Disney’s “first” gay character? I think I've seen this film before …
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00:00Disney's newest film is set to feature the first openly gay animated lead, but we need to talk
00:04about the 16 other times the company was celebrated for including its quote first LGBT character.
00:10Earlier this year, Disney came under scrutiny when it was revealed they were donating money
00:13to legislators in Florida backing the state's Don't Say Gay Bill. Shortly after, a group of
00:17LGBTQ plus Pixar employees alleged that Disney corporate executives regularly censor same-sex
00:23affection in films. However, Disney has aimed to rewrite their history of queer representation by
00:27regularly pioneering their quote first gay character. Starting in 2016, Disney began
00:31featuring minor characters who make subtle references to same-sex attraction. However,
00:35these brief moments of representation are often irrelevant to the plot of the film
00:39and leave a minor impression on audiences. Thus, with each new or more prominently featured
00:43character, they're often heralded as the first. So when it comes to Disney's newest film,
00:47Strange World, which features a biracial gay teenager as its lead, audiences are hopeful
00:51for the long-standing representation it could bring. The character is voiced by openly gay
00:55actor Jaboukie Young-White, who said it's quote a normal reflection of reality.