To teach its younger viewers about gender pronouns and identity, Cartoon Network has joined forces with the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) to create a comic strip featuring characters from its popular shows.
The strip features Stevonnie from Steven Universeand Craig from Craig of the Creek meeting two new friends, Kam and Alex. Kam's and Alex's pronouns are them/they, as are Stevonnie's. "Using someone's pronouns shows respect," the comic's closing message reads. "We all need to be seen and loved for who we are!"
"This comic was created to embrace and acknowledge the role of selfhood and inclusion." NBJC’s YYAAC member Justin Calhoun said in a statement. "This partnership between NBJC and Cartoon Network is an act of visibility that centers the needs of queer youth to ensure that they are not only accepted, but also thriving!"
"Part of the excitement of this project is that we are engaging a topic that young people almost always have experience with, but don’t often have the space to discuss. Whether these youth identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, cis, or the multitude of identities therein, this comic is a radical act of trust and care to reach all youth who are beginning to, or have already, thought critically about gender. They are heard, they are seen, they are accepted, and they are loved." YYAAC member Tyler Miles added.
NBJC and Cartoon Network previously joined forces at the beginning of December to launch a Nucleus Gallery event centered around the theme of "Community," with artwork centered around Cartoon Network shows. Cartoon Network also recently launched a series of anti-racism PSAs featuring characters from O.K. KO!: Let's Be Heroes and Steven Universe.
