Gwen’s exile from her original universe into the liminal multiverse serves as a straightforward metaphorical parallel. As the movie is released, the advent of draconian anti-trans laws in multiple states across the country prompt the exodus of trans people from places that were once their homes. Both the necessity of hiding one’s truth and the acknowledgement of the emotional labor it takes to accomplish this are intrinsic to the archetypical Spider-Man tale, and both can be unfortunately relatable to trans people who are in the closet, even on a part-time basis.Īnother reason that Gwen’s experience is relatable for trans audience members is the fact that her existence has been made illegal. A reflection of this necessary (but frequently difficult) duality can be seen in almost any of the various Spidey interpretations, not only including Gwen but also Miles Morales and most incarnations of Peter Parker. The concept of being forced to live a dual life and hide one’s true self, a relatable experience for adolescent trans people who must hide their true identity from family members, is addressed in the scene in which Gwen comes out as Spider-Woman to her father.ĭepending on situation and privilege, for safety reasons, trans people young and old alike may be forced to conceal their true gender – in some situations, even from those closest to them. There are many more elements of Gwen’s experience that are relatable to trans people, especially trans people the age of the movie’s teenaged characters. Why Spider-Gwen’s experience is relatable to trans people Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation However, it seems most likely that this was a different badge that incidentally appeared to be the trans pride colors due to the color filter, which tinges the tint of everything we see in Gwen’s universe. Some people online argued that a trans flag appeared on the uniform of Gwen’s father, police Captain George Stacy. This visual style was continued and amplified in the interior art for Gwen’s subsequent solo series, The Radioactive Spider-Gwen. It is worth noting the source material heavily inspires this aesthetic: even the cover of Gwen’s first appearance in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 reflects the impressionistic pastel palette that was used to differentiate Gwen’s universe from the then-respective universes of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. In addition to generally appearing throughout the dimension’s color scheme and on Gwen’s costume, these colors become amplified during a climactic scene in which Gwen ‘comes out’ to her father about her identity as Spider-Woman. The colors of the trans pride flag, which was designed by Monica Helms in 1999, are white, light blue, and light pink. One line of reasoning cited by many who have speculated that Gwen may be trans is the seeming presence of the colors of the trans flag throughout her home universe. Trans Pride colors Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation Some of the most shared posts voicing the opinion on Twitter and Reddit have since been deleted or were made by accounts that have since been set to ‘private.’ However, there are some common sources of inspiration cited by many of the individuals who have shared their interpretation of Gwen as trans. This statement has something of a recurring connection with Marvel on screen, also having appeared on shirts worn by Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Don Cheadle and Tatiana Maslany during promotional media appearances.Īfter the film was widely released in theaters on Friday, June 2, 2023, elements of Gwen’s narrative and dialogue inspired many fans to take to social media and voice their interpretation of the character as trans. In one shot (also included in the movie’s cold opening), a ‘Protect Trans Kids’ poster can be seen over the doorframe of Gwen’s bedroom. The seeds of speculation regarding Gwen being trans were sown in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer. Here’s why people are speculating Gwen is trans Here’s everything you need to know about the Spider-Gwen trans speculation explained – featuring plenty of spoilers from the movie. But in the days since Across the Spider-Verse was released, more than a few fans have voiced idea that one of the movie’s lead characters, Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), is either transgender or subtextually coded as trans. With several universes worth of Easter eggs and a cacophony of cliffhangers, the animated sequel offers plenty of conversation fodder. The sequel to 2018’s Oscar award winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has captured the hearts and social media accounts of audiences in theaters everywhere. After years of anticipation, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been released in theaters.
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