Gay characters (and couples) in Disney shows and movies

[DrPierreMcDuck]

(Note: I wasn't sure whether this belonged in the Gay and Lesbian section, but since that section's description says it is about Disney experiences, I figured this would be a better fit. If I am wrong about that, I apologize and hopefully a mod will move it.)

It is a fact that you don't see many gay characters in family entertainment. Sure, there are sometimes minor characters that fit the old stereotypes, but you pretty much never see a prince with a prince or princess with a princess.

Now, one can argue that this is just a reflection of the fact that most people do not belong to that group, but that is also true of many other minority groups that do get explicit representation in family entertainment.

One could also say that the matter is "too adult" for such entertainment, but is it really more inappropriate for a child to watch a prince seeking a prince instead of a princess?

When do you think Disney will have its first gay lead character? When will we see a princess seeking a princess? 10 years from now? 20? Never?

 

[happygirl]

(Note: I wasn't sure whether this belonged in the Gay and Lesbian section, but since that section's description says it is about Disney experiences, I figured this would be a better fit. If I am wrong about that, I apologize and hopefully a mod will move it.)

It is a fact that you don't see many gay characters in family entertainment. Sure, there are sometimes minor characters that fit the old stereotypes, but you pretty much never see a prince with a prince or princess with a princess.

Now, one can argue that this is just a reflection of the fact that most people do not belong to that group, but that is also true of many other minority groups that do get explicit representation in family entertainment.

One could also say that the matter is "too adult" for such entertainment, but is it really more inappropriate for a child to watch a prince seeking a prince instead of a princess?

When do you think Disney will have its first gay lead character? When will we see a princess seeking a princess? 10 years from now? 20? Never?

I dunno why they would need a gay character?

 

[badblackpug]

I dunno why they would need a gay character?

Well, in all honesty there are people who would say the same thing about black, latino, asian, etc characters. Because there are gay people, like black, latino, asian, etc people who are Disney fans and would like to have their culture represented in their films.

To answer the OP.... it's going to be a long, long, time to see a gay main character.

 

[SyracuseOrange44]

I dunno why they would need a gay character?

We have an Asian princess, a black one, a Native American, a red head, a Middle Eastern princess....maybe it is time Disney had a lesbian one?

Probably won't happen, though.

 

[SandrA9810]

Look at the big hub bub over Princess and the Frog, and Tiana being the first black princess of the Disney line up. There have been other black characters, but never a princess.

 

[Uncle Remus]

(Note: I wasn't sure whether this belonged in the Gay and Lesbian section, but since that section's description says it is about Disney experiences, I figured this would be a better fit. If I am wrong about that, I apologize and hopefully a mod will move it.)

It is a fact that you don't see many gay characters in family entertainment. Sure, there are sometimes minor characters that fit the old stereotypes, but you pretty much never see a prince with a prince or princess with a princess.

Now, one can argue that this is just a reflection of the fact that most people do not belong to that group, but that is also true of many other minority groups that do get explicit representation in family entertainment.

One could also say that the matter is "too adult" for such entertainment, but is it really more inappropriate for a child to watch a prince seeking a prince instead of a princess?

When do you think Disney will have its first gay lead character? When will we see a princess seeking a princess? 10 years from now? 20? Never?

We don't do prince 'n princesses, we do Kings 'n Queens.

 

[SaraJayne]

We don't do prince 'n princesses, we do Kings 'n Queens.

*snort*

 

[badblackpug]

Honestly, that is a situation I would not even want to try and explain to my small child. It would be a really bad move on Disney's part.

I don't get this. Why would it be so hard or bad to explain?

 

[Planogirl]

I can't see Disney wanting to deal with the fallout from that decision. Disney is in the business of making money, not starting controversy and like it or not, this would cause controversy.

 

[NHdisneylover]

A couple of the previous posts in this thread are exactly why I think that, sadly, it will be at least another decade before Disney even has a minor character in one of their family movies that is gay. I would love to see that part of reality portrayed in the fantasy world of Disney though.

 

["Got Disney"]

I can't see Disney wanting to deal with the fallout from that decision. Disney is in the business of making money, not starting controversy and like it or not, this would cause controversy.

I agree....I could see maybe them doing a gay character...but not a prince and prince and princess and princess.....

And would this be not more to appease the adults than the children?

 

[Planogirl]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";43296055]I agree....I could see maybe them doing a gay character...but not a prince and prince and princess and princess.....

And would this be not more to appease the adults than the children?[/QUOTE]
I agree that it would be more about the adults than the kids. I doubt that young kids would really care one way or the other but sadly too many adults would and some would likely make a big fuss about it.

 

[Tiger926]

Honestly, that is a situation I would not even want to try and explain to my small child. It would be a really bad move on Disney's part.

Huh? I can't believe that in almost 2012, we are still here...but we are here because people still find it wrong or bad, and that is truly sad to me, that my baby boy of 4, has more understanding, love and tolerance than so many adults.

I don't get this. Why would it be so hard or bad to explain?

My youngest child at 4, knows that there are many different types of families in the world, and so I still don't understand this line of thinking that certain familes are preferred over others.

A couple of the previous posts in this thread are exactly why I think that, sadly, it will be at least another decade before Disney even has a minor character in one of their family movies that is gay. I would love to see that part of reality portrayed in the fantasy world of Disney though.

Exactly.

Tiger

 

[Mermaid02]

Well, they won't show Song of the South for fear of offending... I doubt they are going to have openly gay characters for fear of offending.

It will be a long time- but it will happen! Once people stop being afraid of our differences and start embracing our sameness....

 

[december]

Disney is a business, and they know that a move like this would lead to too much negative publicity. Yes, it is sad, but I have a coworker who loves to tell me that she will never take her kids to Disney because they are "too supportive of homoseshuls". She's heard all the Gay Days stories, and doesn't care that it isn't a Disney sponsored event. There are many more like her.....

You should have seen her face when I was talking about my kids, and how funny my son is when I tell him (repeatedly-want my kids to know it is true) that I will love him no matter who he loves, regardless of race or sex. (He moans and says "mama, I like girls!!!!!) She turned to her daughter (we are teachers and this was after school) and told her that wasn't the case with her and didn't speak to me for a few days. Oh well.........

 

[olwyngdh]

Some of the reactions above show why it will probably be a long time before we see a gay lead in a Disney film, but I do think it is time for a minor part to start the ball rolling and where parents could ignore it if that is their choice, and those of us who don't have an issue with it could use it as a talking point or as a roll model for a gay child (and yes, there are children who know young that they are)

 

[Freyja]

Honestly, that is a situation I would not even want to try and explain to my small child. It would be a really bad move on Disney's part.

I disagree. I think it would make for a great platform to open up to this discussion with kids.

 

[Buckalew11]

Maybe there has already been a gay character and we didn't know it.

If it was just a character (not the prince or princess) in the movie, how would they portray them so we would know? Look what they do in regular movies...usually it is a flamboyant gay male that we see and laugh at and with and tends to be the favorite character in the movie. But that's not a real picture of gay men--the men I know who are gay do not act like that (although there are some girlier than me, lol). Just not sure how they'd show the character to be any different than a straight one.
Maybe I'm not thinking in the right direction and you all will tell me your ideas. This is something I never thought about before...

 

[PeterPan09]

Good point. It's like Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series. According to JK Rowling, he is gay but that fact really doesn't enter into the story at all. She had elaborate back stories for all her characters that didn't affect the story. Who knows if a character may be gay unless it's vital to the storyline?

 

[Eeyore98]

When do you think Disney will have its first gay lead character? When will we see a princess seeking a princess? 10 years from now? 20? Never?

Given how long it was before Tiana, I'd say a long, long time, sadly.

Maybe there has already been a gay character and we didn't know it.

If it was just a character (not the prince or princess) in the movie, how would they portray them so we would know? Look what they do in regular movies...usually it is a flamboyant gay male that we see and laugh at and with and tends to be the favorite character in the movie. But that's not a real picture of gay men--the men I know who are gay do not act like that (although there are some girlier than me, lol). Just not sure how they'd show the character to be any different than a straight one.

Maybe I'm not thinking in the right direction and you all will tell me your ideas. This is something I never thought about before...

Well, yeah, but that is a little bit of a cop-out in a way. Star Trek tried to do this when people were giving them grief for never having had a gay character...they went back and said, "No - Lieutenant Hawk in First Contact was gay - you just never knew because he never talked about any romantic interests!" Please. At least Dumbledore was a MAJOR character. Hawk didn't even have a first name, and died halfway through the film.

I'm not saying a gay character should have to be a total flaming stereotype. In fact, I really hate Kurt in Glee because they've written him so over the top...I mean, he sings soprano for crying out loud? Wants to be on the girls' side in a boys vs. girls challenge? Don't throw me in the dumpster until I take off my Marc Jacobs bag? GAG.

But to have an "underground" gay character is just closeting. You can have a non-stereotypical character, and have a two-second "give away" moment showing that they are gay...then go on with the rest of the movie like nothing happened.

Heck, you could even play it for laughs without it being a joke on the person who's gay. Have some situation where the heroes of the movie all have to sneak past a pair of palace guards (for some reason I'm remembering Robin Hood and Little John dressing up like lady fortune-tellers to rip off Prince John's treasure). One of the guards is distracted by the pretty girl they used as bait...but not the other one, and the heroes can't figure out why. Suddenly they think they know, and send out one of the guys of the group to try their luck..and it works. Simple, funny, and not a main character in any sense, but a simple acknowledgement that gay people exist.