When growing up, I watched Scooby-Doo for Scooby and Shaggy’s scared antics and the gang of Fred, Daphne and Velma doing the heavy lifting to solve some spooky mystery. I didn’t identify with or care about the sexual orientations of any of the characters. Honestly, as a kid I didn’t think about such things in my Saturday morning animated TV shows.
Ok, maybe as I got a little older — you know, puberty age, perhaps — I might of thought of Daphne as attractively animated. Did she have a thing for Fred beyond them being mystery gang friends? I mean at some point boys do have those kind of thoughts. Maybe other boys or girls were thinking about Daphne and Velma, I can’t speak for others. Admittedly, I didn’t think about Velma’s sexual orientation, but maybe in the 70s some cartoon viewers suspected Velma wasn’t interested in guys subliminally(?)
Fast forward to the present.
In a Pride-themed Instagram post, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated supervising producer Tony Cervone hopped into the comments to clarify that Velma is indeed a lesbian
Velma From “Scooby-Doo” Is Officially A Lesbian
Congrats for Velma officially coming out as a lesbian.
I just don’t understand why this is relevant in the Scooby-Doo show? What am I missing here? Velma is a small sub character in Scooby Doo. She wore that blindingly orange shirt, had the thick black glasses, and was the techie in the group, often solving clues with her superior investigative skills. As a child and now an adult, I don’t really see how her sexual orientation has anything to do with the show or her character.
(or frankly how that changes Velma’s role as part of the mystery gang in the past, present or future?)
Then again, when Star Trek was rebooted by JJ Abrams Sulu was pictured briefly with his boyfriend. I never thought Sulu the character in Star Trek was gay, but when they made a movie it was important to show us that. At least in that show it kind of made sense, because Star Trek explores social themes and the real life actor who played Sulu, George Takei, is gay. So, perhaps that was thrown in as an homage to Takei’s fine work on the original series and movies?
Again, at least this made some sense in Star Trek. But here? Scooby-Doo? Velma?
Velma kissing Daphne sounds salacious rather than story-driven, not what Scooby-Doo is known for and about. Why do we have to declare the sexual orientation of characters on shows like this? Why does it matter?
Of course it matters to the LGBQT+ movement in 2020. I get it, more power to people coming out and not feeling closeted. I get that with real people, but am confused how this relates to cartoon characters.
Keep in mind that I’m a huge fan of Harley Quinn and wanted to see Harley & Ivy get together on that show, so I’m all about a good lesbian romance — when it’s part of the story. It’s more my editor hat on with Scooby-Doo making me think: how is this relevant to that story?
Maybe there will be a Scooby-Doo mystery that involves lesbian characters? I’m not saying it’s impossible to make this relevant in the show for Velma going forward, but as I’m rewatching and reviewing the classic TV series (every Saturday you can catch the reviews under the Scooby Doo search tag), I haven’t spotted any opportunities for that entering the narrative.
I’m thinking this is counter to what the LGBQT+ movement is trying to achieve. If we focus on gay characters that were previously not out as gay, is that promoting more openly gay characters in entertainment in 2020, or is that rewriting past entertainment?
Are we saying that Velma was lesbian all along, even back in the original series, and it’s important that viewers in 2020 discovering the classic 1969 series understand this going forward? I mean, because she couldn’t come out in the 70s, a freeloving, swinging era, because it was a kid’s cartoon and lesbians weren’t allowed to be in cartoons (yes, I realize censors at the time probably would have objected).
Here’s a better idea. Instead of rewriting history, instead of inserting a narrative that didn’t exist for whatever reason in 1969 in 2020: spin-off.
Yes, why not start spin-off shows and new shows with gay characters vs. changing classic characters (or having them come out when it’s not really relevant for the character in the show)? If Velma is a lesbian in a spin-off show centering on Velma, is there a need for that to be explored in Scooby-Doo? I’m simply asking the question. And if that show is popular, great, there you go. If it bombs, then maybe the story wasn’t interesting.
Am I making any sense here? This might be falsely labeled by some passerby readers as homophobic and it’s not. I don’t care if characters in fictional stories are straight, gay, bi, trans, however they are written, as long as it’s relevant to the story. Velma being a lesbian on Scooby Doo? Without attacking this falsely as intolerance, please help me understand how this is in any way relevant to the show I’ve known and loved for the better part of 40+ years?
Movies, Movies, Movies 
Hmmm…I’ll take the bait here. Lesbians are people, so Velma might be a lesbian. Probably not something to be explored in the context of a Scooby mystery, but if LGBT folk feel represented by Velma, I suppose that’s OK. I guess the idea is that diverse groups shouldn’t only be represented in material aimed at adults. But I dodn’t think it means homophibia if you dodn’t think it’s relevant; that’s just a master of aesthetics, right?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, this is reasonable. A Velma spinoff aimed at a younger audience where she is out could provide that story vehicle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Given that Scooby is based on Bob Hope, they could do a spin-off where he entertains troops in Vietnam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with the opinions. I never understood why people, let alone grown adults, ALWAYS had to pair any and every romantic relationships from cartoons with fanart or fan fiction, I don’t know. Like, I’m sure there’s better things you can be drawing than this graphic fanart from a show aimed at younger ages. If they really like it, power to you, I just don’t understand the appeal.
I suppose I’m okay with the sudden LGBT surge in cartoons, I understand that it’s encouraging or opening up children and teens minds. Even I’m seeing my sexuality, asexuality, being supported recently, though not to lesbian/gay levels.
I’m not sure. This representation in the media is getting a little old and unnecessary. I rewatched The Incredibles recently since I have to review for my Pixar series, great movie by the way. But to quote Syndrome: “When everyone’s super (LGBT), no one will be”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like what you’re saying about any extreme reaction. These days it seems like we’re having too many movies and TV shows judged by if they have a certain minority in them or LGBTQ characters and when they are in there, how significant their roles and whether or not they are depicted accurately. I get for years LGBTQ+ characters were under represented in media. At some point, the pendulum will swing the other way .. and as you are saying, maybe we’re already there in some cases.
This Velma situation is one of them for me. I want to see the relevance, but don’t. I’ve been thinking about how some cool Velma stories in a spinoff might be told that blended her sexual orientation in a way that is educational and fun. As I said in the post, I think it’s great that she’s a lesbian, but as I rewatch the old 1969 cartoons, I don’t think any of that fits the stories presented in any way that makes sense. I have many to rewatch and review, so maybe I’ll come across some story arcs where it could fit.
LikeLike
Todd I totally love Velma Dinkley I would love to meet a lady that likes Velma and dresses up as her Could this be some think one day for me ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Velma is a cool chick. That orange sweater is something. I do wonder how she kept losing her glasses so often, though.
LikeLike
Have you any latest pictures on Velma please
LikeLike
no recent pics on Velma. Most pics of her here are of the 1970s cartoon series 🙂
LikeLike