Disney Censors Same-Sex Affection In Pixar Films, Employees Say
Florida passed its discriminatory “don’t say gay” bill, critics say Disney was too silent as the bill made it through the state's legislature.
The company's silence over the bill seems to have resulted in pressure mounting from inside the company to publicly condemn the law.Disney's first response was to send an internal memo to staff, in which CEO Bob Chapek not only didn’t outright condemn the law, but instead told employees: “The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here, and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community.”The statement fell short for many, and, as it turns out, might not even be true.
In an open letter from “the LGBTQIA+ employees of Pixar and their allies” obtained by Variety, the group claims Disney’s corporate offices have demanded the removal of “nearly every moment of overtly gay affection… regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.”Employees point to the hypocrisy of the company claiming it’s creating positive change through inclusive content while, in reality, excising queerness at every opportunity. “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,” the letter states.
