Is Gwen Stacy Trans in the Comics? Is Gwen Stacy Trans in ‘Across the Spider-Verse’?

There’s a new debate on the internet these days, and it has to do with Gwen Stacy’s “Across the Spider-Verse’ gender identity. Lots have been said in this regard, and the internet is flooded with fan theories that suggest that Gwen is a trans figure herself.

Since its release, many have argued over the subtle hints that the movie shows, right from the “protect trans kids” flag in her room to the fact that Gwen’s father has a trans flag on his uniform. It has spurred several claims and counterclaims on the internet.

While the interaction might be slightly different from the portrayal of Gwen’s character and her rapport with other characters of the Spider-Verse in the comic book and the movie, concrete answers on whether Gwen is cisgender will only unfold after the release of “Beyond the Spider-Verse’.

Amidst claims that the makers have slightly hinted at Gwen’s being a Cis in the movie across several parts, the incredible animation and 10/10 soundtrack have somewhat been under-shadowed by the trans debate. 

Is Gwen Stacy Trans in the Comics?

While Gwen Stacy is not a trans in the comic, in her Earth 65 version of the book, Gwen, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, becomes Spider-Woman, and a deadly concoction turns Peter Parker into a lizard. This variant of Gwen Stacy still remains the favorite among comic fans as the character development meant more than just a female version of Peter Parker.

What remains significant is that both the versions of Gwen Stacy, in Earth 65 and Earth 616, where she is romantically linked with Peter Parker before her death, only signify that the trans angle to the character is made obvious in the movie.

Ironically, her being killed on Earth 616 prompted her to come back as a much more powerful Spider-Woman on Earth 65.

Is Gwen Stacy Trans In ‘Across the Spider-Verse’?

While in the comics, Gwen’s gender identity is pretty straight, as she’s the love interest of Peter Parker and even married to Miles, the whole trans angle only gets steam with Gwen’s changed equation with Miles in the movie, where they’re just pals.

Some fans even argued that the trans flag on her father’s uniform actually meant that she has come out already as a trans to him, but again, one man’s interpretation is different from another, and Gwen Stacy doesn’t have to be trans in order to stand for those who are.

Neither the makers of the movie nor Sony has confirmed or denied anything in this regard, which has added to the fans’ curiosity all the more. While some fans have picked up subtle hints from the movie as references to justify their claims, others simply believe the topic of Gwen’s identity has been stretched quite too far.

The whole debate started to get steam after some eagle-eyed fans noticed Gwen sporting trans-flag-colored costumes throughout the movie. Others pointed out her ‘I have two sides’ speech in the movie as a reference to her struggle coming out as a transwoman.

Be it the most obvious sign of her hair color in particular scenes that merges into the shades of blue, pink, and white, or Gwen’s persistent struggle in confession to her father, Captain Stacy, of her real identity, or what she calls, her “secret identity’.

All of this and much more have compelled many fans to think that maybe the makers were aware of this symbolism all along the movie but never really portrayed Gwen as a trans explicitly.

Why Do Fans Think Gwen Stacy Is Not a Trans?

While there are enough discussions on the internet to “prove’ that the character is transgender or cisgender, a whole lot of fans still believe that some theories have blown the movie’s artistic conceit out of proportion.

Anyone who has been associated with the Spider Multiverse and has watched the previous installments are aware of the budding romance of Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales that the previous Spider-Verse films have teased us with.

With this, there are still many hardcore fans who ship the duo, it is arguable that Gwen and Miles’ relationship will turn decidedly more romantic in the final installment of the trilogy. Another aspect that one can neglect is when Miles Morales meets and falls in love with an unknown universe Gwen Stacy. It is on Earth-8 that the two are married with kids for a decade, although in a parallel universe, this is sure to bring Gwen closer to Miles.

Fans on the microblogging sites have also expressed how they think the whole trans angle is pointless.

Some have argued that many fan theories are built on vague misinterpretations and that the movie lacks ‘evidence’ to prove that Gwen is trans.

Although it is unclear if Gwen is trans herself, it is clear that she supports those who are. While it’s also important to note that the central plots of the comic book and movie are always slightly different, all the speculations will only be put to rest after the release of the final part of the trilogy.

What do you think? Has Gwen Stacy’s support for transgender being misinterpreted? Are fans connecting the dots unnecessarily? Or did the makers canonically suggest in the movie that she’s transwoman? Let us know what you think!