Is Pearl from Steven Universe a gay character?

While this involves considerable background information, please bear with me here. During a conflict, Pearl and Rose engaged in combat side-by-side, with Pearl serving as Rose's loyal soldier. Having been freed by Rose from the restrictive confines of Gem society, Pearl was prepared to undertake any task for her. Such was Pearl's profound commitment to Rose that a romantic liaison developed between them, a dynamic conspicuously showcased in the installment titled &8220;We Need To Talk.&8221;

Although the account I've just provided might appear quite analogous to the bond shared by Ruby and Sapphire, the connection between Pearl and Rose ultimately experiences a sorrowful transformation. The series has unequivocally affirmed Pearl's lesbian identity—her consistent rejection of any male romantic overtures unequivocally points to this—while Rose, on the other hand, is depicted as falling within the bisexual or pansexual continuum. Possessing an abundance of affection to impart, Rose, as disclosed in the episode &8220;Mr. Greg,&8221; welcomed numerous gentlemen into her existence. Despite Pearl's expectation that Rose would, in due course, select her, Rose instead formed a relationship with Greg Universe, who would later become Steven's father.

This turn of events utterly devastated Pearl, particularly following Rose's ultimate self-sacrifice to facilitate Steven's birth. Throughout the progression of the show, her gradual acceptance of her eternal affection for Rose becomes apparent, ultimately reaching its poignant apex in the musical piece &8216;It's Over Isn't It?'

You won, and she chose you, and she loved you, and she&8217;s gone. It&8217;s over, isn&8217;t it? Why can&8217;t I move on?

Mercifully, she endeavors to progress, and within the episode titled &8220;Last One Out of Beach City,&8221; she engages in extensive flirtation with a character identified solely as Mystery Girl. The encounter is charming, captivating, and wonderfully indicative of queer romance.

Witnessing a lesbian character navigate such an extensive emotional journey across an extended duration vividly illustrates the profound dedication Steven Universe exhibits toward its LGBTQ+ characters. These individuals are not merely simplistic, one-dimensional issues relegated to a very special episode. Rather, both they and their interpersonal connections are fundamentally woven into the very essence of the program, even those relationships that lack perpetual joy.

As previously noted, not every fusion proves beneficial. Do you recall Jasper? Subsequently, she compels a fusion with another Gem, Lapis, which is depicted as an intensely oppressive bond. Despite Lapis's eventual success in escaping Jasper, the experience persistently vexes her. During &8220;Alone At Sea,&8221; one of the show's most distressing installments, Jasper endeavors to merge with Lapis again, making assertions of personal transformation and claiming Lapis's insignificance without her.