Gravity Falls Creator Outs Prior LGBTQ+ Censorship at Disney; Policy Changed with The Owl House
Image via @_AlexHirsch on Twitter
Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch spoke out on Sunday about Disney’s prior policy to censor any “explicit LGBTQ+” representation, through a series of tweets.
“Apparently ‘happiest place on earth’ meant ‘straightest,’” Hirsch added in the tweet. “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.”
This follows the recent revelation that at least one of the characters in the currently running Disney Channel series, The Owl House, is bisexual, reversing the company’s traditional policy of censoring any non-heterosexual relationships. The Owl House’s creator, Dana Terrace, is bisexual and currently dating Hirsch.
Gravity Falls, which ran on the Disney Channel from 2012 to 2016, features two male cops, Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durland, who heavily hint throughout the series at a potentially romantic relationship. Hirsch has confirmed the two characters were in fact in a gay relationship, but that Disney wouldn’t let the team explicitly confirm it in the show itself.
“In 2012 the Disney censor note on this image would have been: ‘inappropriate for channel, please revise, call to discuss’ (to avoid a paper trail)” Hirsch added in a follow-up tweet. “Now in 2020- there’s no note at all. Props where props are due! This time, Disney- you did good.”