Western Journal
It was only a matter of time.
The Walt Disney Company is bringing bisexuality to its Disney Channel children’s cartoons with the recent revelation that the lead character in the animated series “The Owl House” is a 14-year-old Dominican-American girl who is attracted to both women and men, according to CNN.
The announcement came last week on Twitter, when Dana Terrace, creator of the show — which follows Luz’s misadventures attempting to learn witchcraft despite a distinct lack of magical ability — addressed romantic involvement between the main character and female friend, Amity Blight, on a previous night’s episode.
“In [development] I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast. I’m a horrible liar so sneaking it in would’ve been hard,” Terrace wrote on Twitter.
“When we were greenlit I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could NOT represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the Channel.”
According to Terrace, however, who identifies as bisexual herself, the network relented after consistent pressure from the creator and her team to see bisexual individuals represented in animated form.
“I’m bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit!” the creator wrote. “Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership. (Thank you @NashRiskin and team!) Not to mention the amazingness of this crew.”
“Representation matters! Always fight to make what YOU want to see!” she added.
“As [Owl House] continues I can’t wait to explore things that are important to me and my crew.”
What else there is left to “explore” in children’s television after bisexuality? I hesitate to ask.
Then again, the social justice left’s war on cultural norms knows no end. The goalposts are always moving, a new supposed civil rights battle is always in the wings following the previous victory.
That said, I can only imagine what they’ll have in store for America’s children next — an anthropomorphic rabbit’s cartoon gender transition, perhaps?
Either way, fellow liberal creators and cultural figures were quick to loft praises upon the announcement, as well as Terrace’s tweets on the matter.
“Owl House” voice actor and former Disney animator Alex Hirsch, who created the network’s smash-hit “Gravity Falls,” was one such creator, tweeting in celebration of what was apparently a glorious victory as well as taking a bitter hatchet to the network over its previous unwillingness to introduce gay cartoon characters.
“Back when I made [Gravity Falls,] Disney FORBADE me from any explicit LGBTQ+ [representation],” Hirsch said. “Apparently ‘happiest place on earth’ meant ‘straightest’ But as of today, thanks to @DanaTerrace & team there are explicitly queer ANIMATED MAIN CHARACTERS on DISNEY TV.”
“Im so proud & happy to say that,” Hirsch added.
“In 2012 the Disney censor note on this image would have been: ‘inappropriate for channel, please revise, call to discuss’ (to avoid a paper trail) Now in 2020- there’s no note at all. Props where props are due! This time, Disney- you did good.”
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