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(Kaoru from The Gene of AI)

I started watching The Gene of AI on a lark because the premise reminded me somewhat of Detroit: Beyond Human. It's sci-fi, mentions advanced AI, and there's a philosophical transhumanism element, so that falls into my interests somewhere, but totally didn't expect it to approach gender at all. Consider me pleasantly surprised and my interest peaked.

During Episode 2, Risa, Hikaru's assistant, returns to the office to find him giving his friend Kaoru an examination. Due to her obvious interest in him and the fact he's touching Kaoru's chest, this flusters and annoys Risa prompting her to ask him about their relationship later in the episode. Hikaru mentions they are former coworkers, and showing her a picture, Risa is surprised to see Kaoru presenting male. When asked about their gender, Hikaru says if questioned Kaoru would probably say they are neither and muses they are trying to move past these concepts. Also, I am referring to Kaoru using They/Them pronouns because Hikaru does the same and I don't believe it's stated for certain anywhere, at least so far. If this changes, I will update this.

In this world, life has evolved to where humans exist alongside human/machine hybrids with advanced AI. The core story follows Hikaru, a doctor treating the latter, and his exploits. Kaoru is a side character introduced early as his friend still working at the mysterious lab apparently overseeing or otherwise involved with the larger AI happenings of the world. Even though this type of setting is perfect for explorations of gender, you rarely see it. This has always frustrated me about these types of stories. If there was any setting perfect for exploring something like this it's futuristic, sci-fi, and/or cyberpunk worlds. It's infuriating to me there are fantastical universes with interplanetary travel, robots that are basically artificial humans, and even space magic, but gender identity and transitioning between it is never even approached. Though, I suppose that's a rant for another day.

Anyway, I’m not familiar with the source material, so I can’t say one way or the other if it will come up again or be handled respectfully and meaningfully, but I’m hopeful. If I find out it doesn't, I will update this post.

During their initial interaction with Risa, Kaoru mentions body modifications and how their appearance wasn’t always the same. Knowing about their situation, rewatching this interaction holds new meaning. Clearly Kaoru is happier presenting female, describing it as fun, and likes the attention their attractiveness gets from other men. They are happier. While I don’t know the intention of the creators, this reads as joy found after transitioning into their true self. It makes me smile to see things like this in the media I consume.

Of course, I’m worried this will turn into a tragedy or something else equally horrible, but time will tell (or I can go read the manga, I guess). Here’s hoping this isn’t the case. Given how these topics are usually handled, perhaps it’s best if it’s never mentioned again, but I feel so horrible saying that. It's just I worry about again enjoying a piece of media showing a tiny breadcrumb of anything queer only to have it ruined later. Having a clearly Queer series end with the main characters not only surviving but marrying and finding happiness last season may have ruined me. Or perhaps it wasn’t my being ruined, but it proved to me I shouldn’t settle for less. There are queer stories out there. It would be nice if more of them found their way into popular media though without the negative baggage typically forced on them.

Will continue watching this to see where it goes. Also, the queer series I mentioned above was Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Go watch it, just be warned, if you have abandonment issues like me the end of Episode 17 may traumatize you, but the overall end is worth it.

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We're getting a second season of Sword Art Online: Gun Gale Online?! Fantastic! I enjoyed that more than I did the core series. The 2nd season of the core series with Sinon was my 2nd favorite. Anyway, this is awesome.

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Hello.

I am trans, queer, and a goddamn mess.

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I will do anything for Kaoru. I love that they are a nonbinary/trans humanoid and I also love that when Risa found out, she was concerned about how they identify rather than rejecting or questioning their decision.

I live in the South, so there is a lot of bigotry, ignorance, and lgbtq-phobia wherever you look. That's why I'm so happy to see something so accepting! ☺️

Anyways Kaoru is babe and I love this show.

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TRANS NON BINARY KAORU LETS GOOOOO

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Being depressed and queer on multiple apps is a pain in the ass.

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Guess I should spruce up this place in case the muskox finally kills the bird

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Perhaps the funniest thing that could have happened lately was that this anticapitalist cafe and community space near my place was shutting down near the end of May - but because so many Texas and Florida conservatives celebrated it online, the place got a huge donation to keep operating

It's a great place. It functions mostly like a regular cafe but it has this free/pay what you want drip coffee for anyone who wants it, free bathroom use, and it stocks indie merch and books on antifascist, queer, leftist, socialist, indigenous topics. I've met a lot of awesome people there.

Its very existence enrages conservatives, and anarchocapitalists who tried to claim it only to be shown the middle finger by its anticapitalist owner, who is an all around nice dude (and a fellow Elden Ring fan)

If you can toss a coin to its continued operation, please do! Upon request from their followers on insta they opened a Gofundme. Even just a few dollars will be a huge help.

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The possibilities of miorine and eri bickering about modern tech stuff like those smart speakers (though i guess anything really lol) is incredibly entertaining to me like:

Eri: why are you talking about getting an alexa, I literally have access to your music libraries you can just ask me to play music

Miorine: alright then can you put on some music

Eri: no

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Just in case you never noticed the OTHER background lesbian relationship that went on through the whole series, here's Maisie and Ireesha:

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Usagi the Twitch Streamer!

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They gave Suletta the ~LESBIAN NAILS~ and now I can't unsee it.

I actually went back and looked at any of the previous pictures of her hands I could find and her nails were all long before this scene. 🤣

I want to know what key animator snuck that in there and I want to know right now.

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I love that G-Witch didn't shy away from this. We see Suletta's crutches in multiple shots, see that she has permet scares on her face. She says that even after 3 years she's still gradually regaining control of her body. It's clear that piloting the Calibarn took a heavy toll on her and left her disabled afterwards, and that the last 3 years haven't been easy for her to get to where she is now.

But the thought of Miorine being there every step of the way for Suletta's rehab and physical therapy, helping her while she couldn't walk and taking care of her every need just has me so emotional.

Suletta's sheer determination to move normally again so she can tend the farm with Miorine, go on walks with her, and even walk down the aisle for their wedding. And the sheer joy Miorine must feel every time she sees Suletta walking again after she thought she had lost her forever during Quiet Zero and all the hard work her wife has put in the last 3 years.

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PRIDE MONTH IS NOT OVER SULEMIO GOT MARRIED ‼️‼️‼️

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ꕥ SULETTA ♡ MIORINE ꕥ

▷ Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury ▹Episode 24 ° 目一杯の祝福を君に

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havent been drawing WFM related stuff but i have been building ! gave my FM aerial some dual toning and just got my shf suletta the other day ❤️