The recently released animated film, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” has elicited varied interpretations from its audience, with some viewers asserting that the character Gwen Stacy could be transgender. The speculation has been largely driven by the color palette used in Stacy’s scenes, which is believed to align with the pastel hues of the transgender Pride flag. Additionally, a “Protect Trans Kids” sign spotted in her room further fueled this interpretation.
A pivotal scene that stirred conversations involves Stacy revealing her Spider-Woman identity to her police officer father, who is seen wearing what some interpret as a trans Pride flag badge. The scene has been construed by many as a metaphor for a coming-out moment, symbolically highlighting the colors of the transgender Pride flag.
Opinions on the topic have varied widely on social media. Some trans activists have celebrated the “inclusion”. One social media user wrote, “Trans (and even cis) fans have every right to say Gwen Stacy is trans, even if the movies never outright confirm it. The fact is— if she can make somebody feel represented, who are you to tell them they’re wrong?”
However, others have rejected the idea, arguing that the mere use of certain colors should not be equated with an identification with the trans community. As one critic stated, “So if you wear colors of the quote unquote trans community you’re automatically trans or an ally to the trans community… and no Spider-Gwen is not Trans.” Despite the heated debates, Sony has yet to comment on the audience interpretations.