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A spinoff from the popular Disney Pixar children’s film “Toy Story” will reportedly include a gay kiss shared by two animated female characters.
The report comes following an uproar from LGBTQ employees who ripped Walt Disney Company executives for censoring “overtly gay affection” in a letter that was part of a protest for the company not taking a firmer stance against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay Bill” that would prohibit teaching Kindergarten through third-grade children about “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.”
Although the employees’ March 9 statements didn’t cite any specific scenes altered, Variety reported that the kissing scene was reinstated into Pixar Animation Studio’s “Lightyear” last week.
The collaborative film between Walt Disney Company and Pixar Animation Studios features a relationship between the female character Hawthorne and another woman. The relationship between the two animated female characters itself was never reportedly subject to censorship, only the kiss shared between them.
Generally speaking, G or PG-rated animated films such as “Lightyear” have remained mostly off-limits to portraying gay or lesbian relationships, although adult films as early as “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” in 1999 contained blatant LGBTQ content.
In response to the Disney employees’ outrage over the perceived lack of efforts in promoting LGBTQ+ content, Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s issued a response to his critics unhappy with his lack of response related to the Florida legislation that is officially known as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill.
“I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities,” Chapek wrote in a memo to his employees last week. “We all share the same goal of a more tolerant, respectful world. Where we may differ is in the tactics to get there. And because this struggle is much bigger than any one bill in any one state, I believe the best way for our company to bring about lasting change is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create, and the diverse community organizations we support.”
But the employees vehemently disagreed, claiming, “Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.”
BREAKING: Today’s statement by @Disney CEO Bob Chapek against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has failed to satisfy many Disney employees
A letter from @Pixar staff to Disney leaders, obtained by https://t.co/Gl6evXRDcZ, details their anger and demands
Follow along if interested pic.twitter.com/GJnne22mdy
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 10, 2022
“We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were,” the letter stated.
“Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world,” it continued, “we are being barred from creating it. Beyond the ‘inspiring content’ that we aren’t even allowed to create, we require action.”
Although the gay rights activists received only a “kiss” for their efforts, many hoped the scene would play a bigger role in the children’s movie.
please dont just be a background character that kisses another same sex background character for 2 seconds that gets cut out of the movie in the china or disney release please dont just be a background character that kisses another same sex background character for 2 seconds that
— DETECTIVE PLANKTON 💙💛 (@DETECTIVEPLANK) March 18, 2022
two people kissing is my favorite political agenda 💀
— Silvia – Goat Milk (@samonthepeanut) March 19, 2022
Many parents have already slashed the movie from their household’s must-watch list and vowed it wouldn’t be shown in their homes.
My 3 l children think any kind of kissing is gross and uncomfortable to watch . Most small children do . These are movies intended for very small children. It’s not necessary for the plot and goes directly against what most of the primary audience wants to see.
— Johnny b (@john___idiots) March 19, 2022
Welp won’t be taking the kids to see any more Pixar movies then. Shame but not putting them in there to be part of someone else’s activist agenda.
— Michael (@QuestforOrion) March 19, 2022
Jesus!, Isn’t this a children’s movie
— Xavier De la Cruz (@_XavierDLCruz) March 18, 2022
Yes, Disney woke fans that are activists likes this, but this will play horrible with parents outside of CA. Prepare for a PR disaster.
— Marley Q (@Marley_Q) March 18, 2022
It will not play in my household.
— PunishedFever (@PunishedFever) March 18, 2022
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