The appearance of Waithe’s character is so brief it almost doesn’t register. As I sat watching the film, I was already so invested in the characters and focused on the story. But then I heard her say, “my girlfriend,” and something in me froze. “?” I ask myself. Surely I’m hearing things. No way in the world did a female character in a Disney movie actually use the word girlfriend. But she did. It was a moment of solidarity I couldn’t have anticipated.
Officer Specter being an out and proud queer woman is a huge deal. But the fact that Lena Waithe does her voice is even bigger. Her unapologetic blackness matches her unapologetic queerness. As an out and proud lesbian, she’s done so much for black queer visibility in the last few years. Not only is it wonderful to see Disney’s Pixar making more of an effort to bring in actors of color — but making sure a lesbian actress voices a lesbian character is important.
Being an openly queer parent is super hard. Especially when it comes to representation in popular children’s media. Queer parents really don’t exist in most kid’s shows, movies, etc. Even though we’re very clearly out in the world and a part of our kids lives. Some people simply can’t see past their own prejudices. And unfortunately Disney often plays into those prejudices by keeping their stories so heteronormative.
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