Is Disney Princess Elsa a lesbian? That’s what many fans of the “Frozen” character seem to think - and they’ve started a movement on social media to have the film’s highly anticipated sequel include a female love interest for the icy lady.
The hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend is trending on Twitter this week as moviegoers wonder why Disney neglects to feature LGBT characters in its flicks.
This movement comes on the heels of the recently released GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index, which mapped the “quantity, quality and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in films released by seven major motion picture studios during the 2015 calendar year.” Disney failed for the second straight year, having released 11 films last year in which not a single character - major or minor - was considered a member of the LGBT community.
“Of all the studios tracked in this report, Walt Disney Studios has the weakest historical record when it comes to LGBT-inclusive films,” GLAAD said in its report. “For the first time since beginning this report, GLAAD did not find any LGBT-inclusive content among Disney’s yearly slate of films. As recent successful animated films and TV programs have shown (Oscar-nominated “ParaNorman,” Cartoon Network’s “Steven Universe”), LGBT people appearing in ‘all-ages’ programming - animated or not - is not the impossible notion it once was. LGBT people are already part of families and communities around the world, and film of all genres should reflect that.”
So, out of all the Disney characters, why do people think Elsa is gay?
1. “[Elsa’s]... journey of acceptance with her powers has widely been interpreted as a metaphor for coming out,” writer Clarisse Loughrey said. Many in the LGBT community relate to Elsa’s fear of allowing herself to be who she truly is and also think she is hiding much more than her ability to freeze objects.
2. Elsa’s breakthrough song in “Frozen” is “Let It Go,” which has become a coming-out anthem because of its empowering lyrics.
3. “Frozen” is considered one of the more progressive Disney features as it doesn’t contain a prince saving a damsel in distress, instead relying on the strengths of two independent women (Elsa and her sister Anna).
Read some fans’ tweets below:
#GiveElsaAGirlfriend
Because I want this:Kid: so you have two mommies?
my kid: yes
Kid: so like Elsa & ___
my kid: yes
Kid: that's cool!— chelsea (@McDebnam) May 1, 2016
Making a kids movie with a queer character won't make your kids gay it will teach them that love comes in many forms #GiveElsaAGirlfriend — jade || 80 (@DROPDEADDlXON) May 1, 2016
#GiveElsaAGirlfriend because half of Frozen is one big metaphor for being in the closet, getting outed, and coming to terms with yourself...
— Dana Addams (@TheDanaAddams) May 1, 2016
A gay Disney princess would have helped me feel so much more normal when I was younger. Representation is important. #GiveElsaAGirlfriend — jordan (@thejordanthrash) May 1, 2016
“Frozen 2” is currently in production. A release date has yet to be set.
