Are There More Female Same Sex Relationships In Animation Compared To Male Same Sex Relationships

[SweetShop209]

So, with LGBTQ content being being made more common in animation, one question I saw is if there are more female sex relationships than male same sex relationships (either confirmed or hinting at a potential relationship), whether a major element to the show or a minor element. Let me explain.

We have shows like Steven Universe with Ruby and Sapphire's wedding (amongst other things), Harley Quinn with Harley and Ivy getting together in the season 2 finale after confirming their feelings for each other, She Ra And The Princesses Of Power with Adora and Catra getting together, The Legend Of Korra with Korra and Asami getting together, Adventure Time with Marceline and Princess Bubblegum getting together, and Cleopatra In Space with how Akila has two mothers. The Owl House is also building up a romantic relationship between Luz and Amity. Even with minor or one shot characters, it still seems to be mainly female. For example, it's revealed in My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic that Scootaloo has two aunts (first revealed in a graphic novel before appearing in The Last Crusade). The DC Superhero Girls 2019 episode "House Pest" shows that Jessica Cruz has two mothers. The Doc McStuffins episode "The Emergency Plan" showed a doll family with two mothers. The TOTS episode "Night At The Nursery/Seas The Day" shows that Oki the otter and Donny the dolphin each have 2 mothers.

By contrast, what about male same sex relationships? The only examples I can think of off the top of my head are Clyde's dads on The Loud House, Bow's dads on She Ra And The Princesses Of Power, Benson being gay on Kipo And The Age Of Wonder Beasts, and Nia from The Bravest Knight having 2 fathers, Sir Cedric and Prince Andrew.

This does make one curious. What do you think?

 

[Alexsketchy2004]

I have a theory on why Male same sex relationships are a bit scarce, and why Female same sex relationship is more prominent

I feel that it is because lesbians are more Fetichisized by a lot of people

Or at least that's what i think

 

[Corwin Haught]

Maybe it's more due to evangelical types being more concerned about "turning boys gay". There's also a general mood about featuring more woman characters.

 

[SweetShop209]

I guess it could also be because that most media tends to make female characters more openly emotional, and thus have less difficulty in writing same sex relationships with females since they can show more open emotion. It could also be because some of the same sex female relationships could be because of many prominent lesbian/bisexual women helping to develop these characters

 

[Red Arrow]

A relationship between two men implies gay intercourse, which is illegal in many countries and used to be forbidden almost everywhere.

A relationship between two women is accepted in most of the world. (but not everywhere)

 

[kid rabbit]

there are actually a lot of lesbian and bi women work in animation and comics from Noelle Stevens to Rebecca sugar

 

[Dr.Pepper]

Adam from the Netflix series The Hallows was gay. I don’t think he was in a relationship (I didn’t watch all of season 2), he just mentioned it in passing.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

By contrast, what about male same sex relationships? The only examples I can think of off the top of my head are Clyde's dads on The Loud House, Bow's dads on She Ra And The Princesses Of Power, Benson being gay on Kipo And The Age Of Wonder Beasts, and Nia from The Bravest Knight having 2 fathers, Sir Cedric and Prince Andrew.

Well Violet (and adopted sister Lena) has two dads in the 2017 Ducktales series and Sheriff Blubs and Officer Durland in Gravity Falls were revealed as gay in the series finale of that show. If we're talking more adult series (since you mentioned Harley Quinn) there's Big Gay Al and Mr. Slave in South Park, along with Brian's cousin Jasper and Julio in Family Guy among a few examples.

That said yeah there does seem to be a focus on especially in children's media now being more okay showing a same sex female couple then a male couple when there probably should be a bit more balance. In addition to what others said about it being more socially acceptable world wide, a lot of series creators being gay or bi women or women being seen as generally more emotional anyway so makes sense to have a focus on that kind of coupling, I think it's also because the idea of subtly putting it in kids shows (as in not just characters who were stated to be gay like say the Principal in Jimmy Neutron but ones who had an actual partner we saw on screen) started with female coupling and thus since that's still apparently such a hot topic it still being pushed while leaving less room to explore male on male relationships. Which really should be pushed too but eh sadly this is one of those changes that is still happening slowly in that actually having any representation on the big or small screen in animation generated towards children is still a big deal so maybe when it becomes more the norm we'll see more gay couples of all kind in western animation.

 

[GrantM]

A relationship between two men implies gay intercourse, which is illegal in many countries and used to be forbidden almost everywhere.

A relationship between two women is accepted in most of the world. (but not everywhere)

I'd never thought I'd see the day intercourse was mentioned on this forum but here we are!

 

[Red Arrow]

I didn't know how else to say it

 

[Corwin Haught]

Molly Knox Ostertag has noticed:

 

[AdrenalineRush1996]

Adam from the Netflix series The Hollow was gay. I don’t think he was in a relationship (I didn’t watch all of season 2), he just mentioned it in passing.

That's right plus Mira has two dads.