Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Fans Are Convinced Gwen Stacy’s Storyline Is a Transgender One

In the midst of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hitting theaters (with a stunning opening at the box office), fans have come up with a perhaps unexpected theory: that if Gwen Stacy isn’t trans, her storyline is at least relatable to many trans viewers.

Now, of course, there is no actual dialogue in the movie confirming or denying that Gwen Stacy is trans, but let’s break down some of the factors fans are sharing in drawing parallels to a trans journey. But in order to do that, we have to dive into spoiler territory, so beware that full spoilers for Gwen Stacy’s storyline in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are below.

Much of the speculation – or at least, relatability for LGBT viewers – revolves around Gwen’s arc and how she comes out to her police officer father as Spider-Woman, the character he’s been trying to track down. Early in the movie, the two have a painful falling out as Gwen is forced to reveal herself to her father as Spider-Woman following a confrontation with The Vulture, leading to Gwen running off to become part of the Spider Society.

However, after she gets rejected by the Spider Society, she returns home on Earth-65 to her father, where the two have an emotional conversation and her father accepts her for who she really is. During the scene, the background melts in a mesh of blue, pink, and white shades – i.e., the colors of the trans Pride flag. 

Plus, during that scene, Captain Stacy is shown wearing the same colors as Gwen’s Spider-Woman costume: white, pink, and black, showing unity among the family members.

That’s not the only hint that fans have latched onto. A “protect trans kids” poster is visible at one point in Gwen’s bedroom, and as one eagle-eyed viewer spotted, Captain Stacy has a trans flag pinned to his police uniform.

Good morning to the animators who put the ‘Protect trans kids’ flag in the new Spider verse film and to them only ???️‍⚧️ #AcrossTheSpiderVerse #ProtectTransKids pic.twitter.com/pGrJlVhWJc

— Comics |Black Lives Matter| Youth ?️‍? ?️‍⚧️ (@Comicsyouth) June 5, 2023

#Gwen is Trans.
Her whole arc is a trans allegory. The colors are the trans flag.
But most telling. HER WHITE COP DAD WEARS THE TRANS COLORS ON HIS UNIFORM. NO FUCK1NG COP IS THAT MUCH OF AN ALLY UNLESS THEY HAVE A TRANS FAMILY MEMBER!#SpiderVerse #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse pic.twitter.com/chLJ0rXXh6

— DC Lady (@MovieSandComic5) June 5, 2023

Regardless of whether or not it’s what the filmmakers intended (IGN has reached out to writers Chris Miller and Phil Lord for comment), countless fans on Twitter have expressed how Gwen’s storyline have made them feel seen, even if it’s just an allegory for many LGBT viewers’ journeys. As one fan put it, “The fact is— if she can make somebody feel represented, who are you to tell them they’re wrong?”

Trans (and even cis) fans have every right to say Gwen Stacy is trans, even if the movies never outright confirm it. You can’t deny that it’s been hinted at.

The fact is— if she can make somebody feel represented, who are you to tell them they’re wrong? pic.twitter.com/5QCuHIbTQR

— The Green Kasey (@RawbertBeef) June 5, 2023

thinking about Trans Gwen Stacy and her entire plot being about centered around her father’s struggle to believe her and accept her identity ? pic.twitter.com/evHdVhulMa

— tori !! (@tori_af) June 3, 2023

mfs be like “gwen stacy isn’t trans” and then they have a four minute sequence in the movie where she’s just the trans flag colors pic.twitter.com/wMlQmPN5JR

— Punished “Graduate” Moshy (@Moshy_Maybe) June 4, 2023

I’m happy Gwen in ATSV makes trans people feel represented. I definitely see the allegory in the film and I’d be surprised if that wasn’t what the filmmakers were going for.

Would them being trans be different from the comics? Sure. But most comic movies aren’t “accurate”. pic.twitter.com/wEjO2OmFwr

— carrot scraps (@CarrotScraps) June 5, 2023

I truly thought the “Gwen is trans” stuff in ATSV was just Twitter doing its usual thing but no it’s AGGRESSIVELY loud about it

Being draped in the trans colors while giving a speech about having to hide half of yourself from the people you love is as subtle as a brick

— GROVEL, HUMANS! It’s ZOE!!! (@Blankzilla) June 5, 2023

Remember when Mark Hamill told Star Wars fans who would ask him if Luke Skywalker could be gay he replied with “If you think he’s gay, of course he’s gay!”

If you think Gwen Stacy is trans, of course she’s trans. Anything you want is real and no one should make you feel ashamed https://t.co/US8s2uw5HI pic.twitter.com/Plsm054Xg7

— not followed by anyone you’re following (@MagicAbleHero) June 5, 2023

For more on Spider-Man: Across the the Spider-Verse, check out our breakdown on why it gets away with what Fast X could not. And for resources on how to celebrate Pride Month and support the LGBTQIA+ community, click here.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.