Some Thoughts on Disney's LGBT Representation

Disney’s relationship with the LGBT is sort of a complicated one. From Disneyland’s early days, homosexual dancing was banned (except for one couple). In the 1980s, Disney’s best known openly gay creator – Howard Ashman – revolutionized the animation industry. In 1991 Gay Days at Walt Disney World was established. Gay Days was originally organized independent of the company – but Disney always welcomed celebrators into the parks each June. Just last year Disneyland Paris officially held a Pride celebration. In recent years Disney has started selling Pride rainbow merchandise, and more is added to shelves every June.

In 2013, rumors started swirling the internet that Frozen featured Disney’s first gay character. This was debunked by the company, of course. In 2016, viewers headcannoned Judy’s neighbors to be a gay couple. 

Then in 2017, Disney announced that they would have their first gay character. Then in 2019, Disney announced that they would have their first gay character. Then in 2020, Disney announced they would have their first gay character. I’ll let this comical pattern speak for itself. But it is important to talk about not just the frequency of LGBT characters (all homosexual, by the way – no B, T or confirmed A to be found) but the way in which they’re represented. 

Disney’s LGBT representation comes in the form of irrelevant background characters whose gayness can be left open to interpretation or comic relief sidekick where their gayness becomes the joke. Out is a beautiful step in the right direction, but it is a baby step in the form of a short that can only be accessed on one platform as of current. While it feels like a victory to some – it’s not enough.

It has been proven over and over again that visibility matters.

Disney is ingrained in everybody’s lives. Every child grows up watching Disney movies or the Disney Channel. Every family saves up to vacation at Disneyland. There are Disney themed weddings, birthday parties, baby announcements, high school proms, college Greek t shirts…Disney is everywhere in your everyday life. For someone as wide-spreading as Disney to empathically and unashamedly portray an LGBT character would be a message that would reach everybody. It would show the world that it is okay to be LGBT, and that inside we are really no different from anybody else.

Should Disney actually do this, I think it would be important to actually use and say what label fits the character. It could be a moment of education to the general public, simply by saying a word and showing what it means. Some will disagree – labels aren’t everything. And yes, your sexuality is not your entire identity. But your sexuality makes up a part of your identify.  There is history behind these labels, a community behind these labels. It is important to acknowledge them.

Disney big wigs are more concerned with making money overseas than they are telling heartfelt stories. Making a movie with an LGBT main character could be a huge financial blow. And Disney is not going to take that risk until they know it is safe to do so. So maybe in order to get Disney on Pride’s side, we have to get everybody else on Pride side’s first. While it would feel amazing to see a part of myself represented in my favorite media, there are bigger battles out there. 

Although can you imagine how amazing it would be if Disney just said screw it and did whatever they wanted without worrying about money?

Your Opinions

How do you think Disney should handle its LGBT characters? Please be civil in the comment section below.