Disney and LGBTQ representation in animation
The Advocate noted that even if there aren't any openly gay or lesbian characters in the film, there is sensitivity to LGBTQ issues in the upper echelon of Disney.
[15][16] Historian Peter C. Kunze argued that Ashman was recruited by Disney from Broadway, saying that while working with Alan Menken, he crafted songs in The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
He also pointed out that Ashman was supported by Jeffrey Katzenberg after coming out as HIV-Positive, with the company even creating a production unit near his home so he could receive treatment in New York City rather than traveling to Burbank, California, with Beauty and the Beast dedicated to him.
[26] In the 2010s, the series finale of Gravity Falls, aired on the Disney Channel, and featured Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland confirmed to be a gay couple.
[33][34] GLAAD expressed hope that the film would allow Chavez to be represented accurately, and "serve as an introduction of America and further queer characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This short Pixar film revolves around Greg attempting to hide a framed photo of him and his boyfriend, Manuel, from his parents, out of fear for their disapproval.
[40] Previously, series creator Dana Terrace confirmed Luz Noceda as bisexual and Amity Blight as a lesbian in a Reddit AMA in September 2020.
[47] Also, in the meeting, Layota Raveneau, series director of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and Rise Up, Sing Out, said that she was adding queerness wherever she could in the projects she worked on for Disney.
[50] Strange World, which was released on November 23, 2022, features Ethan Clade, who is the first gay lead character in a Disney animated film.
One of the film's producers said that Shang was dropped in response to the MeToo movement, arguing that "having a commanding officer that is also the sexual love interest was very uncomfortable and we didn't think it was appropriate".
[55][57] Even so, some reviewers called the interactions between Honghui and Mulan to be more homoerotic than Li Shang's in the animated version and can be read as bisexual while others criticized the reasoning of Reed as incorrect.
Some argued that this episode would be a turning point for executives who fears boycotts from conservative groups like the Family Research Council and One Million Moms, calling the episode a "major win for both Disney and preschool series," showing that LGBTQ characters could appears in shows aimed at younger viewers without retaliation or crisis.
"[4][5] The Owl House Latin American dub in September 2021 was met with criticism by both viewers and Roque for portraying Raine as a cisgender male instead of non-binary.
In April 2022, Peter C. Kunze, a historian at Tulane University argued that there is a "long history of LGBTQ audiences and employees supporting, even saving, the company from veritable demise."
He also said that Disney relied on LGBTQ people to "revamp its animated films", taking the example of Howard Ashman, an openly gay man who was the lyricist for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
They, for instance, axed a proposed lesbian relationship in Gravity Falls, at the same time that The Amazing World of Gumball, a series on Disney's competitor Cartoon Network, was censored for supposed "homosexual overtones" by various countries.
The former National Expert Commission of Ukraine on the Protection of Public Morality advised in 2012 the banning of SpongeBob SquarePants on the grounds that it promoted homosexuality.
[68] A show created by Terry Jones and Gavin Scott, Blazing Dragons, aired on Teletoon in Canada, Spacetoon in Arab countries, and Canal+ in France from 1996 to 1998.
Screen Rant argued that the revival broke down barriers through inclusion of multicultural families and characters belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.
[77][78][79] Some critics countered that Pixar also downplayed queer moments in films like Turning Red with the character Priya Mangal.
[80] In March 2022, amid the controversy of Disney's involvement in Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act and lack of criticism from CEO Bob Chapek until after the bill had passed, three former Blue Sky staff members stated the Nimona film received pushback from Disney leadership, centered around the film's LGBT themes and a same-sex kiss.
[85] After Lightyear performed poorly at the box office, Pixar was alleged to have attributed the financial failure to the same-sex kiss.
[90][87][91] James Whitbrook of io9, after reviewing the leaked footage, noted that "the episode is clearly not subtle" with its focus on Brooklyn and "the explicit prejudice she faces as a trans teen who wants to participate in school sports".
[92] Despite being unreleased, the episode won a Velma Award, from the non-profit LGBT organization, The Rainbow Project, which was co-founded by Chris Nee, Kristi Reed, and Jeremy Blacklow.
[93] On December 17, 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that Disney removed a storyline related to a transgender character in an episode within an upcoming Pixar television series Win or Lose, with the company's spokesperson saying that "when it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline" while the character remains in the series, lines of dialogue that referenced gender identity were cut.
[98] Webcomics commenter Gary Tyrrell criticized the decision, saying, "[Disney] could have allowed a very different kind of young heroine...
(2024, 2025),[111][112] Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2024, 2025).,[111][112] Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2025),[112] Kiff (2025),[112] Monsters at Work (2025) [112] and Primos (2025).
In addition, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur writers Lisa Muse Bryant, Jeffrey M. Howard, Kate Kondell, Liz Hara, Halima Lucas, Maggie Rose, and Taylor Vaughn Lasley were nominated for the "Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program" category.
[citation needed] Sandra Powers, Ryan Burkhard, and Phil Lomboy were nominated for Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program for Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
[citation needed] Also, in 2023, Strange World and Lightyear were nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release.
