Disney Channel to Introduce First Ever Gay Storyline

Disney Channel to Introduce First Ever Gay Storyline

by Ben Kew 26 Oct 2017

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/10/26/disney-channel-introduce-first-ever-gay-storyline/

The Disney Channel is set to introduce the children-oriented cable network’s first-ever gay storyline.

The storyline, set to air on Friday, will form part of the second season of the show Andi Mack and will explore the realization of a young male that he is attracted to one of his male classmates.

The series, which premiered earlier this year, is a coming of age comedy-drama, which details the life of 13-year-old Andi Mack as she deals with some bizarre revelations surrounding her family life. The median age of the Disney series’ viewers is 10 years old.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Friday’s episode will show how another 13-year-old, named Cyrus, confides his feelings for his classmate despite having a new girlfriend, which then jumpstarts his journey into discovering his sexuality.

“Andi Mack is a story about tweens figuring out who they are; Terri Minsky, the cast and everyone involved in the show takes great care in ensuring that it’s appropriate for all audiences and sends a powerful message about inclusion and respect for humanity,” a Disney Channel spokesperson said in a statement.

Joshua Rush, Asher Angel, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, and Sofia Wylie in Andi Mack (Disney Channel, 2017)

Joshua Rush, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, and Sofia Wylie in Andi Mack (Disney Channel, 2017)

The network’s policy also emphasizes the need for “stories that reflect acceptance and tolerance and celebrate the differences that make our characters uniquely wonderful in their own way.”

In developing the storyline, Disney sought advice from the non-governmental monitoring organization GLAAD, which analyzes the role of LGBT people in the media.

“With more and more young people coming out as LGBTQ, Andi Mack is reflecting the lives and lived experiences of so many LGBTQ youth around the country,” said GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Television reflects the real-life world, and today that includes LGBTQ youth who deserve to see their lives depicted on their favorite shows. Disney has been a leader in LGBTQ inclusion, and there are so many young people who will be excited to see Cyrus’ story unfold.”

Although Disney has featured multiple gay storylines in the past, this is the first one specifically aimed at a largely pre-pubescent television audience. Last year, fairy-tale drama Once Upon a Time featured a same-sex relationship, while the recent remake of Beauty and the Beast involved a gay character “confused about what he wants.”

Let’s connect the dots:

Hollywood Reporter

Eric Mika is the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Note: Matthew C. Blank is a director at the Creative Coalition, and a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation, the International Rescue Committee, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Harlem Children's Zone was a funder for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York (NY) mayor, and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Clifford S. Asness was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, supported same-sex marriage in New York, and is a director at the International Rescue Committee.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Sheryl K. Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign, and a director at the Walt Disney Company.

Disney Channel is a TV channel for the Walt Disney Company.

Michael D. Eisner was the chairman & CEO for the Walt Disney Company, and is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Walter Isaacson is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York (NY) mayor, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Matthew C. Blank is a trustee at the Harlem Children's Zone, and a director at the Creative Coalition.

Eric Mika is a director at the Creative Coalition, and the SVP for the Hollywood Reporter.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Shirley M. Hufstedler was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.

Kevin Jennings was an assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and the president & CEO for Be the Change.

Jon Schnur is a board member for Be the Change, and the chairman for the America Achieves.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the America Achieves, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Michael D. Eisner is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and was the chairman & CEO for the Walt Disney Company.

Overdeck Family Foundation was a funder for the America Achieves, and the Robin Hood Foundation.

John Overdeck is a co-founder for the Overdeck Family Foundation, and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Clifford S. Asness was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, supported same-sex marriage in New York, and is a director at the International Rescue Committee.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Sheryl K. Sandberg is a director at the ONE Campaign, and a director at the Walt Disney Company.

Disney Channel is a TV channel for the Walt Disney Company.