As Marvel Studios looks to kick off its 2022 content schedule in a couple of weeks with Moon Knight, its parent company, Disney, finds itself in a shroud of controversy. The Hollywood megalith has had accusations lobbied its way in regard to Florida's 'Don't' Say Gay' bill. Until recently Disney had remained silent on the matter of the prejudiced piece of lawmaking, and fans were not happy.
The 'Don't Say Gay' bill has made headlines in recent weeks all over the world, as Florida looks to remove any mention of gender identity or sexual orientation from public school. And as Disney houses a large share of its organization in the state, fans (and employees) were expecting a response from the company on the overtly anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation.
Pair this with PIXAR employees coming saying that Disney has shot down any and all overtly gay representation in their projects, and a lot of people especially in the queer community) have begun to think about where they stand with their favorite movie studio.
But the problem does not seem to encompass all that is under the Disney umbrella. In a recently deleted tweet, an artist working at Marvel Studios praised her higher-ups for their stance when it came to standing with the LGBTQIA+ community.
And now, Marvel Studios themselves have spoken up on the matter, showing fans that their movies, TV shows, and overall fandom are no place for hate.
Marvel Stands with LGBTQIA+ Community
Marvel Studios tweeted publicly denouncing legislation that "infringes on basics human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community."
This comes as Disney finds itself in a controversy surrounding the company's silence in terms of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill.
Their release says that Marvel Studios "stands for hope, inclusivity and strength" with a pledge "to continue [their] strong commitment as allies" who use their platform to "promote the values of equality, acceptance and respect:"
"We strongly denounce any and ALL legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Marvel Studios stands for hope, inclusivity and strength; and we proudly stand with the community. Today, we pledge to continue our strong commitment as allies who promote the values of equality, acceptance and respect."
The MCU Accepts All
Of course, Marvel Studios has been pretty good in recent years in showing their commitment to representation and standing up with under-represented communities in their on-screen work. And one would guess many knew where they stood when it came to the 'Don't Say Gay' bill in Florida.
However, it means a lot to have them publicly make a statement like this. To some, what may seem like a simple tweet, actually holds a lot of weight. This is one of the biggest names in Hollywood history coming forward and saying they are an accepting place where everyone can feel welcome.
In a fanbase that is so diverse, featuring large swaths of people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, it is nice to see that one of the big dogs is stepping up to fight for them.
It will be interesting to watch though where Marvel Studios goes from here. It is amazing that a statement has been made, but what does the follow-up look like? The on-screen representation is fantastic, but what sort of real-world action will come of this.
When Marvel Studios/Disney makes a big move, the world watches. If they wanted to throw around their coin purse and make a significant difference they certainly could. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has already said he is making a large donation to LGBTQIA+ causes.
Disney and its studios have the power to make a significant change, they just have to actively want to do it.
