Bi Lead Character Arrives at Disney
“Owl House” joins “Onward,” “Out” in animated productions
BY MATT TRACY
“The Owl House,” an animated
television series focused on a
teen girl who steps into another
world, marks Disney’s fi rst
show with a bisexual lead character.
Luz, 14, is seen displaying attraction to boys
in earlier episodes of the show, which premiered
in January of this year. Luz eventually begins
to grow closer to another female character, Amity,
who is seen dancing with her.
Dana Terrace, the show’s out bisexual creator,
got candid on Twitter as she recalled the
speed bumps she encountered when trying to
introduce a bi character.
“In development I was very open about my
intention to put queer kids in the main cast,”
Terrace explained. “I’m a horrible liar so sneaking
it in would’ve been hard haha. 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. I’m bi! I
want to write a bi character, dammit! Luckily
my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY
TWITTER/ @DANATERRACE
Luz (right), dancing with Amity, became Disney’s fi rst bisexual lead
character in the show “The Owl House.”
supported by current Disney leadership.”
Terrace added, “Representation matters! Always
TELEVISION
fi ght to make what YOU want to see!”
The character’s bisexual identity is a refreshing
development considering the lack of queer
representation in animated television during
recent years. GLAAD’s report on diversity in
Hollywood productions found that there were
two LGBTQ-inclusive animated and family
fi lms last year, and GLAAD’s 2019 Studio Responsibility
Index found that animated movies
produced by major fi lm studios had no LGBTQ
characters at all in 2018 for the fi rst time in fi ve
years.
“The Owl House,” which has logged one season
and been renewed for a second one, joins
some other Disney productions featuring queer
characters. In Disney’s animated fi lm “Onward,”
released earlier this year, Lena Waithe
plays the voice of a lesbian character, while a
gay character also stars in the comedy/ drama
television series “Andi Mack.”
Disney/ Pixar also brought viewers a nineminute
animated short fi lm called “Out,” which
focused on a gay man who struggles with his
sexuality as he navigates life with his boyfriend,
Manuel.
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