When Disney’s “Star vs. the Forces of Evil” had a scene at a boy band concert, no red flags were raised. From the Beatles to One Direction, boy bands have always been the rage among America’s kids.
But what was different about this innocent scene was that it also served as Disney’s first on-screen depiction of same-sex signs of public affection. When the “camera” panned to the audience, there were gay couples kissing — lesbian couples, and straight couples. The move was hailed as heroic by LGBT activists. This enthusiasm, however, is misplaced.
As a proud member of the LGBT community, I smile when shows I watch — such as “NCIS New Orleans” and “How to Get Away With Murder” — include LGBT characters. But I am an adult, and “How to Get Away With Murder” is light years away from “Stars vs. the Forces of Evil.”
Prime-time network television is geared for an adult audience; one that understands the world we live in. Adults have long lost their innocence. Whether it be sex, drugs or violence, many of us have had our eyes open to the hardships of the world. We lost our innocence when we grew out of adolescence, but do we really want our kids to lose theirs in adolescence?
The vision for Walt’s world was clear: Entertain children. Disney characters were about hope, optimism and, above all else, making sure children were able to enjoy their innocence for as long as the outside world would permit. And Disney understood that part of its mission was to provide a buffer for as long as possible.
Somewhere along the line, Disney went off course. No longer did it see itself as a defender of children’s innocence. Instead, it saw itself as a conduit to social change. Walt Disney became Harvey Milk.
For those of us watching Disney over the past two decades, such a transformation was evident. Disney has worked to infuse its brand with political activism, and the LGBT left lobby has always been a primary benefactor.
In 2003, when I was questioning the wisdom of “Gay Days” at a children’s theme park, I wrote, “Make no mistake, Disney is not an innocent victim of circumstance, for that glass slipper just does not fit. While there is no denying the fact that Disney publicly distances itself from the Gay Days festivities, the fact remains that such festivities have received Mickey’s implicit blessing.”
I explained that “Gay Days organizers expressly sell this event as a Walt Disney World event” and that “Disney’s name, image and likeness is littered throughout the site” with no repercussions from the Magic Kingdom.
Since “Gay Days” reached a fever pitch in the early 2000s, Disney’s connection to LGBT liberal activism has grown closer. Many in pop culture gleefully speculate which classic Disney characters are gay, and now Disney’s reboot of “Beauty and the Beast” will put an end to at least some of speculation.
In describing LeFou, the sidekick of the movie’s top protagonist Gaston, director Bill Condon explains the character “is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston.”
While it is true that this reboot is a live-action movie rather than an animation, do we really think it will not attract young kids?
“By representing same-sex attraction in this short but explicitly gay scene, the studio is sending out a message that this is normal and natural — and this is a message that will be heard in every country of the world, even countries where it’s still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay,” said Matt Cain, editor-in-chief of Attitude magazine.
Yes, LGBT folks are treated horrifically in some places and, yes, LGBT folks are normal, but why do we have to expose our kids to such mature themes? Do they not have plenty of time to grow up? Or maybe the point is to make them grow up too soon and that is where I part ways with my community.
As for the argument LGBT kids need reaffirmation, I was gay and grew up without gay Disney and made it just fine. I bet the fact I was able to keep my childhood innocence played a part.
Joseph R. Murray II is administrator for LGBTrump, a former campaign official for Pat Buchanan, and author of “Odd Man Out.”
A quotation in the orginal version of this column was incorrectly attributed to the movie’s director. It has been updated with the correct attribution to Attitude magazine editor-in-chief Matt Cain.
