Disney brings back its same-sex kissing scene after censoring it; Credits: Joblo
Disney has been in the hot water for some time now with its controversy on the Don't Say Gay Bill, and the fans have also taken PIXAR Studios under the radar.
The issue flared once again when the LGBTQ employees and allies at the Pixar Animation Studios found out that Disney has shown some hindrance to show a same-sex intimacy scene in its film. The March 9 letter by the LGBTQ employees of the Walt Disney Company hence calls attention to the unjust censoring of "overtly gay affection."
Disney has been known to make some headway advances in recent times as they have a lesser censoring of gay content. Yet, the censored kiss that came as a shock to all employees was untimely for the studios, especially as it also faced criticism for siding with the Don't Say Gay bill.
Until now, it was not clear which film from the Pixar studios specifically asked for censorship. Additionally, it was not made public which scene, in particular, was cut or what exactly was cited as the reason for the cut.
However, a statement has been found highlighting the censoring of a scene, making it much easier for the employees to voice their grievances against the Studio.
Pixar is presently working on its next big animation film, Lightyear. The film has been on the waiting list for a long time now as fans hoped for it to release soon enough.
Yet, a source from the Studios revealed that the film has a female character, playing a major role in the film, whose romantic partner also happens to be a woman. The film will star Chris Evans in the titular character of Buzz Lightyear, who was first introduced in Toy Story decades ago.
The female character in question is named Hawthorne and is voiced by Uzo Aduba. The source revealed that she shares a loving relationship with her partner, a woman.
And though Disney never meant to the sam-sex romantic relationship between the two, they did not allow a kiss shared between the two characters to make it to the screen. Hence, they ended up censoring the intimate moment between the two characters.
But now that the Disney CEO Bob Chapek has been facing an uproar by fans and employees alike, the animation studio has decided to rethink its strategy. Following the controversial statement by the CEO when handling the matter of the Don't Say Gay bill, the studio faced employee walkouts.
The same-sex kiss scene has now been again added to the film as of the previous week. Luckily enough, the latest decision by Disney can helo better the stance of LGBTQ workers in the studio along with bettering their interests in other studios, films, and workplaces around the globe.
Pixar is possible to include more LGBTQ intimacy or references in its work in the future, while animation studios, in general, can increase the portrayal of same-sex relationships. The depiction can add to the positive portrayal of the members of the LGBTQ community, especially for kids where it matters a lot.
It is worth mentioning that LGBTQ representation is gathering momentum in other animation works. The South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut episode from the 1999s, “Persepolis” from the 2007s, “Sausage Party” from the 2016s, and “Flee” from 2021 all include same-sex relationships.
Yet, this is not the norm when it comes to G or PG-rated animated movies. These movies feature a barely-there reference to characters of the LGBTQ community and that is also rarely done.
The only character from the LGBTQ community to enjoy significant recognition from an animated studio work until now has been Katie, voiced by Abbi Jacobson. Katie is the teenage lead character of the Sony animated show “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”
Made by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix, the series is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the portrayal of the LGBTQ community. However, that too is only a little consolation as Katie's girlfriend is a just passing figure referred to by her mother during the season finale of the show.
It is sad to state that only a limited few LGBTQ characters have been cast in the PIXAR studios over the 27 years of its run time. Needless to say, these are not major characters but random figures in the background.
In Onward, a film from 2020, a one-eyed cop, voiced by Lena Waithe, is shown mentioning her girlfriend. InToy Story 4 there is a small scene showing two mothers hugging their child goodbye before school and Dory also features a short mention of a lesbian couple.
Yet there are no definite character arcs to these roles and the references are fleeting at best. The only Pixar film based on a gay character was Out in 2020. The story showed a young man struggling to come out of the closet and reveal his secret to his parents. The film was released on Disney Plus for their SparkShort program.
Despite the heart-aching lack of inclusive portrayal in the Pixar studios, many employees have come forward to share stories that have always made them feel welcome in the studio. The creative heads of the studio have taken steps big and small to ensure their safety, yet they are not always heard by everyone. Disney has declined to speak on the issue and has not elaborated why the steps are never allowed to reach fulfillment.
Hawthorne is a space-farer character like the famous Buzz Lightyear: Credits: The Mary Sue
Lightyear will become the first Disney and Pixar film to release in theaters after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it makes it all the more important to let all voices be heard in these times. It also will ensure that the employees who have come out with their stories from within the PIXAR studios be provided safety and protection for opening up about their experiences.
