In this years reboot of Disney’s classic animated film Beauty and the Beast to live-action, it’s more than just the strong visual effects and performances that will make a statement. It has been revealed to British gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, that the character of LeFou, Gaston’s right hand man will be openly gay.
It’s a first for Walt Disney Studio to feature an openly gay character in a fairytale film. While Disney has hinted at a few gay characters in the past, such as Oaken in Frozen, it has not come to fruition until now as LeFou’s sexuality will be prominent within the film. Director Bill Condon stated,
“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston, He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realising that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don’t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.”