Fans have speculated about Elsa's sexuality since Frozen was first released in 2013, but Frozen 2 still doesn't address whether or not she's gay. Disney has neither confirmed nor denied the theory, but social media has been abuzz on the topic with renewed vigor ever since Disney+ released the film early amidst the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Criticism over the Frozen sequel isn't the first time fans have called out the House of Mouse recently for its lack of LGBTQ+ representation. Despite other studios taking steps toward inclusivity, Disney is falling way behind on that front, and many fans are tired of waiting.

Disney got a lot of heat for pushing the Love, Simon sequel - Love, Victor - from Disney+ to Hulu, on the basis that its topics weren't "family-friendly" enough. Given Disney's fear of alienating parents (or media censors in countries like Russia) who aren't tolerant of LGBTQ+ themes in children's entertainment, it's not surprising that the studio didn't make Elsa gay in Frozen 2. But knowing the likely reason behind it probably wouldn't happen didn't soften the blow for LGBTQ+ fans who have been identifying with Elsa since 2013. Elsa's lovelorn gazes at Honeymaren, which have been called out as queerbaiting, certainly didn't help.

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The cast and creators of the Frozen movies are much more on board with a gay Elsa than Disney seems to be. Responses on the matter range from vague to hopeful, giving fans a spark of possibility for a gay Elsa in the future. While the films have heavily hinted at Elsa's sexuality with subtext in the lyrics and through Elsa's strong relationships with women, can fans expect Disney to make her the first gay Disney princess in a third movie?

Why Frozen Fans Want Elsa To Be Gay

Frozen 2 Elsa

Many Frozen fans haven't been quiet about their longing for Elsa to come out of the closet. The hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend trended in 2016, with fans demanding a lesbian Elsa in Frozen 2. LGBTQ kids (and adults) see themselves in Elsa and her struggle to conform to society's definition of "normal," and the conversation hasn't silenced since. Finally, Disney gave fans a princess whose every decision isn't ruled by her yearning for a prince. "Let it Go" became a gay anthem for those struggling with or embracing their sexuality, and all Disney had to do was give Elsa a girlfriend. However, they didn't. Frozen 2 just gave Elsa ambiguously romantic bonding scenes with Honeymaren instead.

Disney has a habit of teasing what many fans want without actually giving it to them. This pattern is a go-to whenever there's a massive following for a potential LGBTQ+ relationship between characters - and Disney isn't alone in exploiting fan "ships" without any real payoff. Popular fan pairings in TV shows are often given more screen-time and subtext without actually solidifying anything, giving the company plausible deniability without actual (or significant) representation. This phenomenon is all too prevalent in Hollywood, and has been dubbed "queerbaiting." There have been significant strides to limit this kind of pandering, but there's still a long way to go. To Disney's credit, at least Elsa wasn't thrown together with a guy to silence the debate. All too often, straightness is assumed to be the default orientation, but Disney left the door open a crack by not giving Elsa a prince of her own.

Even Idina Menzel, champion of LGBTQ+ rights and the voice of Elsa, has a stake in this fight. During an interview with PrideSource, Menzel noted that she didn't think about Elsa's sexuality at first, but she "quickly saw all of the parallels and the universality of the song and how it could speak to so many people in so many different ways." The actress also said, "There are always these characters who are literally trying to come out of the closet – they're hiding something within them that they're afraid to let people see, and then finally they embrace it and change the world around them."

Related: Was Frozen 2's Elsa Fifth Spirit Twist Setup In The First Movie?

A gay Elsa isn't the only outcome that fans would stand behind, though. Many fans love that Elsa is single and happy - and shows little to no romantic or sexual desire. Fans can make a case for Elsa being asexual or aromantic as easily as her being gay or bisexual. But it's not enough to keep Elsa single. It needs to be said out loud and not just implied. Aromantic (having no desire for a romantic relationship) and asexual (a low or absent sexual desire) fans would benefit from seeing themselves represented on the big screen, too. Whether Elsa is gay, aromantic, asexual, or any combination of the three remains to be seen, but there's a lot standing in the way of that happening.

Why Frozen 2 Doesn't Address The Elsa Is Gay Theory

Elsa FRozen 2

Disney has been making some small strides for LGBTQ+ representation, but many fans insist that it's too little, too late. Minimal efforts that contained no more than about 20 seconds of screen-time were put forth in Marvel's Avengers: Endgame and LucasFilm's The Rise of Skywalker - both Disney franchises. More significant gay relationships have appeared on smaller-scale Disney+ shows - but with the more conservative nature of major Disney films, it would have taken a miracle for Disney to make Elsa gay. Frozen reigned number one for the highest-grossing animated film of all time upon its release before being dethroned, and Frozen 2 currently sits in the number one slot. The media giant faces backlash from parents every time a character so much as insinuates their sexuality. It wasn't likely that Disney would risk parents boycotting their most successful animated franchise by making Frozen's leading lady gay.

When asked about the lack of gay Elsa in Frozen 2, director Jennifer Lee told Insider, "When we agreed to do the sequel, we agreed we were going to not build it [from] the outside in... We just couldn't do it." For the creative team, Elsa's story is about the two sisters, and romance isn't a believable part of the equation for her at this point. "We couldn't change that from the outside because it wouldn't be authentic," Lee expanded. "So we didn't build Elsa a romantic storyline. We weren't making a statement about it; we were just building from where she is now and felt like we needed to stay true."

While Elsa hasn't been deemed gay, Frozen 2 didn't make her straight, either. Fans can plausibly view Elsa's entire storyline as a metaphor for society forcing the LGBTQ+ community to hide who they are. Elsa's parents stop at no end to conceal her powers, and their voyage in Frozen 2 can be translated into them trying to find a cause or a "cure" for who she is — the result being that Elsa learns to embrace herself. The parallels between Elsa's parents rejecting her powers and the backlash the gay community faces when they come out to their family is palpable. Honeymaren aside, Elsa's journey in Frozen 2 is dictated by a mysterious female voice Elsa hears in the night — a voice she is compelled to follow. The ice queen risks everything because she is fascinated by the possibilities of accompanying this woman into the unknown. Almost every scene in the film could have led to a coming-out scene, but Disney played it safe. Disney may have dropped the ball in Frozen 2, but is there a possibility of gay Elsa in Frozen 3?

Related: Why Frozen 2 Was A Disappointment (Despite Disney’s Hard Work)

Will Disney Make Elsa Gay In Frozen 3?

Elsa Frozen Scandinavia Landscape

Given that Frozen 2 took around six years to complete, the social climate standing in the way of a gay princess may change between now and then. The progress for LGBTQ+ inclusion in blockbuster films has been slow, but not nonexistent. The push for representation in media is influential, and Disney will eventually have to give fans what they want — whether it's with Elsa or a new princess (or prince). When asked if she thinks the world is ready for a lesbian Disney princess, Menzel told PrideSource, "Umm… I don't know about that, considering we're having a hard time even getting Donald Trump out of the way. Sometimes it's a little discouraging. But you never know. We keep making all these strides."

The cast and creative team have lent their support to fans who identify Elsa as a gay icon. The reasoning thus far for avoiding an Elsa relationship has been that Elsa isn't ready for one. Frozen 2 ends on a strong note where Elsa embraces who she is and seems to be happy — so that excuse won't fly if a third film is made. Elsa's newfound confidence and self-acceptance offer the perfect jumping-off point for a gay Elsa. With the writers tentatively on board, if Elsa shows them the rainbow way, a gay Elsa plot would have to make its way past a lot of desks to come to fruition.

There is currently no plan in place for a third Frozen film, making it hard to predict Elsa's future - if she even has one. Disney structured both movies in a way that feels like dual parts of one complete story, and they may leave it there. However, the media giant isn't one to turn down a sequel that will dominate the box office, so the jury's out on that one.

While Disney's effort for LGBTQ+ inclusion is minimally there, the company has yet to take a step toward creating a significant gay role in one of their major franchises. From what Disney has shown so far, they're a long way away from giving fans a lesbian princess (or demoted Queen). But given how long it took between Frozen 1 and Frozen 2, maybe there's hope for a gay Elsa yet. Whether or not Disney gives Elsa a girlfriend in the future, Saturday Night Live provided fans with the Elsa content they've been clamoring for in a "deleted scenes" parody. The February skit calls out Disney for not giving Elsa a gay storyline in Frozen 2and it's not subtle at all. Until news on Frozen 3 is released, fans can watch the parody on repeat as their ship rages on into the night.

Next: Frozen 2 SNL Parody Calls Out Disney For Not Making Elsa Gay