Though circumstances are gradually getting better for the LGBTQ+ community, it is (unfortunately) severely lacking representation in media, especially the youth of the community. Still, many firmly believe in the importance of seeing yourself and others in media to show you are not alone. This is especially true for minority groups victimized by discrimination. It’s about time LGBTQ+ voices get the place in media that they deserve.

Disney Pixar’s newest computer-animated film Luca (2021) has not only made a statement for the company’s revenue, but has also warmed the hearts of thousands of fans. Director of Luca, Enrico Casarosa, has stated that the movie was inspired by his childhood on the Italian Riviera. He’s also explained, when confronted with numerous comparisons of his film to the coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me By Your Name (2017) and even mass amounts of LGBTQ+ youth viewers stating how they would have loved a relationship to have sparked between Luca Paguro (protagonist) and Alberto Scorfano (deuteragonist), that Luca is strictly a movie depicting close, platonic, pre-pubescent friendships. Casarosa stated during an interview for Polygon at VoxMedia© that he was, “really keen to talk about a friendship before girlfriends and boyfriends come in to complicate things,” thus shutting down any theories of it being Pixar’s first film with LGBTQ+ protagonists. However, the movie has been released for streaming on Disney+ (membership required) as of June 18, and people are thinking otherwise.

There are tons of moments in the film that viewers would say Luca and Alberto act particularly close, and seeing them share an innocent young-love would only add to the plot. Given that the two boys are already intimate throughout, it would be no chore for the filmmakers to go the extra step and make it canon, upfront. If there’s anything better than a coming-of-age adventure, it’s a coming-OUT adventure! 

Many people may strongly dislike an openly gay character existing in childrens movies, especially coming from a studio as large as Pixar, but many people will also be overjoyed to have that representation. Just as Grandma Paguro said, “Some people, they’ll never accept him. But, some will. And he seems to know how to find the good ones.”

Luca (2021) presented the perfect opportunity to include LGBTQ+ protagonists for the first time ever (we’re giving you the stink eye, Disney). Denying that would be denying the obvious. Such a massive multimedia conglomerate could be doing a lot more to better showcase realistic LGBTQ+ representation. If not to please the community who so desperately wants it (please babes), but to show a more inclusive world.

Sign this Petition to support Disney announcing Luca (2021) is canonically gay!