New Beauty And The Beast Film To Feature First Gay Disney Character

Tale as old as time celebrates a different kind of love. Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast will feature its first gay character. Its director Bill Condon, who is also openly gay, says that Gaston’s sidekick LeFou will have an exclusive gay moment. Most people would remember Lefou as Gaston’s tiny and loyal sidekick in the original movie.

Josh Gad’s LeFou, confusing feelings for Gaston

LeFou spends his screentime in the original movie groveling to Gaston’s feet and praising him along with the other villagers. For the live-action, his admiration for Gaston could mean something else entirely.

Condon says that 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. This would be portrayed with an exclusive gay moment Condon tells the British magazine Attitude, representing a scene about same-sex attraction as something natural and normal.

LeFou’s character arch struggling with his feelings for his heterosexual friend marks a milestone in queer visibility.

Disney continuing LGBT representation

Disney is continuing its progress with diversity and representation on its main channel. Along with the news about LeFou, Disney channel released an episode of Star vs. the Forces of Evil. This subtly featured cartoon same-sex kissing. Disney will not cling to the past in the retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Instead of portraying LeFou as a bumbling sidekick of Gaston, he could be a character people would root for and relate to.

Beauty and the Beast would still focus on Belle and the Beast. Including an LGBT character in a classic Disney tale is a great step for both the company and Hollywood. With a story about loving someone beyond appearance, the addition of a gay character shows that love has no rules or limits. According to Candon, Josh Gad’s portrayal would be subtle and realistic.

Beauty And The Beast is set to hit theaters on March 17th.