On December 16, Disney announced a significant change in the storyline of its Pixar series “ Win or Lose », planned for February 2025. A transgender character, who was originally on the Pickles junior baseball team, had to share their story as a transgender person. However, after revisions, this character’s dialogue was modified to remove any reference to his trans identity.
According to Disney, this decision was made because they wanted to respect the wish of many parents to discuss certain topics with their children at their own pace: “ When it comes to animated content aimed at younger children, we understand that many parents prefer to discuss certain topics with their children in their own words, at a time that suits them “, explained the studios to the Hollywood Reporter.
Chanel Stewart’s reaction
The character, whose name has not been revealed, is now described as a “ straight, cisgender girl “, as stated by Chanel Stewart, the transgender actress who lends her voice to this role. Chanel Stewart, who applied in 2020 to Pixar’s announcement seeking a transgender actress, expressed his disappointment after learning of this decision.
She confided to Deadline that she was “ very dejected » upon hearing the news, emphasizing that she was “eager to share her story and help other young trans people feel powerful.” She added: “ Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard ».
The context of this modification
This decision comes in a climate of public debate over the management of the inclusion of LGBT characters in Disney productions, a subject which has sparked several controversies in recent years. In 2020, the film Ahead by Pixar was censored in some Middle Eastern countries and Russia due to its depiction of a lesbian character. In 2022, a lesbian kiss was also cut in Buzz Lightyear before being reinstated after internal protests from Pixar employees.
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