As much as everybody’s excited for Beauty and the Beast, it’s also met with much controversy. Particularly because of the reveal that one of their supporting characters is gay.
Earlier this month, director Bill Condon shared that there will be “an exclusively gay moment” between LeFou and Gaston. This also reveals that LeFou is gay and is actually in love with Gaston. Disney has fought for this scene, even opting to pull their film out of Malaysian cinemas rather than cut the subplot.
If you’re an avid fan of the film since the `90s, you’d actually notice how much LeFou admires Gaston. One would think that he’s simply admiring him, but listen to the song “Gaston.” He says that he’d like to be like Gaston and even kiss him. “LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,” Bill tells Attitude. “He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings.”
In hindsight, having a gay moment shouldn’t be taboo anymore. We’re now living in a time wherein LGBT issues are tackled more in the media. As Attitude editor-in-chief Matt Cain puts it, “By representing same-sex attraction in this short but explicitly gay scene, the studio is sending out a message that this is normal and natural—and this is a message that will be heard in every country of the world, even countries where it’s still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay.”
If you want to pick at something to be mad about the film, what about the fact that Belle was held captive by the Beast and was forced to fall in love with him (aka, borderline beastiality)? Don’t forget the fact that Gaston also smart shames and harasses Belle on a daily basis.
There are so many issues to be had in Beauty and the Beast. Having a gay subplot should not be a problem at all.
Screencap from Beauty and the Beast
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