Transformers' First Non-Binary Character Sparks Backlash
Transformers: EarthSpark has sparked controversy by introducing a new non-binary character.The animation series features a robot called Nightshade who says the word "he or she just doesn't fit who I am" and asks other characters to use "they/them" instead.
The machine adds that the term "non-binary" is a "wonderful word for a wonderful experience."The episode comes amid an increasingly bitter social debate about the rights of transgender and non-binary people, particularly relating to their inclusion in women's sports and women-only spaces.
Companies and brands who have advocated for the LGBTQ+ community in recent weeks have been hit by a pushback, such as beer brand Bud Light which was engulfed in a social media firestorm due to a promotion it ran with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney to celebrate her one-year anniversary as a woman.
The company was rocked by a huge backlash, which saw its share price plunge amid reports of a boycott by customers.It's in this febrile atmosphere that Transformers aired its own advocacy for non-binary people, who identify as neither men nor women.A viral clip of the show, which was shared online late last week with the caption, "They're after your kids," has now been shared more than 10,000 times.
