Disney’s ‘Lightyear,’ With a Same-Sex Kiss, Faces a Backlash in Some Muslim Countries

Some parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East have banned Disney's new movie " Lightyear" because of a kiss between two women. There is an animated film opening this week.

According to officials in the Muslim-majority countries, Disney was asked to cut several scenes from the movie before it could be shown in local cinemas.

The chairman said that the film censors didn't want to be drawn into the debate over L.G.B.T. versus anti-L.G.B.T. That kissing scene is not easy to watch.

Disney didn't reply to many questions.

Disney's growing willingness to defend L.G.B.T.Q. people has made it a cultural lightning rod in the US.

The definitive origin story of the character Buzz Lightyear, who starred in the 1995 film "Toy Story" and several sequels, is described by Disney as "Lightyear."

The film focuses on the friendship between Buzz and Hawthorne. In a scene from the wedding of a woman to a man, she kisses her husband.

Disney's chief executive came under intense pressure from many of the company's employees to take a strong stand against anti-L.G.B.T.Q. legislation that was moving through the legislature in Florida.

The bill was signed into law by the governor of Florida. A privilege that Disney World had held for more than 50 years was revoked by the Florida House.

The international backlash to Lightyear has not generated much attention in the United States. It is a reminder for the company that there are cultural differences between the US and other countries.

The film "Lightyear" was not licensed for screenings in domestic cinemas in the U.A. because it had violated the country's "media content standards." The agency did not say anything.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Disney has been asked to change several scenes in the movie before it can be shown in cinemas.

The film censors in Indonesia flagged the kissing scene to Disney and were waiting for the company to send the finished film with subtitles. He said that they aren't rejecting the movie.

A movie with a homosexual kissing scene is not likely to be approved in Indonesia because of a new law that prohibits movies with "vulgar sexual activity" or sexual content that is "unreasonable".

There are gay, lesbian, and trans people in the world. Legislation in Malaysia is based on British colonial-era prohibitions against Muslims and non-Muslims. In Indonesia, where nearly 9 in 10 of the country's 270 million people are Muslim, some politicians have tried to associate L.G.B.T.Q. people with immorality.

The company that distributes Disney films in the Middle East did not respond to requests for comment.

As of Wednesday, it wasn't clear how the movie would perform in other countries. China and Saudi Arabia are major markets for Hollywood studios.

The authority in Singapore said that viewers should be at least 16 years old to watch the show. It described the film as the first commercial children's animation to feature overt homosexual depictions, and said that Disney had declined its suggestion of releasing two versions of the film.

While it is an excellent animated film set in the U.S. context, Singapore is a diverse society where we have multiple sensitivities and viewpoints.

Two people contributed reporting. Li You made a contribution.