Pixar's 'Lightyear' was banned in 14 markets over a same-sex relationship, as Disney grapples with a history of stymieing LGBTQ representation in its movies

• "Lightyear" has been banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets over a same-sex kiss.
• It could also face an uphill battle for release in China, the world's largest theatrical market.

Disney and Pixar's "Lightyear," which comes to theaters this weekend, has been banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets over a same-sex relationship and kiss between a female couple.

A Disney spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. But a representative told the Wall Street Journal that the company "typically refuses to make cuts or changes that interfere with the integrity of a movie or that it views as inequitable."

The Hollywood Reporter reported in March that the same-sex kiss had been restored to "Lightyear" after being cut from the movie. Galyn Susman, a "Lightyear" producer, told The Mercury News in a recently published interview that Disney execs were "supportive" of the same-sex relationship, but "there was definite pushback" to the kiss.

Rommy Fibri, the chairman of the Film Censorship Board in Indonesia — one of the countries that banned the movie — told The New York Times that "Lightyear's" same-sex relationship could violate a law that bans "deviant sexual behavior" in movies, and that the kiss is "sensitive."

"Lightyear" is a spinoff of the "Toy Story" movies, depicting the story of the character Buzz Lightyear that inspired the toy.

The "Lightyear" bans highlight the obstacles movies featuring same-sex affection face in getting released in many international markets. They also shine another spotlight on Disney's depiction of LGBTQ+ themes in its movies, which came under scrutiny recently.

The bans follow fallout from Disney's messy response to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity at schools in kindergarten through the third grade.

Disney and its CEO Bob Chapek faced heavy criticism from staffers earlier this year over the company's initial silence on the legislation given the company's history of political donations in Florida, including to sponsors of the bill.

It prompted some to speak out on Disney's apparent history of hindering LGBTQ+ themes in its movies. Staffers at Pixar, the Disney-owned animation studio behind "Lightyear," accused Disney leadership in a March statement of demanding cuts to "nearly every moment of overtly gay affection" in its movies.

The same-sex kiss in "Lightyear" was only restored after the backlash from Pixar staffers, according to THR.

And three former staffers of the now-defunct animation studio Blue Sky, which Disney shut down last year, told Insider in March that Disney leadership had taken issue with a same-sex kiss in its movie "Nimona" (the movie has since been revived by Netflix for an expected 2023 release).

The movie could also be banned in China, the world's biggest theatrical market. "Lightyear" producer Galyn Susman told Reuters that China's film censors asked some scenes to be cut, which Disney refused.

If so, it would follow a string of Disney films that have been ousted from the region over controversies or release-date challenges.

China's crackdown has particularly impacted Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, which have typically performed well in the region ("Avengers: Endgame" is China's biggest Hollywood release of all time). No MCU film has been released in China since the pandemic began.

In the case of Pixar, the lack of a China release may not be as damaging to the movie's overall global box office. "Toy Story 4" earned just $29 million there, a small percentage of its total $1.07 billion worldwide gross.