Five Disney Songs That Can Make Great LGBTQ+ Anthems

This month is LGBT History Month so to celebrate this, you can definitely expect some posts relating to LGBT issues from me this month.

For today’s post, I thought I would combine this with my love for Disney and share with you five Disney songs that I personally think can make great LGBTQ+ anthems.

‘Let It Go’ – ‘Frozen’

In the case of ‘Frozen’, it’s not even just the song that can be representative of being LGBT, but Elsa’s journey of embracing who she is and learning that she doesn’t have to hide anymore can ring true to a lot of people on the journey of coming out. ‘Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know’ are lyrics that really resonate with me and take me back to before I’d come out. I know I’m not alone in saying that before I came out, I didn’t even want to admit to myself that there could be a chance that I was Bi. I concealed it to the point where I wouldn’t admit what I was feeling – and I definitely didn’t let anyone know. Throughout the song, we see Elsa transform from the girl who had been taught to hide her true self into the Snow Queen who was now embracing who she was and felt empowered. This song is also special because at London Pride 2015, we all stood in Trafalgar Square together singing it at the top of our voices and in that moment, I remember feeling empowered like Elsa and I felt truly accepted for who I am.

‘Go The Distance’ – ‘Hercules’

‘Go The Distance’ represents Hercules finding that place where he feels he belongs and this is something that definitely resonates with people who are in the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re openly out or not; it can feel so isolating particularly if you’re surrounded by unsupportive, close-minded people. ‘I would go almost anywhere to feel like I belong’ is the feeling you get when you’re wondering where you fit in once you’ve come out. Questions arise in your mind such as: ‘where do I belong?’, ‘who do I fit in with?’. Hercules’ journey of feeling like an outcast but pushing through and his determination to find his place can be inspiring to people struggling with coming out to not only others but to themselves. It can be the assurance they need to know that they have the strength to find the people who will be waiting for them with love and acceptance in their hearts.

‘Reflection’ – ‘Mulan’

Mulan’s story can be relatable for many people in a number of ways. Her family want her to be one thing; but she just wants to be true to who she is whilst still not wanting to upset or disappoint her loved ones. This will be an all too familiar feeling with people trying to come to terms with who they are. We unfortunately live in a society where you’re straight and CIS unless stated otherwise and whilst we’re making progress; people are still made to feel ashamed of who they are. ‘Somehow I cannot hide who I am, though I’ve tried, when will my reflection show who I am inside’. I know for one I find myself relating to Mulan here particularly. I spent so much of my life trying to hide who I am and when I came out; that was my reflection showing who I am inside. I showed to the world that this is me and I can’t hide it anymore; nor should I feel like I have to.

‘Colours Of The Wind’ – ‘Pocahontas’

Through this song, we see Pocahontas introducing John Smith to her world and shows him that he can understand things for himself instead of relying on other people’s small minded, ill formed opinions. The song teaches that just because you don’t understand something; doesn’t mean that its wrong or bad. In our world, the judgements against LGBTQ+ people often lead people to not come out due to fear. ‘You can own the Earth and still all you’ll own is Earth until you can paint with the colours of the wind’ – the message here is loud and clear: open your mind and heart to everyone and everything around you and be more accepting. The song shows that people aren’t all the same but that doesn’t make a certain group of people better than another, based on sexuality, gender, race etc. Like Pocahontas taught John to open his mind; a lot of people in the world can do the same and be more accepting of others when they come out.

‘God Help The Outcasts’ – ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’

The prejudice is plenty in this film; both against Quasimodo and Esmerelda. There’s religious and ableist prejudice evident, and Esmerelda feels as though she cannot communicate with God due to people who tell her that He won’t accept her because of her “lifestyle”. This is definitely something people in the LGBT community can relate to. People are often shunned away from their religion, their home and their families because of the ill-informed opinion that God will not accept someone who is LGBTQ+. This is reflected in the lyrics ‘They tell me I am just an outcast, I shouldn’t speak to you’. Often when people come out, they can feel isolated and abandoned so many turn to God, ‘You made the outcasts, don’t cast them out’. Sadly, even in the 21^st Century, the LGBTQ+ community are still looked upon as outcasts and people in the community who are also religious turn to God for the love they don’t receive from those around them.

Disney has plenty of hidden LGBTQ+ messages within it, but I know I personally can’t wait for the day we get a film where an LGBTQ+ issue is completey normalised. Can you think of any other Disney songs that could be LGBTQ+ anthems?