Disney Animation Makes History Again With an Openly-Gay Teen Crush

While Disney has been quieter than usual after the backlash against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but the company is not losing momentum in LGBT support.

The Mouse recently released its animated Lightyear to less than bountiful box office acclaim, and some might suggest one factor against the film was its same-sex kiss. Disney had cut the scene but reinstalled it after its showdown with Ron DeSantis.

But, the next animated movie may have more Rainbow Radiance than ever before: Strange World will be filled with gay teen romance.

Matthieu Saghezchi (an Emmy-winning animator designer) caught a glimpse of the movie during France’s Annecy 2022 International Film Festival.

Matthieu tweeted historical news and a Pride flag.

“Just saw #Disney’s #StrangeWorld @ #Annecy2022 Festival. It features an openly gay teenage romance in Disney films! ” #RepresentationMatters”

It’s boy-on-boy:

“The scene describes the son being very shy in front of his boy crush, and his dad comes in and says, ‘So nice to meet you! my son talks about you all the time,’ and further embarrasses his son. Very cute.”

The variety confirms the content:

Walt Disney showed three sequences from Strange World. Ethan has a brief flirt with Diazo while his classmates laugh and tease him. Ethan isn’t happy that Searcher joins the fray. It makes him appear a little naive.

Back to Lightyear by The Independent notes that the film was banned in 14 Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt. According to South China Morning Post, it is unlikely that this film will be released here.

The gay kiss was restored after a disgruntled Disney Pixar letter.

Variety has provided an example:

Pixar saw beautiful stories featuring diverse characters returning from Disney corporate reviews. It is not permitted to create LGBTQIA+ material, even though it would be the solution to discriminatory laws around the world.

Strange World might be more appealing for Pixar.

This is far from Disney’s #Pride campaign.

Strange World is sure to win over conservatives who voted for Lightyear’s on-screen romance.

The film — which the Daily News calls a “refreshing nod to inclusivity” — stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Dennis Quaid and Jaboukie Young-White.