14 Asian and Middle Eastern Nations Ban ‘Lightyear’ Movie Because Of Gay Scenes

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Since its creation, Disney’s Pixar has targeted children between the ages of one to ten years with its initial films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life.

Pixar’s most recent movie “Lightyear” features a same-sex couple and the same-sex scenes that violates rules in some countries.

In the Middle East and Asia, at least 14 nations have banned the movie. Most countries that have banned the film refuse to comment on their justification.

However, the United Arab Emirates confirmed that their ban is related to the same-sex scenes that violate their media content standards.

In the animated movie, astronaut Buzz Lightyear is friends with a gay woman who is in a relationship with another woman.

Homosexuality remains outlawed in some countries.

“Lightyear” is set to be released on June 17. Producer Galyn Susman said she expects that the film will also be banned in China.

The communist-controlled country has not released an official decision.

“We’re not going to cut out anything, especially something as important as the loving and inspirational relationship that shows Buzz what he’s missing by the choices that he’s making, so that’s not getting cut,” said Susman.

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Chris Evans, who stars as the voice of the title character, also commented on the censorship.

“It’s great that we are a part of something that’s making steps forward in the social inclusion capacity, but it’s frustrating that there are still places that aren’t where they should be,” Evans said to Reuters.

In March, a report said that the film’s producers restored the scene of a same-sex kiss in the movie after several employees complained in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Parental Rights in Education law in Florida.

Other movies have been banned over their LGBTQ scenes, including “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “West Side Story,” and “Eternals.”