Lightyear Writer Defends Same-Sex Kiss Scene Amid Controversy
The writer behind Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story spinoff, Lightyear, reacts to criticism over its inclusion of a same-sex kiss scene between two female characters that resulted in the movie being banned in several countries, including Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, and Egypt. This also sparked significant internal debate at Disney over the company’s overall handling of LGBTQ+ issues.
In late August, rapper Snoop Dog opened up about his discomfort watching the movie with his grandson and questioned the LGBTQ+ representation in children’s media, which received backlash from fans.
In a recent Instagram post, Lightyear‘s writer Lauren Gunderson defends the decision to feature Buzz Lightyear’s friend, Alisha Hawthorne and her wife on0screen. She shared that while working on the early versions of the script, it was “so natural” to give Alisha a female partner.
Even though it was a small detail in the movie, Gunderson knew it was a “big deal,” and she was proud that the “happy queer couple” made it to the final version, which she had little to do. In response to the criticism, she stressed that “love is love,” and the relationship isn’t part of the fiction elements. Read her comment below:
So. I created the LIGHTYEAR lesbians. In 2018, I was a writer at Pixar – such a cool place, grateful to work there, learned a ton from kind and impressive creatives. As we wrote early versions of what became LIGHTYEAR, a key character needed a partner, and it was so natural to write ‘she’ instead of ‘he.” As small as that detail is in the film, I knew the representational effect it could have. Small line, big deal. I was elated that they kept it. I’m proud of it. To infinity. Love is love.
I was one of a few writers they had on it over the years, which is very common for screenwriting of course. I had very little to do with the final script. But I was proud to see a happy queer couple (even for a few seconds) onscreen. I know they got a lot of s*** for this inclusion, but stuff like this matters because beautiful love like this exists.
It’s *not* fiction. What IS fiction is Zurg and lightspeed space travel and murderous aliens and a talking robot cat (long live Sox).
What This Means For Lightyear’s Inclusion For Same-Sex Kiss
Lightyear has a PG rating, which suggests Parental Guidance, as the film may contain material not suitable for young children. While the rating doesn’t define the movie as inappropriate for children to watch without parental supervision, it strongly recommends parents screen it beforehand to determine whether it aligns with their children’s maturity level.
Movies with a PG rating, such as The Incredible 4, Up, and Elemental, feature on-screen kisses between characters, and are generally considered as appropriate. The kiss scenes also serve as an educational opportunity to teach children about boundaries and healthy relationships.
Gunderson’s comment points out how the same-sex scene serves as part of the non-fiction storytelling in Lightyear and how the depiction mirrors real-world relationships.
Our Take On Lightyear’s Controversial Kiss Scene
Lightyear Kiko and Alisha with their baby son
Same-sex relationships exist in the real world, but there’s an overall lack of conversation about it. Much like how age-appropriate kiss scenes allow parents to discuss affection and boundaries with their children, Lightyear offers children a chance to ask questions about different family structures and dynamics they see in daily life.
Lightyear‘s LGBTQ+ inclusion mirrors the real world, and it’s arguably the best part because of how natural the relationship between Alisha and her wife is. Unlike being forcefully inserted into a movie, theirs is a good example of representation done right. On the other hand, it’s also understandable that the scene might be considered inappropriate or offensive in certain cultures.
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