Same-Sex Affection Censored by Disney According To Pixar Employees

Employees at animation studio Pixar that is owned by the Walt Disney corporation are demanding the company to immediately stop funding politicians that support HB 1557/SB 1834, which would ban the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade by school officials and third parties, and allow parents to sue districts over violations.

They also allege that Disney corporate executives have demanded cuts from “nearly every moment of overtly gay affection… regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.”

In a statement they:

Called out Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s staff memo addressing the company’s public silence around Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Specifically, the group is demanding that Disney stop funding politicians that support HB 1557/SB 1834, which would ban the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade by school officials and third parties, and allow parents to sue districts over violations.

The statement puts forth that even as employees have attempted to make inclusion a bigger focus in their work, Disney corporate has “shaved down to crumbs” what representation they put forth. “Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar. Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it. Beyond the ‘inspiring content’ that we aren’t even allowed to create, we require action.”

The statement that fictional inclusive content could counter political legislation has been a particular sore spot for LGBTQ employees of the company, including Pixar staff, who say, “Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it.”

“Beyond the ‘inspiring content’ that we aren’t even allowed to create, we require action,” the statement begins. The unsigned letter goes on to state that despite Disney’s claim that it supports inclusive content, it has in some ways only recently begun to show support for the community.

The Pixar employees statement goes on to challenge Chapek’s memo claim that statements “do very little to change outcomes or minds,” citing Disney’s recent statement on Ukraine. “Eight days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Disney paused the release of theatrical films in Russia and announced, ‘We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation.’ Following the siege on the capital in 2021, Disney stopped all political donations to members of Congress who had objected to the presidential election results,” the statement says.

It additionally addresses Disney’s 2016 stance on Georgia’s controversial Religious Liberty bill, in which the company, then headed up by Bob Iger, declared it would “plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law.”