‘Beauty and the Beast’ features Disney’s first openly gay character, but not everyone is pleased

There will be some marked changes to the forthcoming live-action Beauty and the Beast. According to the director, the movie will break ground as Disney features an openly gay character.

Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, played by Josh Gad, will have a small subplot relating to his sexuality, Attitude magazine reported.

“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,” director Bill Condon told the magazine. “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 pay-off at the end, which I don’t want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.”

Attitude’s editor-in-chief Matt Cain called the LeFou plot-line “a watershed moment for Disney.”

“It’s only a first step towards creating a cinematic world that reflects the one in which many of us are now proud to live,” he said, according to Attitude. “But it’s a step in the right direction and I applaud Disney for being brave enough to make it - and in doing so hopefully helping to change attitudes and bring about real social progress.”

But social media reaction was mixed. While some people welcomed Disney’s move to be more inclusive, many were disappointed with the choice of Disney’s first gay character.

Twitter user Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) wrote: “Disney’s making its first gay character with LeFou and he’s a clownish sidekick who exists to prop up his straight best friend. Great job.”

User Jessica‏ (@xwithmywoes) wrote: “In regards to LeFou being Disney’s first openly LGBTQ character, it is bittersweet.”