Censorship against LGBT shows in Asia and the Middle East has hit a scene in Pixar’s newest movie, Lightyear, with a gay kiss between two female characters.
At least 14 countries that criminalize same-sex relationships have banned the animation, which is scheduled to be released on June 16, from being shown in theaters.
Qatar, which will host the next World Cup, is one of the countries that banned the screening of the famous children’s movie with the character of Buzz Lightyear, famous for its Toy Story animation.
Lightyear’s Censorship of the Middle East and Asia
Censorship in the country is a wake-up call for the journalists who will follow the competition at the end of the year and the fans who will watch the matches. The government, for example, signaled that rainbow flags would be vetoed among fans.
The film was banned there and has been released in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and United Arab Emirates, among other countries. According to Reuters, the manufacturer said it shouldn’t be shown in China either.
The children’s animation tells the origin story of Toy Story astronaut Buzz Lightyear. one of the characters Alisha Hawthorne is voiced by actress Uzo Aduba, who appears kissing her partner.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the crime scene. Last March, amid pressure from Disney for the company’s failure to publicly respond to Florida’s “Don’t Think Gay” law, LGBTQ officials from the company and Pixar issued a joint statement alleging that executives actively censor “open gay love” in their feature films. .
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According to Variety, the kiss with Lightyear was cut off and reinstated after the letter. However, the decision did not please everyone.
In the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Pixar animation was approved and announced to be shown in local cinemas, online ticket sales began.
The license was later revoked under pressure from religious groups who staged online protests demanding that the film be banned with the Arabic label “Prohibit Light Years in the Emirates.”
A statement posted on Twitter on June 13 confirmed the ban as a “violation of the country’s media content standards”.
“The Cabinet confirms that all films shown in theaters nationwide are subject to viewing and evaluation prior to their public release date to ensure the safety of content according to the appropriate age rating.”
The Office confirms that all films shown in theaters across the country are subject to follow-up and evaluation prior to their public release date to ensure the safety of circulating content according to appropriate age classification.
— مكتب تنظيم الإعلام (@uaemro) 13 June 2022
When asked by Reuters of his intention to make the changes to circumvent Lightyear censorship, animation producer Galyn Susman dismissed the possibility, although the scene was cut by internal decision.
“We will not cut anything as important as the loving and inspiring relationship that shows Buzz what he’s missing with his choices. It will not be cut.”
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Actor Chris Evans voices the main character in the animation and was critical of Lightyear’s censorship of the Middle East to Reuters.
“It’s great that we’re part of something that’s building the capacity for social inclusion, but it’s frustrating that there are places that haven’t gotten there yet.”
According to the movie’s website, Deadline, Disney productions have faced restrictions in Middle Eastern countries for references to homosexuality and the portrayal of religious figures. Among the contested films West Side Story, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and forever .
Qatar: World Cup in country that censored Lightyear
Qatar, which has a majority Muslim population, is a country that does not guarantee the rights of LGBT individuals and criminalizes homosexuality, even with the death penalty, like others that have banned Pixar.
Since it was announced that the country would host the 2022 World Cup, gay activists have expressed concern about the acceptance of LGBT tourists in the country.
Authorities have already announced that gay people will be “welcome” to the football match. However, kissing in public was once forbidden.
At a recent demonstration, an official from the Arab nation said that flags bearing the colors of the rainbow, a classic symbol of the gay community, could be confiscated from stadiums to “protect” fans.
In this scenario, sports journalists traveling to Qatar for the World Cup risk their news being influenced by the country’s government.
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The fear is not unfounded: In the latest Press Freedom Rankings by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Qatar was ranked 119th out of 180 countries.
The NGO attributed the situation to the constant censorship and repression faced by media professionals. Since 2014, a cybercrime law has criminalized journalists for spreading “fake news,” i.e. news against the government.
A group of Danish journalists declined to receive an award at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium this month to show that sports journalism is not indifferent to social causes.
Reason? The site is being touted by human rights activists as being built for slavery-like labor by the French company Vinci.
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source: Noticias
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