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The Disney animated classic film Beauty and the Beast is about to get the live-action treatment, and it looks like things are about to get a whole lot gayer this time around.
It’s pretty obvious Gaston’s manservant LeFou is crushing on his hunky master. The film’s director says that not only will this crush be honestly portrayed in the live-action remake, there could be some closure to it as well during the film’s ending.
Director Bill Condon told Attitude:
“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston. He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don’t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.”
Attitude’s editor-in-chief Matt examines this:
“It may have been a long time coming but this is a watershed moment for Disney. 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.”
We are so excited that Disney is adding these gay narratives and portrayals to their work. Recently, the Disney channel showed a same-sex kiss in an episode of their animated adventure series Star vs. The Forces of Evil.
Whether in cartoons or on film, LGBT people need to have more visibility. Both of these moments are definitely steps in the right direction. We can’t wait to see Beauty and the Beast when it opens March 17.
For now, watch LeFou lust over his hunky master Gaston in this clip from Beauty and the Beast:
