In truly groundbreaking news, the new live-actionBeauty and the Beast (starring Harry Potter's very own Emma Watson) will feature an openly gay character. And trust: this is a first for Disney.
Meet Le Fou (played by Josh Gad), Gaston's trusty friend/sidekick, who—in an unexpected twist—has romantic feelings for him.
Condon continues, "By representing same-sex attraction in this short but explicitly gay scene, the studio is sending out a message that this is normal and natural—and this is a message that will be heard in every country of the world, even countries where it's still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay."
Considering Beauty and the Beast is set to be a giant box office win targeted largely toward children, this is a major moment for LGBT visibility.
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Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
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