Cartoon Network released a comic strip highlighting the importance of respecting ‘many gender identities’ and loving a person no matter their preferred pronoun.
On Monday, the Twitter account associated with Cartoon Network tweeted a new series with the caption: “Here’s to not only normalizing gender pronouns, but respecting them, too.”
“Whether you use he/she/them or something else, we acknowledge and LOVE you!” it added, along with a link to the “Gender Justice Tool Kit” which it said was “designed to facilitate conversations that can save lives.”
Here's to not only normalizing gender pronouns, but respecting them, too 💖 Whether you use he/she/them or something else, we acknowledge and LOVE you! Toolkit 👉 https://t.co/ZbhthybrdC
🎨: Steeeeevn/Instagram#Pronouns #YYAAC #NBJCOnTheMove #LetsGetFree #CartoonNetwork pic.twitter.com/koceQue1aF
— Cartoon Network (@cartoonnetwork) December 14, 2020
The comic strips in the new series were created in partnership with the National Black Justice Coalition, a leftist, pro-LGBT organization.
Included with the tweet, was a comic strip featuring Stevonnie from Steven Universe and Craig from Craig of the Creek meeting two new friends, Kam and Alex.
“Gender pronouns describe a person’s gender identity,” one part of the comic strip read. “Examples of pronouns are she/her, they/them, an ze/zir. A lot of people are learning about gender. If you’re comfortable, you can share your own pronouns.”
“We can’t tell someone’s gender just by looking at them and shouldn’t assume we know,” the comic strip added. “There are many gender identities beyond ‘girl’ or ‘boy.’ Some people don’t identify as any gender.”
In a second part of the strip, two of the characters are talking about the pronouns they like to identify themself with, such as “they/them.”
“Using someone’s pronouns shows respect,” it concluded in the final strip. “We all need to be seen and loved for who we are.”
According to Animation Magazine, “the comic was designed by members of the NBJC Youth and Young Adult Action Council (YYAAC) with artist Steven Lowe (@steeeeevn), a team of talented creators from Cartoon Network Studios, and leadership from NBJC’s director of education programs and research, Dr. Kia Darling-Hammond. This collaboration grew out of Cartoon Network’s commitment to meaningfully engage with organizations serving the LGBTQ+/SGL community and is a part of the network’s continued support for NBJC.”