When fans think of Disney movies and the Disney television channel, they may think of a tale as old as time in which a princess marries a prince, and then they live happily ever after. It's happened over and over, a man and woman falling in love, but Disney has started to change that, particularly the purely heterosexual aspect.
The LGBTQ+ community has become more represented in media in recent years and Disney is just one of many companies hopping aboard that train as well. Unfortunately, not every aspect of the LGBTQ+ community has been represented due to a lack of characters within the Disney canon, and some representation has fallen flat. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more, and better, representation from Disney.
Updated on June 7th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: In the wake of Florida's extremely controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill and the strong criticism that came from within The Walt Disney Company for not speaking up, it seems like Disney is finally understanding out important LGBTQ+ representation is for its fans and its cast members.
While the company has begun to make small steps in recent years on both the big and small screens, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are no longer ready to accept the ambiguous ways Disney has introduced LGBTQ+ characters into their stories. Instead, viewers want to see characters clearly stating their sexuality and living their authentic selves which thankfully looks like it is actually happening. There's still a lot of work to be done but to show support for the progress that has been made, fans should tune in to these shows and show their support further.
Diary Of A Future President (2020-2021)
Diary of a Future President was one of Disney+'s first original series to have a prominent coming-out story. In the show, Bobby begins to question his sexuality when his friends push him to date a popular girl at school. It doesn't take long for Bobby to realize he doesn't like her like that and instead might have feelings for his best friend, Liam.
Unsure if Liam feels the same about him, Bobby keeps his feelings hidden from Liam but tells his mom's work friend, who happens to be a lesbian. In the second season, Bobby comes out to his family and goes on his first date with another boy he has a crush on.
Better Nate Than Ever (2022)
Based on the 2013 young adult novel of the same name, Better Nate Than Ever tells the story of a young Broadway hopeful who has yet to land a lead role in his middle school productions. Tired of being left out, Nate and his best friend road trip to New York City so he can audition for a real-life Broadway musical looking for kid actors.
While the word "gay" never is spoken in Better Nate Than Ever, the notion that Nate is gay is hinted at relentlessly. He has several conversations with the adults around him who get him to talk about how he's different without pinpointing it on his sexuality. The decision not to outright state Nate's sexuality was the choice of the creator who wanted to tell a story about a young person at the beginning of his sexual journey.
The Owl House (2020- )
When The Owl House premiered on Disney Channel in 2020 it became the first-ever Disney show or movie to feature a same-sex couple in leading roles. It also made history by becoming the first Disney animated show to feature two same-sex lead characters kissing. Its representation of the LGBTQ+ community is a core element of the series.
The representation comes mainly from the main character Luz, who has been confirmed as bisexual by the creator, and her rival turned girlfriend Amity, who identifies as a lesbian.
Amphibia (2019-2022)
Amphibia is another beloved and best Disney Channel animated series that features LGBTQ+ characters, though not in the leading roles. Instead, the series features its representation through minor characters like I.T. powerhouse Ally and Jess.
In the series, Ally is confirmed to be pansexual, a sexuality that isn't often talked about in media especially not on children's shows. While Jess is confirmed to be bisexual and is dating Ally foremost of the series. Amphibia also features other LGBTQ+ characters in its several seasons.
Eternals (2021)
While the MCU has made lots of headway in recent years in regards to diversifying the superhero genre, it struggled in representing the LGBTQ+ community, at least prominently. However, it seems that has started to change now that the MCU has created its first-ever LGBTQ+ superhero in Eternals.
Phastos is a genius and inventor turned superhero who also happens to be openly gay. Fans not only get to see Phastos in superhero action, but they also get to see a look inside his personal life where he is a doting husband to Ben and a father to their son. Phastos and Ben even share an onscreen kiss which is a major win for LGBTQ+ superhero fans.
Cruella (2021)
Artie in Cruella is an openly gay character who interacts with the main character throughout the new movie that focuses on Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians. He's a shop owner with a David Bowie and 1970s glam rock aesthetic.
Artie is able to be his authentic self and actor John McCrea is happy with his portrayal of Artie and believes him to be a gay character, but Disney yet again made the mistake of not fully delving into Artie being an openly gay character. Some argue the movie instead left the character more queer-coded by being fashionable and androgynous instead of explicitly talking about the character's sexuality.
Frozen (2013)
Oaken appears in Frozen for only a few minutes as Kristoff and Anna need to buy supplies before they search for Elsa. Oaken hilariously talks about a "big summer blowout" and points the two around his shop.
He mentions the sauna and says that his family is in there. He says "Yoo-hoo! Hi family" and the scene cuts to a man and four children waving back to him. The audience can assume that Oaken and the man are in a relationship and these are their children.
Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020)
Orka and Flix in Star Wars Resistance are two openly gay characters who aren't human and are actually two different species but are openly in a relationship in the series.
There's been other LGBTQ+ representation in the Star Wars universe as well like writers and actor Donald Glover confirming that Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story is pansexual. Also, two women, Commander Larma D'Acy and Wrobie Tyce, can be seen kissing in Rise of Skywalker for a quick moment.
DuckTales (2017-2021)
The DuckTales reboot had several lovable characters including Webby's newfound friend Violet who was introduced later in the series.
Violet happens to have two dads, Indy and Ty Sabrewing, who are prominently featured in the show although they don't have much screen time. They're loving parents who care deeply for their daughter and are both shown wearing "I'm with dad" shirts.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jungle Cruise hasn't technically been released yet, but Disney has been clear that one of the major characters in the movie, McGregor Houghton, will be gay. The movie is set to release in late July of 2021.
There's been a lot of controversy surrounding the announcement of Houghton being a gay character. Certain groups are upset at the idea of a children's movie representing the LGBTQ+ community while progressives are upset at Jack Whitehall's casting, believing a gay actor should be cast, and the idea that it might be a stereotypical, harmful representation.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
Viewers may not remember the gay prince from The Princess Diaries 2, and maybe that's because the movie doesn't actually show him in person. While Princess Mia is looking through pictures of potential suitors, she comes across a man named Antoine who plays the harp.
She says he's cute, and Joe replies, "His boyfriend thinks he's handsome also." The girls say, "Right on!" and the Queen says to put him on all the invitation lists. Good to know Genovia's stance on the LGBTQ+ community is a positive one.
Good Luck Charlie (2010-2014)
In 2014, Disney Channel made a daring move to feature a same-sex couple in a season four episode of Good Luck Charlie, "Down a Tree." Charlie is having a friend over named Taylor, and Amy mentions that she met Taylor's mom, Susan. Bob says he met the mom too, but he's pretty sure her name is Cheryl.
When Taylor shows up, it turns out that both of Charlie's parents are right because Taylor has two moms. Bob points this out, to which Amy replies, "Nothing gets by you!"
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Gravity Falls became the second series, this time on Disney XD, to briefly feature a same-sex couple in 2016. Deputy Durland and Sheriff Blubs are two minor characters from the show who had fans curious about their personal lives.
During the show's finale, the suspicions were confirmed as the two embraced, with one saying, "We're mad with power... and love," after Blubs saves Durland. Everybody loves a good power couple!
Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil (2015-2019)
In early 2017, Disney XD progressed even more with portrayals of gay love with the cartoon Star Vs. the Forces of Evil and the first showing of a same-sex kiss. In an episode titled, "Just Friends," Star, Jackie, and Marco attend a concert by the band Love Sentence.
At one point, couples scattered throughout the audience get caught up in the passion of the music, and viewers can see that a few of them are same-sex couples.
Beauty And The Beast (2017)
Before the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast came out in 2017, director Bill Condon announced in an interview that one character would have a gay spin. LeFou, Gaston's right-hand man, would be gay, the director said, causing excitement and anticipation from the LGBTQ+ community.
While LeFou never confirms it out loud, several indirect references are made throughout the movie. It's clear that he has a crush on Gaston, and he even dances with another gentleman towards the end of the film.
The Lodge (2016- )
We're traveling to the UK for this next TV series, a British show called The Lodge. During a season two episode entitled, "Help," a boy named Josh is having a conversation with his friend Noah.
When Noah says that their friend Skye is everyone's type. Josh disagrees, saying that girls, in general, are not his type, "I like them as friends, but..." as Josh says that he is more romantically involved with boys and only views the opposite sex as friends.
Andi Mack (2017-2019)
Cyrus Goodman from Andi Mack was Disney's first character to ever utter the words, "I'm gay," in 2019. The show's creator and executive producer Terri Minsky said that Cyrus and his story were largely inspired by Terri's daughter's friends, who knew that they were gay in middle school.
Cyrus has great character development, going from being nervous and unsure about his feelings for a boy to announcing that he indeed does have same-sex crushes. He even goes on to have a boyfriend named TJ.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019- )
There are two examples of same-sex relationships in the High School Musical series, which premiered on Disney+ in 2019. One character, Nina, mentions a few times that she has two moms, who are named Dana and Carol.
Additionally, the choreographer of the play, Carlos, and Seb, who plays Sharpay, express interest in each other and dance together in the episode, "Homecoming," after Carlos asks Seb to go with him to the dance.
Onward (2020)
Onward is one of Pixar's most recent feature-length films, and it's about a pair of brothers who are on a quest to restore the life of their deceased father so that they can spend one last day with him.
One side character is a police officer named Officer Specter, who mentions having a girlfriend: "My girlfriend's daughter [has] got me pulling my hair out." This marks Pixar's first confirmed character in a same-sex relationship.
Out (2020)
Pixar just released a new short, aptly titled Out, that focuses on a young man named Greg who has a secret: he's gay, and he has a boyfriend named Manuel.
He doesn't want his parents to find out, but they might learn the truth when they show up out of the blue to help him pack for his move. Strangely, Greg and his dog Jim have a Freaky Friday moment and switch places, which makes it even harder to hide a picture of Greg and his boyfriend from his mother.