Pixar introduces first lesbian character in new film Onward

Producer says a line of dialogue where the character self-confirms she identifies as queer ‘just happened’

Disney's Pixar has introduced its first self-identifying LGBTQ character in new fantasy film Onward.

The film about young elves (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) who discover a wizard’s staff features a lesbian character, Officer Specter – a cyclops police officer voiced by out actor Lena Waithe.

Rumours that Pixar would bring an LGBTQ character to the big screen were first circulated on Reddit four months ago, after a still from the trailer appeared to show a female couple.

Slate confirmed that Specter identifies as queer, citing a line of dialogue she delivers as she sympathises by a driver stressed by the behaviour of his girlfriend’s sons: “My girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out.”

Kori Rae, one of the producers of Onward, told Yahoo that the revelation “just happened”.

“The scene, when we wrote it, was kind of fitting and it opens up the world a little bit, and that’s what we wanted.”

“It’s a modern fantasy world and we want to represent the modern world,” director Dan Scanlon said.

Production companies, directors and producers have come under scrutiny in recent years for failing to include LGBTQ characters.

Onward also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Ali Wong, and Mel Rodriguez. The film is released on 6 March – read our review here.