Posted on 07/02/2013 8:51:57 AM PDT by longtermmemmory
In an issue to go on sale in August, Archie Comics will feature a kiss between two openly-gay characters, Kevin and his boyfriend Devon. The gay kiss (because just like “gay marriage,” it can’t be just a “kiss,” right?) shows how much the 72-year-old Archie Comics company has evolved amid America’s cultural changes. The comic book company showed Riverdale resident Kevin Keller “coming out” as gay in a sold-out 2011 issue of its “Veronica” series.
The issue proved to be so popular that Kevin soon acquired his very own title series. With Kevin’s much publicized wedding last winter also selling out, and his first “on-panel” kiss likely to continue the trend, one wonders when the Walt Disney Company will follow suit and present its first-ever queer character. While there are a number of theories on the queer sexuality of various Disney icons, the animation giant has never featured an openly gay character in any of its multimillion dollar films or cartoons, let alone present a (genuine) same-sex kiss. When Disney movies do allude to queer sexuality, including same-sex romance, this is usually in the context of a joke — a comical accident that leaves all parties disgusted and mortified.
While some might point to Disney’s branding as “child-friendly” to explain its lack of representations of queer sexuality, a 2009 study by University of Michigan sociologists Karin Martin and Emily Kazyak found that far from being asexual, Disney films are steeped in sexuality — heterosexuality. According to Martin and Kazyak, the plot of Disney films overwhelmingly revolve around heterosexual romance. Heterosexual love — including, of course, the highly esteemed heterosexual kiss — is presented as “exceptional, powerful, magical and transformative.”
When Beauty and the Beast kiss, the entire kingdom transforms from winter to spring, with snow melting, flowers blooming and teacups, clocks and candlesticks magically returning to their proper human states. In The Little Mermaid, the so-called "kiss of true (heterosexual) love,” as deemed by Ursula, is so powerful that it is the only way Ariel can remain human. When Nala and Simba kiss in The Lion King, the act is so pivotal that it empowers Simba to change his mind and decide to fight to save his kingdom. In each of these moments, Disney teaches us that heterosexual love, particularly as expressed through the prized heterosexual kiss, is fantastical, transformational and sublime: It can revive a person from death, awaken someone from a deep sleep, bring together cultures and create literal fireworks.
Unfortunately, Disney cartoons teach us that the opposite is true when it comes to the queer kiss. Far from breaking spells and sparking fireworks, signs of queer sexuality generate only ridicule and disgust. When Timon and Pumbaa accidentally touch lips in The Lion King, both immediately appear stunned, horrified and even queasy. The opening scene of Princess and the Frog similarly remarks on the laughable nature of queer sexuality. When Tiana exits a street car, she leaves a would-be suitor to make an advance on the man who’s taken her place (see the 1:00 mark), causing the man to frown with deep disapproval and the suitor to ashamedly shrink away.
Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, which notoriously includes an allusion to a gay slur directed at an effeminate villain, and Toy Story, which mocks effeminate men, are similarly guilty of ridiculing queer sexualities. Toy Story 3 presents its Ken Doll character as the ultimate gay stereotype — a fashion-obsessed “metrosexual” who loves disco, campy clothing and wearing Barbie’s clothes. His effeminate appearance, demeanor, and mannerisms are persistently mocked by the other toys, thereby sending the message that men who violate gender norms are worthy of ridicule.
While Toy Story 3 includes jokes about Ken stealing Barbie’s scarf and even wearing her high heels, Disney’s Aladdin, Robin Hood, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Lilo and Stitch all include attempts for laughs at the expense of men attempting to pass as women. In protesting the transphobic, cross-dressing based sitcom Work It — which ran on ABC, a network owned by Disney — GLAAD issued a statement pointing out how such jokes “invite the audience to laugh at ... men trying to adopt a feminine appearance,” thereby “giving license to similar treatment of transgender women.”
At the same time that Disney films avoid presenting openly queer sexuality, particularly as anything more than a punchline, the company doesn’t shy away from attempts to profit from queer consumers. Since 1991, Disney has played host to the independently organized "Gay Days,” the so-called “world's most popular gay and lesbian celebration" which brings some 150,000 queer families to the Magic Kingdom each year. But if money is what Disney is after, the profits of Archie Comics’ foray into queer representations should have its execs seeing dollar signs. When Kevin Keller’s character debuted in 2010, the issue was so in demand that it led to Archie Comics' first-ever second printing. Even amid protests by the conservative group One Million Moms, the company’s 2011 issue featuring Kevin’s wedding also sold out, fetching prices up to $60 on Amazon. It would be surprising if its upcoming issue featuring Kevin and Devon’s much talked about kiss doesn’t follow suit.
According to Archie Comics, the company decided to include Kevin’s character as an attempt to keep up with the times. The CEO of Archie Comics, Jon Goldwater, has said that presenting queer characters and their plights helps the comic series stay current with “what's happening outside our windows and in our homes.” Indeed, queer visibility is consistently becoming a part of mainstream culture, such that President Obama recently — and ever so subtly — recognized same-sex couples in his commencement speech at Morehouse College. Yet even when the U.S. president openly supports gay marriage, 6 in 10 Americans say they have a gay friend, and the majority of Americans themselves approve of same-sex marriage, openly gay characters remain absent from the “wonderful world of Disney.” In signs of a clear demand for queer representations, many Disney fans have taken it upon themselves to queer their favorite Disney characters, creating portrayals of Disney same-sex kisses, reimaginings of Disney heroes as gay male models and even queerings of the most heterosexual of Disney tales.
"There have been characters on [the] Disney Channel who I think people have thought were gay," said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of the Disney Channel. But that’s all Disney feels it owes viewers: "[It’s] for the audience to interpret,” said Marsh, shaking off any role or responsibility in providing gay visibility.
This kind of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” philosophy of sexuality is a drastically different approach from that of Archie Comics, which recognizes and respects the significance — monetarily or otherwise — of presenting openly gay characters. “If Archie continued on in a bubble of nostalgia, [the series would] run the risk of becoming an anachronism,” said Goldwater.
Amid the country’s growing acceptance of queer sexualities, this is a risk that the Walt Disney Company appears fully prepared to take.
Showing that homosexual conduct is disgusting and unacceptable upsets the recreational deviancy crowd because it does not show their conduct as normal.
She bemoans how when a man truly loves a woman the world is a better place and good things happen.
NOTE: the homosexual activist (again communist?) is demanding Disney sacrifice profits for an unmarketable political agenda instead of telling those homosexuals to stay away from children and Disney products.
Renee Davidson is a feminist writer and activist living in DC.
Walt Disney is spinning in his grave over this crap. If Disney starts going homo in their marketing and products, you’ll see massive migrations away from them as a product label as a whole.
Disney has been heavily criticized by the homosexual lobby for their tacit and undefinable accessions to the queers as a whole. I believe the Pride crap they do once a year is a nose in the tent, and the faggots want to consume that tent and turn the Magic Kingdom into the Magic Queendom.
Just a minor point.
Plinkly in Lilo and Stitch is not even human and its gender is never declared in any way.
Its fine to point out when there is bias or agenda but, accuracy is important to0.
The gay kiss shows how much the 72-year-old Archie Comics company has deteriorated to the point the Archie Comic itself is no longer a comic - it is now just more pro-homosexual porn-trash.
There. All fixed.
I suspect that Disney, always conscious of their bottom line, is not going to repeat the JC Penney mistake.
Archie comics were dying off. They were desperate and since they were going to die off anyways someone with an agenda decided to take the whole series with them.
It is worth noting they have quaranteened the character into a seperate easily dumped book.
Only because it leads to unnatural families, unnatural sex, demonstrated shorter lifespans among men and activities that lead to potentially fatal STDs.
The leftist are now attacking Walt by declaring posthumously that he was a “michael jackson” of his time with regards to children.
Remember homosexuals don’t reproduce they molest.
He was an antisemite, that much is known, but back then, homosexuals were social pariahs. Walt being who he was would not, at least publicly, have supported gays in any way.
Renee Davidson is a lesbian.
(Now let’s see if she accepts being called a lesbian or if she complains about it like the hypocrite she probably is.)
another urban legend along with the forzen head urban legend.
The “telephone” game is played by unionists who screwed up Disney in California. That is one of the reasons he moved operations to Florida. It is also why many of the current layoffs are focused on dumping california labor.
Remember also the Obamacare regiration in california is run by SEIU. They will also register all signups as democrats.
Here is an idea. We need a “straight pride” day. Our flag can be the stars and stripes. Our song can be the National Anthem. Our manifesto can be the Constitution.
Let the intolerant scum of the left right us on it.
1776 day?
1776 5k?
1776 Ball? (as in formal and a swanky todo where people fight for the invite ticket)
A series of “I am a conservative” 30 sec (15?) spots with famous people IN THEIR OWN VOICES.
Perhaps even some unexpected conservtives (see adult film performer who went to republican fundraiser) hippie who sang at wodstock.
Buy use of beatles anti-revolution “revolution” song with montage of PC BS images.
“My name is John Smith, I have straight A’s, honor role, and a perfect SAT score but I was told my college of choice did not want me because the had a racist quota system. I worked hard all my school years only to lose my seat to a less qualified person just because some adult with a political agenda wants Quotas rather than quality.”
I am not giving Disney positive praise for anything! From what I understand, an upcoming episode of Good Luck Charlie will feature 2 gay mommies at a playdate. We have always watched Good Luck Charlie, but if this episode does air, which I believe is to be sometime this month, we’re done!
Hey they’re here they’re queer and I am used to it. So much that i call them that and when they say something I point out there stupid slogan.
Queer covers the whole gamut.
If they ever put a box for Queer in HR, I’m checking it and I dare them to prove otherwise. I want my free stuff. You can’t fire me, I’m queer.
It is not disney to attack in that situation, it is the advertisers.
Disney makes money merchandising. Anything that appears with that show’s images has become MONEY TOXIC.
I suspect, given the short life of some of their live person shows, it was going to cancel anyways and this was a producer last gasp.
Keep in mind one of the new vp at disneyworld operations is a homosexual. He tries to keep his private life off the radar but he is what he choses to be.
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