Adventure Time: LGBT Catalyst?

ASTRID TOVAR
Staff Writer

Whether as speculation or as hinted undertones, plenty of shows have poked fun with homosexual implications in the past. Yet, storylines involving homosexuality, however harmless, can stir up controversy.
In Adventure Time’s recent episode “What Was Missing,” interactions between two of the female characters, Marceline and Princess Bubblegum, were laced with homosexual undertones. Although it could just have well been friendship, speculation was later confirmed by a video posted by Frederator, Adventure Time’s YouTube account.
An official recap video addressed the conflict between the two females and suggested they “want to be more than just friends.” Soon afterward, it was taken down by Frederator. Many fans and LGBT supporters who caught wind of the video became frustrated with the removed prospect. And with good reason.
The question to ask is, why would they need to remove it in the first place? Adventure Time is a children’s show, and while the idea of encouraging tolerance at a young age seems appealing, it shouldn’t have been treated as an end-all means—it’s not so black and white. These things can’t change over night—it takes patience and small, careful steps. And in time, perhaps we’ll be able to enjoy a show with genderless love without a second thought.