Transmissions: Of pandas and prepubescence
Like so many others, I recently sat down to watch the new Pixar movie, "Turning Red." For those who may not be aware of the film, it is a coming-of-age movie about Meilin "Mei" Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian girl growing up in Toronto in 2002.
The movie blends fantastical elements into the mix, with Lee transforming into a giant red panda whenever her emotions rise.The story also gives a pretty accurate portrayal of a young teen's life and crushes, and while not entirely a metaphor for menstruation, it does treat the topic with an honesty not seen in a lot of animated fare, let alone one with the Disney name attached.Yes, that Disney, the one recently, rightfully criticized for its toothless, ham-fisted response to Florida's House Bill 1557, aka the "Don't Say Gay" bill, currently awaiting the signature of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).
While Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the bill in an internal staff memo, he has not publicly condemned the legislation, according to reports.
The Guardian reported that has led to staged walkouts by employees. The company employs more than 75,000 staff members in Florida, including at Walt Disney World in Orlando.This has led to a lot of critiques over the way Disney has courted the LGBTQ community, even while tiptoeing around LGBTQ content and donating to anti-LGBTQ politicians such as DeSantis and other Florida Republicans.
