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Using gaydar on The Disney Channel
Which Disney Channel character is gay? Could it be the hat-wearing Ryan, brother of the fabulous Sharpay, in the High School Musical films? Or perhaps one of the many other fun and feisty characters in one of the networks' many series, movies or cartoons?
Gary Marsh, Disney Channel's president of entertainment isn't about to tell.
"There have been characters on Disney Channel who I think people have thought were gay," he hedges at Thursday's (July 17) TCA panel for the channel's latest original movie Cheetah Girls One World. "That's for the audience to interpret."
So although he's not about to "out" any of his characters, he says the channel doesn't have a specific policy of portraying being gay (not that there's anything wrong with that).
"As I say, we don't really look to do anything in particular. We look for what the material demands," says Marsh. "What we're about is telling a great story, a relevant story, a story that addresses the needs, concerns, dreams, and aspirations and hopes of much of our audience. That's my goal. However we get at that, that's my goal."
Methinks Disney is long overdue for a Prom-themed movie where the protagonist guy/girl is at a loss for a date, but overlooks his/her same-sex best friend until their eyes are opened to the possibilities. Or at least a re-imagining of that great Paul Reiser sitcom My Two Dads. I'll take either.
Regardless of their inclusion of possible gay characters, Disney is doing just fine in the ethnic diversity department. The Cheetah Girls panel includes a range of types including Indian, Puerto Rican, African American, Caucasian and the catch all, Other.
This racial rainbow on the stage and in Disney programming is no fluke.
Marsh explains: "Honestly, it's very simple. We think about it. We work at it. We talk about it. It is not something we ignore. It's something we actively engage in and embrace on every single project.
"There's a great story I'll tell briefly,' he continues. "We had a project which I won't give you too much detail. I don't want to reveal who it's about. There's a project where there was a family in it, and I decided just because of the rhythm of where we were it made sense to cast this as an African-American family, and the producers said to me, 'But I didn't write it for an African-American family.' I said, 'Here's the beauty of it. You don't have to change a word.' It's making an affirmative effort to change the way television looks. If you do it, it's very easy to accomplish. If you ignore it, status quo."
Cheetah Girls One World, premiering on Friday, Aug. 22, stars Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams as the titular best friends/singers who are pursuing their showbiz dreams in Mumbai by starring in a Bollywood movie.
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Do you think any characters are gay on the Disney Channel? Which ones?
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| Jul 18, 2008 6:07:56 PM | #"Methinks Disney is long overdue for a Prom-themed movie where the protagonist guy/girl is at a loss for a date, but overlooks his/her same-sex best friend until their eyes are opened to the possibilities."
This is a joke, right? I mean, you must realize how many bigots would flip out, and rant about how their precious snowflake mustn't be exposed to anything their pastor tells them is different and thus wrong. Disney isn't stupid - homophobes are usually low class, and thus tend to have lots of children. This is a big portion of their audience.
Kublai | Jul 19, 2008 11:54:01 AM | #Walt must be rolling over in his grave.
Chris | Jul 20, 2008 9:50:14 AM | #No, I bet Walt is happy as heck that Disney has become what it has. A PLACE FOR EVERYONE!
Baby B | Jul 21, 2008 10:57:43 AM | #Baby B, you don't know what you are talking about. Walt would definitely be rolling over in his grave. The man was a known anti-semite & an early follower of the Nazi Party.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdisneyfascist.html
Raymond | Jul 21, 2008 2:52:55 PM | #That is a coomon myth about Walt. Do your homework and you will find out he was not an anti-semite.
What the heck is up with this comment? "Disney isn't stupid - homophobes are usually low class, and thus tend to have lots of children." Talk about being intolerant. So low class means you usually have more kids. Having a lot of kids is not a bad thing.
I think it is great that Disney Channel has lots of different races of people. I am glad they don't have the "gay" kids or the "Native American" kids, etc. They just tell stories and have different people in it. We do not need to know who is or isn't gay. That takes the focus away from the story. If you want to make being gay the story then there are other channels to see that on.
Nathan | Jul 29, 2008 12:16:24 PM | #Nathan, I think you suck big fat cocks!
what | Jul 29, 2008 12:35:26 PM | #I find it hilarious that a conversation about the Disney channel has devolved into.. well, see the last comment.
Billiam | Jul 29, 2008 2:56:20 PM | #I completely agree with Billiam,anyway, i don't think it matters what color a person is, or if they are gay or not it's what is on the inside that counts.
;) That was just too corny. :)
Justin | Aug 14, 2008 8:56:03 AM | #GO HOME FAG
Jacob | Dec 31, 2008 8:05:24 PM | #y dont u have a spaish princess at least one because to us that iz a little un fair that thier are white,china,black and Indian so were is the spaish princess
Debroh Ducasse | Apr 22, 2009 4:10:14 PM | #
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