Queer fans of Disney have been waiting a long time for a leading LGBTQ+ character, and finally, they’ve got one! The new series “The Owl House,” which follows 14-year-old Luz Noceda, a Dominican-American girl who accidentally falls into an alternate world where she has to fight supernatural entities (witches! demons!) and forces of evil. The show had previously dropped hints that the lead character may be queer, but it was solidly confirmed in the latest episode.
Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) — who had previously shown interest in boys — seemed to be growing closer to one-enemy Amity (voiced by Mae Whitman) over the last few episodes. In the most recent one, however, it was discovered that Amity was planning to ask Luz to prom with her — and series creator Dana Terrace confirmed that at least one of the two characters is bisexual.
I’m bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit! Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership. (Thank you @NashRiskin and team!) Not to mention the amazingness of this crew.
— Dana Terrace (@DanaTerrace) August 9, 2020
“When I was first developing Owl House I always wanted to do a prom episode to make up for my own experiences,” she wrote on Twitter.
“In dev[elopment] I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast,” she continued. “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 supported by current Disney leadership. … Representation matters! Always fight to make what YOU want to see!”
Fellow queer Disney creator Alex Hirsch (”Gravity Falls”) retweeted Dana’s posts with an antidote of his own, noting that he was told there was no room for LGBTQ+ characters in a Disney show and that queer-seeming frames would be deleted so as to “avoid a paper trail.”
Back when I made GF Disney FORBADE me from any explicit LGBTQ+ rep. Apparently “happiest place on earth” meant “straightest” But as of today, thanks to @DanaTerrace & team there are explicitly queer ANIMATED MAIN CHARACTERS on DISNEY TV. Im so proud & happy to say that #OwlHouse https://t.co/AlxUlbcy5j
— Alex Hirsch (@_AlexHirsch) August 9, 2020
“Back when I made GF Disney FORBADE me from any explicit LGBTQ+ rep. Apparently ‘happiest place on earth’ meant ‘straightest,’” he wrote. “But as of today, thanks to @DanaTerrace & team there are explicitly queer ANIMATED MAIN CHARACTERS on DISNEY TV. Im so proud & happy to say that.”
