Why doesn't SpongeBob have any LGBT-centered episodes?

[spunklebobby]

This is the thought that I've been having for a great while and now that I think about it, we really could've used an episode or two exactly on this topic. I mean, the OTHER show that managed to consistently keep up with SpongeBob in terms of ratings has one of its title girl characters date another girl and even prominently features a biracial gay couple, so why can't SpongeBob have something like that? The only time the show has ever come close to showing a same-sex couple was in "Rule of Dumb"... As a split-second still frame cameo.
And yes, I get that SpongeBob is supposed to be asexual and that he seems to have repressed romantic feelings towards Squidward and yaddayaddayadda, but like... Why haven't they shown any minority fish EXPLICITLY yet? Hillenburg seemed to be chill about the topic, so I'm sure it wasn't on his made-up "MUH WISHES" list, for which reason... Whazza problem, Nick?

 

[Neon2500]

They had a same sex couple in “Rule of Dumb”? I don’t remember that, but that’s cool.

I think maybe it is as Nick’s biggest franchise, and unlike Cartoon Network which only lost its dignity recently, Nickelodeon has been a money making enterprise for quite some time and SpongeBob is their biggest franchise by far (even if TLH is big among cartoon fans it has MUCH lower recognition among non cartoon fans than SpongeBob)

They just want to play it real safe and not run the risk of losing audience. It’s really a shame and you’d think they would change since there are even non binary storyboard artists on the show now.

That’s just the only explanation I can think of. Also, since season 11 when SpongeBob has gone in the direction of trying to imitate the 1950s, it seems more out of place than it would have in earlier seasons

 

[spunklebobby]

They had a same sex couple in “Rule of Dumb”? I don’t remember that, but that’s cool.

On Patrick's genealogy tree, there are two fish named Prince Callous and Prince Dingus who have a son named Carl, implying they're married.
Dunno how they let that slip in but I suppose that's just because it's incredibly brief and has no story relevance

 

[Hugs4Softie]

I would love to see one sometime as a member of the LGBTQ community :]

 

[YouDontKnowSponge]

Probably because Nick wants SpongeBob to retain the timeless feeling and plus the show has had controversies in the past.

 

[spunklebobby]

Probably because Nick wants SpongeBob to retain the timeless feeling and plus the show has had controversies in the past.

The show has shown cellphones for a while now so I'm not sure it's the "timelessness" that's the issue here

 

[Aesop]

I agree with what Neon2500 said. In Nick's eyes, it's not worth the risk for its biggest franchise considering current politics. Especially because, at the end of the day, SpongeBob is for younger audiences. If an LGBTQ+ themed episode is created, there's going to be hissyfits from certain groups of people and politicians. These groups may push for a boycott of SpongeBob or refuse to buy SpongeBob products. They may even stop purchasing products from Nickelodeon altogether (because that's how hateful some people have become).

Even if the group is small, that's still revenue lost and probably a massive headache.

 

[PhoenixHen]

Because it's a childrens show...? Also, there's just no point to it. I mean what kind of plot are you thinking of? Because I can't think of any SpongeBob plot that would revolve around sexuality.

 

[spunklebobby]

Because it's a childrens show...?

The Loud House is also a "children's show", yet it has exactly the examples I listed in the above post
Children need to learn about attraction to people other than the "traditional" values and the ways it can be expressed

 

[PhoenixHen]

The Loud House is also a "children's show", yet it has exactly the examples I listed in the above post
Children need to learn about attraction to people other than the "traditional" values and the ways it can be expressed

Sure, but I don't think SpongeBob is the right cartoon for that kind of stuff.

 

[spunklebobby]

Sure, but I don't think SpongeBob is the right cartoon for that kind of stuff.

It can work because of the scientific elements that the real life fish contain that can be put in the show
Fish that can change sex due to certain factors? Perfect for a transgender allegory

 

[PhoenixHen]

It can work because of the scientific elements that the real life fish contain that can be put in the show
Fish that can change sex due to certain factors? Perfect for a transgender allegory

That is not a good allegory. Fish are fish, humans are humans. Just because certain types of fish can naturally change their sex, that doesn't mean humans can do that. And I'm not hating on trans people, but gender affirming surgery is in no way natural. Gender dysphoria itself is a mental disorder. (I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't know how else to say this)

 

[spunklebobby]

>I'm not hating on trans people

>Gender dysphoria itself is a mental disorder

Well, we got em, I'm outta this thread someone close it pls

 

[PhoenixHen]

Well, we got em, I'm outta this thread someone close it pls

Then tell me what gender dysphoria is. That's like saying autism is not a mental disorder. I am autistic, and there's nothing wrong with autistic people. That doesn't mean autism isn't a disorder.

 

[Hugs4Softie]

When I open my possibly positive thread about trans people only to see yet another debate about why its not kid friendly and not natural.

 

[PhoenixHen]

When I open my possibly positive thread about trans people only to see yet another debate about why its not kid friendly and not natural.

OP said LGBTQ, not trans. Also, no, I don't think it's kid-friendly. People can do whatever they like once they're a legal adult (18 years old), but literal children shouldn't transition. But why am I even still interacting with this thread? I always get hated on for having a different opinion than the "norm".

 

[Hugs4Softie]

OP said LGBTQ, not trans. Also, no, I don't think it's kid-friendly. People can do whatever they like once they're a legal adult (18 years old), but literal children shouldn't transition.

I'm a trans kid myself and I find this very offputting. There's nothing wrong nor inappropriate with being trans as a kid, especially because in the teenage years is when people are really discovering who they are.

I understand OP said LGBTQ, but then the topic slowly shifted towards trans people.

 

[Hugs4Softie]

But why am I even still interacting with this thread? I always get hated on for having a different opinion than the "norm".

Your opinion is being challenged, this is a normal thing to happen when stating an unpopular opinion btw.

I think that saying minors can't be trans is not the best thing to think and honestly not a great first impression.

If you don't want to be in this thread anymore you can turn of the notifications and even ignore it if you'd like.

Have a nice day!

 

[Whisper]

Saying LGBTQ isn't kid friendly is a crazy take I can't lie. There's literally nothing wrong with kids being exposed to it. They NEED to learn about that stuff because there's a very good chance they aren't going to learn it from their parents! And there's nothing wrong with kids discovering themselves either. Honestly, I feel like I'm STILL trying to figure myself out as a 24 year old adult. And yeah, we can be wrong sometimes. I identified as bi for literally YEARS until I realized just last year that I'm actually aroace. I can agree at the very least that kids probably shouldn't medically transition since there's a higher chance they'll regret it, but there shouldn't be anything wrong with socially transitioning. No shame in being wrong if you ever find out that you are! I have done a lot of experimenting with my identity over the last year and I absolutely was not right about everything but how are you ever going to know for sure if you don't ever try it out?

Anyways, the thread owner requested that the thread be closed so I'm gonna go ahead and do that, and unfortunately its for the best since it has very much derailed from the original topic. I just wanted to weigh in with my own personal opinion as another member of the LGBTQ+ seeing as this is a very serious topic.