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After Inside Out 2, it’s time for Disney to offer real LGBT representation

After Inside Out 2, it’s time for Disney to offer real LGBT representation

Riley in a still from Inside Out 2.

After the release of Inside out 2Disney’s relationship with the queer community is in the spotlight.

The Pixar sequel has reignited a conversation about the company’s LGBTQ+ representation, or lack thereof. The question that gets asked again and again: is Disney queerbaiting us?

For those unfamiliar, queerbaiting is a term used when a TV show or movie hints that a character is queer without ever confirming their identity. It’s a tactic often used to attract LGBTQ+ viewers without alienating a broader audience.

Is Disney queerbaiting with Inside out 2?

Back to a few months ago, when the Inside out 2 trailer fallen. Sapphic fans of the OG movie noticed that teenage main character Riley is seemingly pining for a new friend. Naturally, expectations were sky high. Was this Disney’s moment to show a meaningful queer storyline? No.

Riley in the trailer for Disney Pixar's Inside Out 2.
Fans thought Riley might be strange in Inside Out 2. Those hopes have been dashed. (Disney/Pixar)

The film’s premiere last week confirmed what fans all knew would happen, even if they wanted it to be different. Riley just wanted a platonic relationship with the character. Despite asking for her attention, it turns out that she is just desperate for friendship and validation. It feels like a huge missed opportunity.

So are fans’ accusations of queerbaiting true? I left the theater wracking my brain thinking about a fully fleshed out queer character in a Disney movie. They are few and far between. But there are plenty of examples where Disney appears to be engaging in queerbaiting.

Disney’s history with LGBTQ+ characters

To take Find Dory For example. A same-sex couple appears very briefly, but you could easily argue that it’s just two women standing together.

In the live action Beauty and the beast, Josh Gad announced that his character, Lefou, would have a “gay moment.” Again, it’s a fleeting second during a dance routine.

Even Ursula, inspired by legendary drag icon Divine, was played by a cisgender woman in live-action. The little Mermaid remake. Another missed opportunity to pay tribute to the character’s roots.

LeFou's big gay dance in Beauty and the Beast.
LeFou’s big gay dance in Beauty and the Beast. (Walt Disney Studios films)

It can be said that the entire plot of 2021 is film Luca is a subtle nod to strange stories. The film follows two outsiders who find themselves in a town where they are hated for who they are – a story that closely resembles the experiences of many LGBTQ+ people. But despite its highly relevant themes, the film falls short of making even the slightest reference to the queer community.

On a more positive note, we do Strange world. The main character Ethan is homosexual and in love with another boy. Seeing this felt like a huge step forward, even if it was just a brief plot point that could easily be glossed over, and even if it was a box office flop.

Additionally, queer representation in the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is minimal and often relegated to minor characters or background extras.

To take Avengers: Endgame. Again, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment as a gay character mourns the loss of his partner. Even that is just using the common trope that strange lives are inherently tragic.

So while there are queer characters in Disney films, their presence is often minimal. But why are these characters included so sparingly?

Ethan Clade in Strange World.
Ethan Clade in Strange World. (Walt Disney Studios films)

A possible explanation could be that it is easy to eliminate these moments to comply with international laws and regulations; In many parts of the world, showing queer representation can cause a film to make much less money or even be banned.

Over the past decade we have seen undeniable progress. Disney has started adding more diverse characters, albeit slowly. However, the company still has a long way to go.

The LGBTQ+ community deserves more authentic and substantive representation. We want to see fully realized queer characters, not just fleeting moments or ambiguous relationships.

Disney, it’s time to give us some queerness. Give us something weird!