Disney took a major step in the right direction for LGBTQ representation on TV this week. A recent episode of Disney XD 's animated show Star vs. The Forces of Evil features not one, but two gay couples sharing a kiss.
The landmark scene in the episode titled "Just Friends," which was first pointed out by Mashable, is a montage of couples kissing at a concert set to a sweet song. First, we see two male characters lock lips. A few seconds later, we spot two women kissing. Both moments are very quick, which, in a way, only adds to the message Disney is sending: same-sex love is no big deal, people.
To see this on a kids show is extremely encouraging, if not long overdue. For a child watching the show, such a seemingly small scene could have a big impact. It both reflects LGBTQ children's identities back to them in a healthy way, and helps promote tolerance and acceptance of LGBTQ individuals.
People are not holding back their excitement. Fans have been sharing the screenshots on Twitter, praising the network for casually depicting LGBTQ love. One ecstatic tweet: "THERE WAS A ACTUAL GAY COUPLE KISS in one of the new episodes of star vs the forces of evil, IM LIKE SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!" Somebody else wrote, "This makes me all types of happy." Another pumped-up viewer tweeted, "Star vs.the Forces of Evil Just Friends gay kiss OMG DISNEY FINALLY GAY kiss canon."
If that's not clear evidence that representation matters, I don't know what is. Check out the video and some awesome Twitter reactions below.
SO THIS WAS IN THE MOST RECENT EPISODE OF STAR VS THE FORCES OF EVIL THANK YOU AND GOODBYE pic.twitter.com/kok5gtER7Q
— SCREAM (@GreatJman1999) February 23, 2017
Star vs the forces of Evil...
— Sô mó Triste (@aNiceDemon) February 27, 2017
10/10 pic.twitter.com/9I5ImghLxo
Disney just featured its first same-sex kiss on Star vs. the Forces of Evil! #LGBT #TV #Equality #LGBTHM17 https://t.co/bSc5GNMMS1 pic.twitter.com/u7S9pDwjho
— LGBTQReview (@LGBTQ_Review) February 28, 2017
This makes me all types of happy ❤️ Disney just aired its first same-sex kiss in Star vs the Forces of Evil - https://t.co/K5Uo2bkRku
— Andy Graham (@AndyGraham120) February 28, 2017
Just couples kissing :) (Gay kiss in Disney Cartoon, Star vs. The Forces of Evil) #lgbt #disney #StarVsTheForcesOfEvil #gay #yas pic.twitter.com/J0oajuQnOp
— Carlos Montesino (@carlos_moit) February 25, 2017
@RoundtableVids Star vs.the Forces of Evil Just Friends gay kiss OMG DISNEY FINALLY GAY kiss canon pic.twitter.com/kjZK2WKq7m
— malerfique (@malerfique) February 23, 2017
THERE WAS A ACTUAL GAY COUPLE KISS in one of the new episodes of star vs the forces of evil, IM LIKE SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!! pic.twitter.com/J8Y8ZRHnj5
— BitchPudding (@MagicalRedPanda) February 23, 2017
Disney just aired their fist same sex kiss on Star vs The Forces of Evil!!! Way to go @Disney #soproud #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/l5lJwc5Hvz
— OneCheekyChick (@OneCheekyChicky) February 28, 2017
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