Beyond the 'inspiring content' that we aren't even allowed to create, we require action. Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it. Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney's behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.
#GAY MEN KISSING VIDEO FULL#
We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were. It has been proven that Disney's corporate statements can and do make a difference.įinally, we come to the push for Content as the answer. By taking a stand, Disney directly affected the legislative outcome in Georgia. In 2016, Disney told the state of Georgia: 'We will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law' in response to the controversial Religious Liberty bill. Eight days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Disney paused the release of theatrical films in Russia and announced 'We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation.' Following the siege on the capital in 2021, Disney stopped all political donations to members of Congress who had objected to the presidential election results. However, the very email making this claim opened with a corporate statement regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The second claim stated that 'corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds'. To this end, it feels terrible to be a part of a company that makes money from Pride merch when it chooses to 'step back' in times of our greatest need, when our rights are at risk. Additionally, Disney began capitalizing on Pride in 2018 with The Rainbow Mickey Collection, (while de-emphasizing the terms like LGBTQ+ and not even featuring explicitly LGBTQIA+ pieces such as Pride flag pins until 2021). Disney has a history of shutting down fan-created Pride events in the parks, even removing same-sex couples for dancing together in the 1980's. It began with the claim that Disney has a long history of supporting the LGBT community, but Disney Parks did not officially host Pride until 2019, in Paris alone. Monday's email, 'Our Unwavering Commitment to the LGBTQ+ Community', rang hollow. In regards to Disney's financial involvement with legislators behind the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, we hoped that our company would show up for us. But Bashinsky wants the rest of the world to share them to raise awareness of homophobia in Russia.We are writing because we are disappointed, hurt, afraid, and angry. The videos still appear under ‘age-restricted content’ on YouTube in countries outside of Russia. Kissing in the video does not carry sexual connotations, which means video is allowed to be shown to a wide audience.’ Gay propaganda ‘The video does not violate the rules of YouTube. ‘There can be no other explanation,’ he said. ‘YouTube sends video restrictions alerts,’ Bashinsky explained how he learned of the video’s removal.īashinky believed YouTube removed the videos ‘because homophobic employees work in the Russian segment of YouTube’. Other social media platforms also banned the video. Russia must be a civilized and tolerant country.’īashinsky uploaded the videos on 30 December, 2018 onto YouTube and other social media platforms including Russia’s version of Facebook, VK.īut less than 24 hours later, YouTube removed the video on its Russian site.
‘For Russia, kissing a man a man is not normal. ‘(I made the video) to cultivate tolerance in our country,’ Bashinsky told Gay Star News. Those blindfolded did not know the identity of the people they were kissing, including their gender.Īfter the kisses, the people had to describe their reaction to the kisses and what they felt.
#GAY MEN KISSING VIDEO SERIES#
Roman Bashinsky launched his social justice channel Bashinsky Time (BT) to help promote tolerance in Russia and has more than 438,000 subscribers.Ī recent series of videos featured a blindfolded person kissing a range of people. The man behind a YouTube video that feature same-sex kisses is ‘sad’ they have been banned in Russia.