self actualized that he is not his mother and he should not burden her sins, nor the diamonds sins, thus breaking the cycle of abuse.

[@thealrightoddity]

the fun thing i enjoy about this cartoon is that youre right, too-- steven universe's story is basically multiple allegories in a trenchcoat, it's very interesting storytelling!

[@bittsystar276]

I just watched the last few episodes for the first time, and the whole time i was watching, i was like “oh my gosh, he’s trans!” The way Gem Steven says “SHE’S GONE!”and the fusion of Human Steven and Gem Steven representing the acceptance of his past (that it happened) and his future (that it will be better), was so resonant to me as a trans man.

[@Ninzja]

I love that this video puts in words what I have been feeling about the series the whole time. The series itself was a whole ass experience to watch in real time since I was coming to terms with my own identity at the time too.

[@cartoon_finatic]

I believe that Steven Universe was the very first thing that made me realize there was a word for how I felt. It wasn't until awhile later, when I started watching The Owl House, that I finally found something explaining to me that I'm was not FtM as I had thought but I'm nonbinary. But I truly feel very strongly of Steven. I once had my own diamonds, only except one of them was later learning through her confusion and being "nonsupportive". Than later, despite not liking many shows that I like, she agreed to sit down, without any context, to watch Change Your Mind with me. Than, she was the one that stood up against our other friend, who she's known since she was in middle school, over someone who she had, at the time, known for 3 days. Much as Blue Diamond had corrected White Diamond, she had corrected the person on using my deadname and misgendering me. Now, thankfully, I met some people that I don't have to constantly reexplain and defend myself. They never deadname me. Or misgender me on purpose. It's still something new, so they are still learning. But they quickly correct themselves if they realize what they did.

[@TheAmazingBluff]

This is really great because I feel like most of the video essays on steven universe just absolutely shit on the series because it's like a trend or something. I'm so happy you were able to make this video. This takes positives out of the show and focuses on what it does well. Great job.

[@thealrightoddity]

thank you!! i definitely feel like people don't look more critically at steven universe because of all the hate it's gotten. it's a really good show but i don't think most people really understand the themes!

[@rue...whenwasthis]

Yeah like we all know he's not like really trans, cause that that makes no fucking sense, but its an excellent metaphor for being trans and queer in general. Also the fact that the gems are technically sexless and genderless although they present as female is just so perfect to me.

[@marim0s553]

the conclusion part of the video when you talked about hope and happy endings made me tear up a bit not gonna lie,,,, this was a great video essay!! it perfectly encapsulates what the core of steven universe (and steven’s character arc) is, and it makes me really happy that so many people see him as a trans/queer-coded character. thank you for making this!

[@thealrightoddity]

💛💛💛💛 thank you so much!! i'm glad you enjoyed it (and ngl i also teared up when i was editing the conclusion haha :') )

[@kurt.-]

I like this

[@マイカ-b1e]

It seems like a lot of people didn't like the video because Steven is not canonically Trans but I see this video as a reflection. The person who made this video is not forcing anyone to saying that Steven is Trans, she/they are just saying that it's a good metaphor and also makes sense for Trans people.

[@thealrightoddity]

yes, you're exactly right! the title is meant to be more click-bait-y than any definite canonical depiction bc i just thought taking the "and here's why" title style would be kinda fun. but you get what i'm saying! :D

[@brigadeunknown1324]

This makes me understand my trans sister better, he struggled so much his whole life and I hope they have it easier now that they're away...

[@Pazliacci]

Yessss!! aaaa I've had to rewatch a lot of Steven Universe recently because I finally convinced a friend to watch it, and I just realized "oh this is why Steven felt so fucking relatable ... I'm trans".

[@thealrightoddity]

!!! exactly!!! i wondered why for the longest time until it hit me like a train and i made this video hahaha :D

[@Pazliacci]

@@lastlime3792 hello???

[@wen6519]

"you are allowed and expected to change" to invent yourself. My heart stopped a little bit and for a second, it felt like my brain just stood still listening. I am not sure I've allowed myself to sit on this feeling.

[@McCurmudgeonify]

This video made me cry. It was really beautiful, thank you

[@thealrightoddity]

awww thanks!! i'm assuming they're good tears hahaha

[@McCurmudgeonify]

@@thealrightoddity Yeah, complicated emotions but largely happy tears

[@thealrightoddity]

💛💛💛💛💛

[@Breakdownwithemi]

if you dont mind me asking what editing software do you use i love the editing

[@thealrightoddity]

aw thanks! I use final cut pro x! 😁

[@RpstGroyperish]

This video saved my life, thank you so much for making it! Hugs and kisses.

[@thealrightoddity]

i'm glad it helped! 💛💛

[@isaiahcastro4586]

no cause change is so transiential to steven universe and opening your heart and mind to change even if it means losing your body and soul

[@thealrightoddity]

exACTly!!!! 👏👏👏👏 i love steven universe so much

[@Itsgacha_M3Ya.]

Omg!this is so good your underrated 🥰

[@thealrightoddity]

aw thank you!! 💛💛💛

[@Itsgacha_M3Ya.]

@@thealrightoddity your welcome I love these types of videos ❤️

[@thealrightoddity]

well more WILL be coming, i love making them :D

[@Itsgacha_M3Ya.]

It must be so hard to make these your rly talented 🥰

[@thealrightoddity]

thanks!! it's a little hard and time-consuming but it's enjoying!

[@PeachWookiee]

I would argue that Steven is confident enough in his masculinity to embrace the feminine.

[@thealrightoddity]

that could be the case, too! the great thing about stories is that people can take multiple readings out of them. so i could see something you don't and you could see something i don't!

[@PeachWookiee]

For me, his fearlessness in that regard is inspiring. He lets boys know it’s okay to embrace both!

[@levibee9451]

"They don't understand change at all" whoo this hit me. I feel like I get the fear and confusion that queerphobes have in a new way now.

[@West-rk7dz]

technically Steven is also literally trans cuz he used to be Pink and turned into Steven

[@johnmichellebasquiate9028]

Thank you, this video is so good. You gave me a lot of hope for the future✨💫✨

[@thealrightoddity]

thank you! i'm glad it could provide some hope 💛💛💛

[@kennysdirtyhoodie3459]

This show led me to realize I was a trans man and I’ve been living as a man for a good four ish years now

[@darkalicornkingdoom3572]

Sounds like a discussion about "is it trans coded" or is it actually "trans"

[@jebise6656]

another day another victory for the trans community, taking down the sweats, the transphobes among us

[@juniorlesegoragontse7710]

Didn't know I needed this

[@vulcan3915]

Deleting any comments that disagree. Typical.

[@Vividlyforgotten]

tbh Steven does act gay sometimes

[@geraldcaka3553]

Show me the dislikes.

[@thealrightoddity]

there are extensions for browsers to see it if you want to know. the likes aren't hidden because i'm afraid of them, they're hidden because of that youtube change a few months ago

[@thelunarlunatic9681]

Steven is a guy. He was never trans to being with! Pink and Steven are different. Pink Diamond/ Rose was the mother and Steven was the son. They’re different. Not the same

[@potatomo9609]

That’s the point! He is not pink to begin with, but the diamonds insisted on calling him pink diamond, his “deadname”, and using she/ her pronouns with him. This is analogous of what trans people go through. They have to constantly explain to people who they are, that they are not their AGAB to begin with.

[@thealrightoddity]

exactly! ro, you put it better than i could've phrased it!

[@potatomo9609]

@@thealrightoddity thx!

[@Nst3204]

Ayoo

[@Zman_fnaf]

I hate Steven universe Me and David Allan Coe are going to boycott Steven universe

[@ms_go_away6129]

if Stephen was trans, then they would make him trans but he's not

[@thealrightoddity]

at the time SU came out it was a struggle to get LGBTQ+ representation on screen. a lot of episodes that deal with garnet's relationship were censored in other countries, changed so ruby was a "male gem", or just not shown entirely. so if they wanted to make Steven explicitly trans, they probably could not do it because of the network executives. CN has gotten a lot better at that, but i doubt we'll see a trans protagonist on a show there for another few years. plus, this is just my own reading of steven's story with the themes that are presented in the final arc of the show. it can read other ways to other people, but this is based on my own experiences being trans and how i can relate to Steven & his relationship to the diamonds