Sunday, March 5, 2017

First Openly Gay Disney Character

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I'm sure I'm not the only person here who is excited for the live action film, Beauty and the Beast. I didn't think I could get anymore happy about this film but I was wrong! The other day I found out that LeFou (played by Josh Gad in the new film) will be Disney's first openly gay character. I am absolutely thrilled about this news.

Disney is probably the number 1 entertainment for kids growing up - it was for me at least - so I think it's about time they decided to have a gay character that kids could see, and on the big screen no less! You can read more about this in an article on Nylon, which is where I learned the news.

Of course, this news isn't without its critics. In fact, a movie theater in Alabama has stated they will no longer be showing the film due to it having an openly gay character. It's ridiculous, I know, but they are crediting religion for their decision. You can read more about their decision, and other people's thoughts, on CNN.

What are your thoughts about this announcement? Are you as excited as I am? Leave your thoughts - but be courteous!

-Lauren

7 comments:

Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlight said...

I watch Disney Channel, and while they've never had any gay main characters on their shows, they've had one show where a character had two dads and other side things like that, so I'm not surprised they're including a gay character. I think it's great to have an openly gay character, and that fact that Disney supports the LGBT community makes me love them more. However, I feel like the choice they made was kind of strange because Gaston seems like the least likely person in the movie to have a gay friend, and I saw a clip of Josh Gad playing LeFou and it looked kind of... stereotypically flamboyant rather than a portrayal of a real person. So I have mixed feelings.

Joy said...

I love how Disney's progressive stance on a lot of things, so good for them! Sucks that there's still towns in the US where they think having a gay character in a children's film is worse than the beastial romance this movie implies. Excited to watch this movie!

Lisa Mandina said...

I'm very excited for this movie and love that this is a great new thing they're finally getting to support. I can't wait to see it!

Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity said...

I am actually kind of disappointed by Disney's decision to make Le Fou into their first "explicitly gay" (to quote an article I read) character in one of their films. He is not a good character, and whilst we do need all kinds LGBTQIA+ characters why did their first gay character have to be evil? And have to be in love with a straight guy who dies at the end of the movie?

There are some really great threads on Twitter about this, and it's really interesting to read because while at face value this might seem like such a big step, it's not so great when you look into it a little more. :/

Verushka said...

*facepalm* of course the cross species Romance doesn't seem to be an issue. Blah. I for one am frigging thrilled a this. As if I need one more reason to be excited abt this movie, but I will totally take it :)

Lola said...

That sounds great that there will be an openly gay characters in the live action movie. I had seen that somewhere on my Facebook feed this week,but didn't read which character it was. It's nice to see Disney take such a progressive stand.

Kate @Midnight Book Girl said...

I'm all for Disney finally acknowledging gay characters, although, yes, it would be nice if LeFou was more Team Good then Team Bad. Maybe LeFou will have a larger role in the life action movie? I'm disappointed that people are already on the Ban Wagon, but hopefully they'll be in the minority. I am SO excited for this movie!!