December 18th 2024.
Disney's new animated TV series, Win or Lose, was set to feature a transgender story arc. However, the studio has now announced that they have removed this storyline from the show. The series follows a middle school softball team named the Pickles in the week leading up to their championship match. Each of the eight episodes focuses on a different character's perspective.
One of the later episodes was going to feature a transgender character, but Disney has confirmed that the storyline has been cut. The character remains in the series, but any references to their gender identity have been removed. A spokesperson for Disney explained that, when it comes to animated content for younger audiences, they understand that some parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.
Chanel Stewart, an 18-year-old transgender actress who voices the character, expressed her disappointment in Disney's decision. She believes that trans stories matter and deserve to be heard. She was excited to share her journey and help empower other trans youth, and feels that this is another setback for the LGBTQ+ community.
Chanel's mother, Keisha, also spoke out about the decision, calling it upsetting. She believes it is important for her daughter to be represented and for her being transgender not to be hidden. She hopes that everyone, regardless of their gender identity, will be recognized and included.
This is not the first time Disney has faced criticism for their treatment of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. In September, there was outrage when it was rumored that the sequel to the popular film Inside Out was made to be "less gay." Fans speculated that the main character, Riley, was hiding a crush on her female hockey teammate, Val. However, sources from inside Pixar claim that they were instructed to make the relationship appear platonic.
In 2022, Disney was also criticized by employees for their initial response to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and for demands from corporate executives to cut any "overtly gay affection" from films, even when the creative teams and Pixar executives protested. It's clear that Disney still has a long way to go in terms of LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in their content.
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