Pixar’s same-sex kiss in Lightyear has apparently been restored due to the uproar that has been caused by Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. And honestly good. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill is repressive and regressive garbage meant to criminalize the LGBTQ way of life and take away kids’ rights to be who they want to be. Because believe it or not, homophobes of Florida, kids are gay, bisexual, asexual, and a whole slew of other things that you are never going to be able to crush. And this move by Pixar is proof of that.
This reversal in Lightyear came due to the LGBTQ employees who were brave enough to stand up for what they believed in. They sent a joint statement to Walt Disney Company leadership calling them out for demanding cuts from “nearly every moment of overtly gay affection… regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.” They also spoke up about wanting to create “a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce.”
The letter also stated, “We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were.” It followed it up by saying, “Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it.” And it’s moves like this, where people get together to call out anti-LGBTQ moves that bar progress, that we need to see more.
The reality is that kids who are part of the LGBTQ+ deserve to see Hawthorne, voiced by Uzo Aduba, have a meaningful relationship with another woman in Lightyear. They deserve to see that kiss between them, in turn showing them that who they are is more than ok. And if we are to set up the next generation for success we need to show them that being part of the LGBTQ community is not something to hide. It’s something to celebrate and they should start doing so now. So bring on the representation. Bring on the hope. And let kids be who they choose to be.
Lightyear hits theater on June 17, 2022.