-

[MattDean]

I agree whole-heartedly.

Who cares whether they are gay or straight or whatever. That's not what was intended when the movies were made and we should feel guilty for even bringing a subject like this up regarding Disney animated or live-action films. It just shows that some people have too much time on their hands!!!

The people at the Disney studios were well aware of all differences in sexuality. We can't be sure behind closed doors they weren't discussing characters as being of a certain persuasion - even when talking in terms of mannerisms & characteristics.

As for feeling guilty - why? Do you feel guilty when discussing whether characters are boys or girls, whether they have darker or lighter skin, taller or shorter? Louder or quieter? It's genetics!

As for having too much time on our hands...haven't we all? Isn't that why we can do this? We're talking about movies not saving the world!

Matt

[Dr Frankenollie]

-

[pinkrenata]

I find that labeling cartoon characters based upon stereotypes is a slap in the face to the entire gay community. As a straight person, being straight is a very small part of who I am and I know that the same applies to those of different orientations.

I'm sorry if those of you on the forum who are gay feel like you have been oppressed in real life and feel the need to lash out to those who have different opinions than you. I hope that you can learn to become comfortable enough in your own skin (gay, straight or whatever) so that you can stop with the obsession with labels. We are all <i>people</i> who sometimes fall in love with other <i>people</i> -- get over it!

Note: I do not intend to sound insensitive and I know that GLBT people have been through a lot and deserve better. BUT anger ain't gonna solve a thing.

[Disney's Divinity]

Note: I do not intend to sound insensitive and I know that GLBT people have been through a lot and deserve better. BUT anger ain't gonna solve a thing.

True, but I personally find milojthatch's and dvdjunkie's off-topic posts much more angry.

Anyway, I never thought Hermes was queer-ish though. For some reason, he always felt like one of those weird guys from the '70s (like Mr. Mackey from South Park ). Maybe it's the glasses though.

And, of course, I'm sure there's possibly one or two of the barmen from Rapunzel that are gay.

@ rexcrk: Yeah, it's too bad they added that last minute love interest for Ryan in the final HSM (especially one that felt as insincere as that one did). Even the stage version makes him obviously gay--and I don't just mean mannerisms.

[Goliath]

Donald Duck, José Carioca and Panchito are also gay! They sing so themselves!

[...] Note: I do not intend to sound insensitive and I know that GLBT people have been through a lot and deserve better. BUT anger ain't gonna solve a thing.

But who was angry here? I didn't see any angry gay members. The only angry people I saw here were the (straight) members who were loudly objecting to the thread, one of them a notorious homophobe who's known around here for his gay-bashing. I also don't see how it's an "obsession with labels" to talk about Disney characters who might be gay. Where's the "obsession"-part in your opinion? I find a lot of irony in your post: you protect the people who are trying to turn this thread into something negative ("respect other people's opinions") and you attack those who were just minding their own business discussing a certain topic ("lash out against...").

[DisneyJedi]

Donald Duck, José Carioca and Panchito are also gay! They sing so themselves!

Umm.... that was made in the 1940s, and the term 'gay' didn't share the same meaning as 'homosexual' back then.

[Disney's Divinity]

I’m guessing you don’t really get humor.

[WarriorDreamer]

Maybe I'm naive that way, but I honestly don't think in stereotypes like that. Maybe it's because I don't fit the 'stereotypically heterosexual/ultra-manly mold' either.

Well you have Hercules and Aladdin kissing in your avi, so I would doubt you fit the 'ultra manly hetrosexual mold' lol!

But I do agree with you though, I don't think in stereotypes either. I will just assume a guy is straight, no matter how 'girly' or 'camp' they seem, until I actually see or have evidence of an interest in men. But I feel I'm pretty good at picking up signs like that.

About gay characters, I think any pompus, camp character has a chance of being bisexual or possibly gay. Wiggins is DEFINITELY gay, I think out of all the men in the Disney canon, he's probably the gayest.

I don't think the Duke was, I'm sure I remember him getting flustered by women and taking a good look at Cinderella. I don't always think 'a bit camp and silly = gay.' Most of the male sidekick characters have a bit of silliness and campness to them. Just depends on whether they show actual 'gay' tendencies or not.

I think flower might be bisexual, I always wondered if he was a girl at first, but he could likely be bisexual.

Then Tod and Copper, I dunno, I suppose their relationship is the closest Disney will ever get to a 'romance' for men. Their relationship was the A relationship in the film which made a nice change. You could always say they had a strong bromance, but yes it's quite possible they were bisexual.

But that film just breaks my heart, I simply can't watch it. The moment, when the old widow takes Tod away, I'm gone. Seriously, I'm gone.

[David S.]

But that film just breaks my heart, I simply can't watch it. The moment, when the old widow takes Tod away, I'm gone. Seriously, I'm gone.

That's how I feel about the tragedy that occurs midway through Bambi, although I absolutely LOVE the first half. But yes, I agree, that scene in FotH is a real heartbreaker as well.

[Goliath]

Well you have Hercules and Aladdin kissing in your avi, so I would doubt you fit the 'ultra manly hetrosexual mold' lol!

Yeah, I did that after I saw some nasty comments at the beginning of this thread. I know as a straight person, I am 'supposed to' be grossed out by the sight of two men kissing, but I don't think of it any differently than a man and a woman kissing. I do prefer two girls kissing, though. Which I am 'supposed to' as a stereotypical straigh man. So that's where I 'compensate'.

[Prince Edward]

As a gay Disney-fan I think it would be great to see some gay Disney characters in the future, and I also think it's interessting to discuss characters that might be gay.

I know that gay people comes in all shapes and sizes, and that the sterothypes are wrong. Because of that, I don't automatically assume that every "feminine" male Disney character is gay. People talking about gay people like we are all the same are provoking. We are all individuals, we are individual humans first and foremost, not a group based on our sexual orientation.

Straight people will never understand the feeling that I as a gay man have: In very few (Disney) movies, series and books do I get to see gay people like myself. If they are featured, then they are usually there for silly comedy. To get to see a male main character (that is gay) fall in love with a guy and for them to live happily ever after, is always something I love.

[WarriorDreamer]

Yeah, I did that after I saw some nasty comments at the beginning of this thread. I know as a straight person, I am 'supposed to' be grossed out by the sight of two men kissing, but I don't think of it any differently than a man and a woman kissing. I do prefer two girls kissing, though. Which I am 'supposed to' as a stereotypical straigh man. So that's where I 'compensate'.

If you had a problem with seeing two men kissing I'd think there's something wrong with you, as a straight man.

But I always have a problem with people making guys gay and in love in fanfic and stuff.

Not because they're making them gay, but because they're changing their identity, and therefore almost disrespecting the original character.

[Disney's Divinity]

But I always have a problem with people making guys gay and in love in fanfic and stuff.

I find a lot of those stories are much more creative than the generic, obligatory love stories of most films.

Also, doing so is practically the only way those who would like a gay romance would get it, because there is very rarely a mainstream film with gays that aren't just handbags for some heroine. And there's no guarantee everybody will love the characters/story of the few films that do get made, which is why fanfiction makes it much easier to use stories/characters that a person actually likes. I don't write fanfiction, but I do read it and I'm glad it exists, personally. There are plenty of bad fanfics, but some very good ones, too.