Probably one of the most popular characters ever in the Disney canon, Timon and Pumbaa certainly contributed to the success of The Lion King as well as the million dollars that it made at the box office. She may not be queer, but Ursula is definitely influenced by LGBT culture. Then, Menzel was asked who she thinks Elsa would date if she was indeed gay. Some of your favorite Disney Channel stars are also proud members of the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. As you can see by the 18 characters listed above, queer-coding in Disney films is rarely about same-sex attraction. Every time Disney has supposedly included a queer character, any evidence of said queer identity was easily missed or misconstrued. Which Disney characters are LGBT? In the past, there were mostly speculations about the inclusion of LGBTQ characters by Disney. LGBT+ fans want Elsa to be given a girlfriend. During the show's finale, the suspicions were confirmed as the two embraced, with one saying, "We're mad with power... and love," after Blubs saves Durland. Join us as we list beloved characters that might be part of the rainbow family. Officer Specter is a Cyclops cop voiced by openly gay screenwriter and actress Lena Waithe . However, out of the hundreds of Disney characters, there has to be some who simply haven’t come out publicly yet. Iconic The Little Mermaid villain Ursula was based on the appearance of iconic drag queen Divine, right down to her over-exaggerated eye makeup. She claims that while Barbie is shown as “over emotional” and “hyper-feminine,” her supposed love partner, Ken, is painted as a “closeted gay fashionista” who is constantly teased. ... Disney … Yet, with all this progress made, there is still one huge company that's lagging behind: Disney. We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community which animated characters our LGBTQ friends were attracted to as kids. Whether they identify as gay, bisexual, … These characters span some of the most popular Disney movies, such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The … Enter your email to receive a daily roundup of the top LGBT+ news stories. The popular Disney movie Frozen strayed away from the traditional romance storyline for the ice queen, instead focusing on her internal journey to self-acceptance. It should never fall back on stereotypes or homophobic and transphobic punchlines. Get 34th Street's newsletter, The Toast, delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. If that’s not enough, the character’s also voiced by LGBT icon Rosie O’Donnell. She’s getting real! The film is about a boat captain taking two siblings on a mission into the jungle to find a magic tree. Shows such as Nickelodeon’s The Loud House and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time have also integrated LGBTQ representation, showing same–sex parenting and bisexual representation, respectively. The creative team behind the film did not confirm or deny this assumption, letting it remain ambiguous. Pleakley is a male alien but comes to Earth and uses women’s clothes as a disguise, wearing make-up, hats and dresses… and loves to do it. His sharp facial features resemble drag makeup, his lean physique (as compared to the beefy Mufasa) emasculate him and his voice is beyond sassy. Disney’s movies probably have a lot to do with it. There is a definite lack of gay Disney characters but there have been many hints that characters are LGBT in previous movies. Tap to play or pause GIF Disney … Disney-Pixar’s upcoming film, Onward, recently announced that one of the film’s characters self-identifies as an LGBTQ+ individual.The character, known as Officer Specter, shows up halfway through the film and briefly mentions her relationship; she also states that her “girlfriend’s daughter is pulling her hair out” after an encounter with the film’s main characters. Celebs you didn’t know have an LGBT sibling. The Walt Disney Company has been one of the premier film and animation studios for almost nine decades. As long as we’re on the subject of the ever-progressive movie Frozen, there’s another character that’s suggested to be gay—Oaken. Our beloved flamboyant, gender-bending Genie has to make the list. LGBTQ representation in children's media should be unabashedly positive. Dove Cameron revealed her past Disney Channel characters were part of the LGBTQ+ community in a series of Twitter posts on Wednesday, October 7.. After a fan posted a tweet about Liv and Maddie characters Liv and Maddie Rooney, the actress, 24, responded with a thread starting the sexual orientation of all her past roles. If you can replace a given character with a lamp, they're not well–written. Funny, flamboyant, and certainly over the top, the pair often provide the majority of the comic relief in a film that has its fair share of depressing … Think of the queer kid growing up watching this content, and think of what even one LGBTQ character could mean for that child. But you probably didn't know it, because each of these characters' LGBTQ identities was confirmed retroactively and they were hardly on–screen. According to media advocacy group GLAAD, Walt Disney … That’s not to say there isn’t hope for Disney entertainment—in 2017, the live–action Disney channel show Andi Mack had a celebrated coming out storyline for … Perhaps a surprising one on our list, Scar is one of the star examples of a “coded gay” character, among many viewers. The rainbow family will welcome Terkina with open arms. Disney has unveiled their first LGBTQ character in the animated movie Onward, but fans have greeted her with eyerolls and skepticism. In 2014, Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra continued as the first western children’s animated show to have an LGBT protagonist. It’s a historic moment for Disney, which for years has been called out for its dearth of identifiably LGBTQ characters in its films. The show will also be introducing a non–binary character in its fourth season. While he might not technically be LGBT, he could be another drag sensation. Get push notifications with news, features and more. A character's LGBTQ identity should be integrated as a casual part of the show's world and a small part of a character's greater story arc or identity—not as a vehicle for conflict. The animation giant’s upcoming flick Onward will feature the first animated LGBTQ character to exist in the Disney-Pixar universe. “There’s been speculation on the internet about Elsa potentially being a lesbian. In 2019, Disney proudly admitted to there being a gay couple in the animated children's series Star Wars Resistance. In the Disney production titled Alex Is , the story revolves around the main character Alex who finishes off the movie as Alexis. In fact, it’s also rather common for lions to be gay in the animal kingdom. Have you ever noticed how Mount Everest 'firsts' get … Some of the most prominent series during this decade which features LGBTQ+ characters were Sailor Moon, South Park, King of the Hill, Cardcaptor Sakura and Futurama. There’s a confirmed same–sex couple in Zootopia and a canonical gay character in How to Train Your Dragon 3, both extremely popular films. In fact, the US feminist magazine Ms accused the film of “careless sexism,” with writer Natalie Wilson arguing that it may damage children. But as amazing as such representation is, it is hardly groundbreaking. If you're writing LGBTQ media in good faith, helping that child should be your ultimate goal, and nothing should stop you from achieving it. Fans saw something queer in her and it’s since been heavily rumoured that Elsa is a lesbian with hit song “Let it Go” becoming a coming out anthem. These days, Disney has certainly been upping its game in regards to LGBTQ representation. The creators of The Lion King left clues throughout the film that hinted to the villain’s sexuality. Andi Mack’s Cyrus casually comes out . Disney announces first official LGBTQ character in an animated feature in upcoming film Onward. Disney uses LGBTQ representation to drum up interest, but ultimately forces its audiences to draw its own conclusions. When the trailer of “Finding Dory” dropped in 2016, the internet blew up the sight of a lesbian couple pushing a stroller through the aquarium, but the film ultimately didn’t address the scene. Even at that age I recognized how novel it was for any of the characters to be in a same sex relationship. Scar is quite possibly one of the most stereotypically gay Disney characters of all time. The more of these canon queer relationships and characters we see, the less it becomes a big deal, so YAY for representation and thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. In the latest blatant example of children's media producers pushing an LGBTQ agenda on children, Disney has introduced the first teen gay romance to their "High School Musical" franchise. Disney uses LGBTQ representation to drum up interest, but ultimately forces its audiences to draw its own conclusions. In 2012, Laika Films released ParaNorman. Disney's Long, Complicated History with Queer Characters The furor over 'Beauty and the Beast' sidekick Le Fou ignores the way Disney has subtly … Alexis is the first of apparently many transgender or gender non-specific Disney protagonists in a line up of productions starting mid 2019. It was the first mainstream animated film featuring a gay main character. Who says homosexual couples can't live happily ever after? While they don’t really feature any explicitly queer characters (apart from the unbelievably-hyped couple seconds of the live action Beauty and the Beast where Josh Gad dances with a man), their subject matter tends to play to queer sensibilities. Characters meant for the enjoyment of children should not suffer for their identities, because young children are watching what may be their first encounter with queer identity. In 2017, the Disney Channel’s first recurring LGBTQ storyline occurred on … And before Beauty and the Beast’s character LeFou, there were no gay Disney characters at all—at least not openly. The new animated film “Onward,” premiering March 6 and featuring the voices of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as elf brothers, introduces the first “self-identified” lesbian character into the Disney-Pixar universe. This is a definite implication that he’s in a same-sex relationship. “Whatever Elsa wants to do is up to her and it’s up to us to support her,” Bell replied like a champ. (Disney). ": 1. The stereotypical character has been assumed to be gay but it was not a well-received archetype. Here are some of the characters that made us say, "Ooh la la! Disney’s first openly gay character was introduced in the 2017 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. Finally, LGBTQ representation needs to be clear and confirmed on–screen. Netflix’s She–Ra and the Princesses of Power continues in this vein of female–centric, unabashedly queer storytelling. (Photo by Disney) Perhaps a surprising one on our list, Scar is one of the star examples of a “coded gay” character, among many viewers. In Pixar’s new animated movie, Lena Waithe plays Officer Spector, the first openly gay character in the studio’s movies. + Follow LGBTQ characters should also have meaningful story arcs important to the overall narrative. Children aren't following these shows or films off–screen, nor are they analyzing their media for its underlying subtext. That’s not to say there isn’t hope for Disney entertainment—in 2017, the live–action Disney channel show Andi Mack had a celebrated coming out storyline for one of its main protagonists. Comment. While this is the first confirmed instance, previously there were only speculations of LGBTQ characters in the Disney-Pixar universe. English comic Jack Whitehall is reportedly set to play Disney’s first ever major gay character on the big screen. LeFou, from the 2017 live–action remake of Beauty and the Beast was supposed to be Disney’s first “openly” gay character, but there was nothing in the actual film confirming his identity. If ParaNorman could get it done with just one line, it should not be that difficult for Disney to do better. When Finding Dory released a trailer in 2016 showing two women with a toddler, many assumed this would be a lesbian couple, a groundbreaking achievement for Disney. It's definitely heartening to see the diverse array of LGBTQ representation in children’s television, especially when it comes hand–in–hand with other forms of diversity. The little gorilla rejects gender roles and has no interest in boys. PBS made headlines this year after one of the main characters in its long running series Arthur, Mr. Ratburn, married his partner Patrick. Deputy Durland and Sheriff Blubs are two minor characters from the show who had fans curious about their personal lives. Officer Specter isn’t the only LGBTQ character that Disney plans to introduce in 2020. Can you confirm that?” the interviewer asked Bell. None other than our Disney favourite, Tinkerbell. Despite being popular with queer fans, Disney has done virtually nothing to include LGBTQ characters in its movies, according to a new analysis released by GLAAD. For example, Disney's Finding Dory (2016) briefly depicts a lesbian couple in one Warning: This story contains minor spoilers for the new Disney Pixar animated film Onward. gender and sexuality are fluid constructions which can be assembled and disassembled in unlimited variations The character, Officer Specter, will be voiced by Lena Waithe. But there is yet to be an openly gay main Disney character. Showing a same–sex couple on screen for one second to get representation brownie points is not good representation. She–Ra and the Princesses of Power is not only a princess show but a superhero show too, and it shows children that queer identity can be celebrated in both of these genres. He was not a major character by any means but there was a definite moment that many people would’ve missed. Disney, despite being a juggernaut in media production, has hardly made a dent in LGBTQ representation with its original children’s content. In the 1990s, more LGBTQ characters began to be depicted in animated series. Disney repeatedly continues this pattern with its LGBTQ representation, leaving it as ambiguous, brief, and noncommittal as possible. Another rumoured gay Disney character. However, Revolutionary Girl Utena stood apart, with prominent LGBTQ+ characters, which some called one of … When its main characters, the gems, fuse together, they go by non–binary or gender–fluid pronouns.The creator of Steven Universe, Rebecca Sugar, who identifies as bisexual and non–binary herself, has spoken repeatedly about her goal to create an LGBTQ show geared toward younger audiences. In an interview with the always-wonderful Tyler Oakley on his Ellen Digital Network show, both Elsa voice actor Idina Menzel and her co-star Kristen Bell, who is the voice actress for sister Anna, spoke about the lesbian theory. Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe too broke barriers with its LGBTQ representation. From his fabulous outfits to bright attitude, he definitely represents the queer within the LGBT community, and we love him. Anyway, let’s move on from the whole Finding Dory fiasco and focus instead on our list of 15 Disney Characters You Didn’t Know Were LGBTQ. I remember watching it when it came out—I was eleven years old and nearly missed the throwaway line at the very end confirming that the character Mitch, a stereotypical “dumb jock,” had a boyfriend. Despite its influence, Disney refuses to take risks when it comes to positive LGBTQ representation (much can be said on how many Disney villains are queer–coded, which can perpetuate negative stereotypes). Disney should be no exception. Whitehall is set to play the character in The Jungle Cruise, an upcoming Disney movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt. In the film, he says “Hello, family!”, and his family peek out of his sauna… there is an adult man and four children. And the answer? It’s sounding like there may be some internal conflict going on at Disney. Wilson worries that these kinds of depictions will teach children that being female or homosexual is a laughing matter. Its movies reinvented fairy tales and stories from legend and literature. Disney’s animated shows Gravity Falls and Star vs The Forces Of Evil have also given us LGBTQ representation, with Gravity Falls confirming that two male characters where in fact a couple and The Forces of Evil had a scene featuring of various couples (including same-sex ones couples) kissing. 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