The History of Disney and LGBTQ+

by Emily Nelson

Disney has had its fair share of criticism and conspiracy surrounding their seemingly half-hearted attempts to incorporate LGBTQ+ characters and diversity into their movies over the years. Recently, they appear to be making a concerted effort to increase inclusivity. However, it has not always been this way. Disney’s long and chequered past with homosexuality has led to a pool of conspiracy and suspicion surrounding numerous characters. It can be hard to differentiate between which characters are meant to be LGBTQ+ and the conspiracies of Disney fans worldwide. Even through the research I have done, I have come no closer to the truth, as there is no official list from Disney regarding the various sexual orientations of their beloved characters. Until that revered document is created, we will have to come up with fan theories as to which characters could possibly be part of the LGBTQ+ community. Or has Disney turned over a new leaf?

On the 6th March 2020, the Disney and Pixar collaboration Onwards landed on cinema screens, along with the first openly LGBTQ+ Disney character. I went to see the movie at the weekend - for research purposes, of course - to find out first-hand what the hype was about. As for the film itself, I would say that it does not live up to the precedent set by Pixar’s previous ventures, however I did cry three times so that either says something about the movie or something about myself. Officer Spector, voiced by Lena Waithe, is made explicitly gay through the line ‘my girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out’. I knew this going into the screening, so when the police car started flashing, the anticipation of finally seeing the famed Officer Spector filled me with excitement. And she did not disappoint. The blending of this seemingly historic moment into the fabric of the film was seamless. If I had not had prior knowledge of the headline news: ‘first gay Disney character’, I am not sure I would have noticed. Now, some critics may argue that this is a fault of Disney, as Officer Spector was a fairly minor character. This does not give the LGBTQ+ community the visibility and recognition it deserves and has been deprived of for so long. However, I appreciated the subtle way in which Officer Spector was incorporated into the movie. Instead of feeling like Disney had created the character for ‘diversity points’ or to mildly appease their audience without offending anyone, Spector’s sexuality felt like an unspoken detail. It seemed like a natural part of the Onwards world; which best represents what our own world should look like. Officer Spector did not have any stereotypical gay tropes. Her character was a cop first and part of the LGBTQ+ community second because she was not defined by her sexuality. Although we are yet to see a gay main character, this is a step in the right direction for the typically conservative company. 

Previously, audiences had to analyse Disney movies in minute detail to find tiny clues as to whether a character was gay. This had led to massive assumptions about characters, such as Elsa from Frozen. She has induced the most speculation about whether or not she is a lesbian. Some believe that the ballad ‘Let It Go’ is an implicit allusion as to her closeted sexuality. There was a huge call, mainly on social media, for Elsa to be made officially gay in Frozen 2 but the people’s wishes were not granted. Furthermore, when Beauty and the Beast came out in 2017, it was reported that LeFou would be the first gay Disney character. However, moviegoers were disappointed when there was just some light flirtation and suggestion with LeFou rather than his sexuality being made obvious. There have also been guesses as to other characters who are not intended to be gay but are believed to be secretly part of the community. For example, Oaken (the shop owner from Frozen) opens a door to reveal a man and two kids in a sauna. This is rumoured to be his family, meaning that he has a husband. Other characters more loosely connected to the LGBTQ+ community are Scar from the Lion King, Ursula from the Little Mermaid, and the Genie from Aladdin. These are less believable theories, however until recently there had been no representation at all so clutching at straws and drawing wild conclusions was all we had. Hopefully, Disney is now on a curve of steadily increasing representation in all areas. It is important to remember that Disney has incredibly traditional roots. Walt Disney massively favoured traditional gender roles and the nuclear family, as seen in films such as the original Mary Poppins. Disney has always portrayed a polished and shiny view of the world, which Walt Disney himself was criticised for in his later years. When thinking about this history, it is not surprising that Disney is so slow to adapt to changing societal norms as this has always been the way of the company. However, Disney is set to release Jungle Cruise some time in the near future, with Jack Whitehall playing the first main LGBTQ+ Disney character. This could represent a new direction for Disney, where one day a gay character is unquestionable and no cause for headline controversy.