The internet’s thirstiest meme Bowsette isn’t actually canon, as it turns out. But don’t worry, fans have a new theory. Some think Luigi is transgender.
Last week, Nintendo published an official website for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, a Nintendo Switch rerelease for New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U. The game features the so-called “Super Crown” for Toadette, which temporarily turns her into Peachette.
When the feature was originally announced, it spawned dozens of theories suggesting anyone could be feminized by the crown, hence Bowser becoming “Bowsette.” Now, several months later, the New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe website confirmed that only Toadette can use the crown, much to Luigi’s disappointment.
“When Toadette finds one of these, she can transform into the super-powered Peachette,” the website writes, before continuing, “(Sorry Luigi—only Toadette can use this item!)”
Nintendo’s joke about Luigi quickly grabbed fans’ attention. The aside seems to reference Toadette’s inclusion as an expansion character in New Super Luigi U for the Wii U, plus Luigi’s tendency to crossdress. But the Super Crown doesn’t just throw feminine clothes onto a character, it literally gives Toadette a feminine, Peach-like body. Plus, the comment sounds so pointed at Luigi that trans women began arguing Luigi wanted to put on the Super Crown to become a girl, not just dress as well.
Thus, through Bowsette’s canon death, a new theory was born: Luigi is trans. The idea quickly took off.
https://twitter.com/CoolerDakota/status/1081481224391192577
Luigi is a girl and I am here for her.
— Michaela Joffe (@joffeorama) January 4, 2019
cant believe people are citing this as “nintendo confirms bowsette will never happen” and not “nintendo confirms Luigi is trans” https://t.co/orI7TzluBf
— Holly ‘Holly Deer’ Deer (@h0llydeer) January 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheTasteOfALiar/status/1082168420169379840
https://twitter.com/tocopuff/status/1082165312873775104
https://twitter.com/katvespa/status/1081814303487848448
https://twitter.com/ChocoIate2890/status/1082176780843110400
https://twitter.com/SiegeFeathers/status/1081525397597155328
There’s plenty of art (and memes) floating around dedicated to the theory too.
https://twitter.com/kob_critic/status/1082040450222043139
She’s OURS now pic.twitter.com/DYnXrrsFgE
— Michaela Joffe (@joffeorama) January 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/traaaaaaannnnns/status/1082082441567850497
https://twitter.com/traaaaaaannnnns/status/1082120264635293697
https://twitter.com/Cicabeot1/status/1082024107431071746
For the record, there is some credence to the “Luigi is trans” theory. For one, there’s the “Mama Luigi” episode from the Super Mario World series, where Yoshi calls Luigi “mama.” Luigi proceeds to adopt the name, sparking the oft-repeated “Mama Luigi” meme.
Then there’s Luigi’s history with crossdressing. In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Luigi crossdresses as Peach in order to trick Bowletta into releasing the real Princess Peach. Luigi similarly dressed up as Peach in Nintendo Power’s Super Mario Adventures comic, and he also considers wearing a dress in Luigi’s Mansion, saying dresses look “kind of comfortable.” At this point, Luigi’s gender nonconforming tendency to dress up in feminine attire is pretty expected.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1w81EnhDc/
Granted, people who choose to crossdress aren’t necessarily transgender, just gender nonconforming. But for some trans people, Luigi’s repeated fascination with dressing up as Peach or throwing on a dress represents a deeper desire, as if Luigi crossdresses as an outlet to express his gender identity.
In other words, trans people find it easy to argue that Luigi secretly (or not-so-secretly) wants to be a girl, and crossdressing is just one way to back up the theory. Twitter quickly embraced the idea.
https://twitter.com/TheTasteOfALiar/status/1082095821888413702
https://twitter.com/realZarlux/status/1081276031712022529
Extra Life pic.twitter.com/fxtkxIW2j1
— Michaela Joffe (@joffeorama) January 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/nataliereed84/status/1081741156768047105
(side note luigi is trans as well which is why yoshi refers to him as mama) pic.twitter.com/RUtbPjBeJ4
— kai (@DONDAlSY) January 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/alocalfuckup/status/1082100464576012288
Others think the Super Crown line is just a reference to Luigi’s cross-dressing tendencies. After all, many crossdressers don’t identify as trans, hence fueling some skepticism against the theory.
Is Luigi confirmed to be transgender? Or is it just they’re into crossdressing ?
— Mr.Zee (@zarandum1) January 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheGreenLanyard/status/1081705506069233664
https://twitter.com/Sc0lipede/status/1082077232216961025
https://twitter.com/MegaLegoLuigiEX/status/1082107626501087234
For now, the internet can’t tell for certain whether Luigi is a girl, a crossdresser, or identifies in another way altogether. Nintendo for America declined to comment to the Daily Dot for this story.
But don’t let canon stop you. Clearly, Super Mario’s queer fans have an imagination powerful enough to create their own stories for Nintendo’s iconic characters. So go ahead, argue Luigi and Bowsette are trans. After all, sometimes fandom is the best way to express yourself.
