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Queer people are a demographic to be profited from like everyone else, so how much queer representation we see in mainstream media is frequently down to how much money there is to be made. It’s a cynical outlook to take, but in a world where we can be heralded as icons in fictional stories but still not afforded proper rights and support in reality, it’s sadly a necessary one.
I don’t feel like I’m exaggerating when I say I’m probably the most prolific journalist covering The Owl House in the world. I’ve talked with writers, directors, actors, artists and many other people involved in its creation because I have an undying passion for it, and a large part of that is because it’s so unabashedly queer. Taking place in a world without homophobia, the show has frequently set new benchmarks in television animation and what it means to tell queer stories to young audiences and even those far above them. All the queer stories Disney intends to tell now sit in its shadow, willingly or otherwise. And this brings me to Inside Out 2.
New emotions come in the form of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, the former two of which are played by openly queer actors Maya Hawke (Stranger Things) and Ayo Edibiri (The Bear, Bottoms) which only adds further fuel to the theory fire I’m about to throw us into. Adèle Exarchopoulos, who plays Ennui, was also star of Blue is the Warmest Colour, one of the most iconic queer movies in cinematic history.
Riley starts at a new school and immediately becomes infatuated by a new character known as Valentina “Val” Ortiz with a cute red streak in her hair and undeniably fruity energy. Riley is a mess of blushes upon introducing herself to the girl, and it seems much of the movie’s plot will revolve around Riley navigating the minefields of friendship, puberty, and growing up.
All with personified emotions who can help her get through this, but it won’t be smooth sailing. Riley has a crush on this girl, and it’s hard for me to read it any other way. We would all come to the same conclusion if it were a boy her age - all the signs are there. Whether these feelings extend beyond platonic boundaries isn’t a question I can answer.
She even fires off a pair of finger guns at one point in a fruitless attempt to impress Val, but it seems that throughout the course of the film, the two girls will grow closer and hit it off, either as friends or, as the internet has already pondered, something more romantic.
It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen Disney tackle a queer protagonist like this, and it’s also worth noting that Riley is one of the few characters presented with emotions of different genders, hinting that perhaps there is an aspect of fluidity to her identity yet to be revealed. Such things being explored throughout Inside Out 2 isn’t off the table, although no one in the first movie has any emotions besides the original five, so maybe the lore isn’t all that concrete.
According to the Oxford Languages, queerbaiting is ‘the incorporation of apparently gay characters or same-sex relationships into a film, television show, etc. as a means of appealing to gay and bisexual audiences while maintaining ambiguity about the characters' sexuality.’
Sherlock, Hibike Euphonium, and Once Upon A Time are just a few takes on the trope that spring to mind. Luca, yet another Pixar film, was heavily accused of forcing queer audiences on a ride with main characters Luca Paguro and Alberto Scorfano, whose relationship was subsequently confirmed as romantic several years later - so is it still queerbaiting in full context, or an example of coded messaging to tell a queer story around censorship? There are genuine examples of queerbaiting that have been written about time and time again, and there’s real substance to them, but I can’t say the same for Inside Out 2 right now.
My opinion on the new trailer is a predominantly queer one, but as a pansexual trans woman who writes about LGBTQ+ media for a living, of course I was going to come away with that. Even from major corporations like Disney, I still see myself in and celebrate representation such as this, especially if it gives hope to future generations or those still in the closet, or perhaps even lack a home environment that’s safe to embrace who they are.
Films like Inside Out 2 can help normalise those identities, whether we have to read through subtextual lines or not. Even if Riley’s queerness isn’t sworn into canon when the film releases in the early weeks of Pride Month, the vibes we’re drawing from the trailer still have value, and viewers are already capitalising on them with fan art, theories, and observations about exactly how something like Inside Out 2 could really serve a story about a central queer character.
This is my dream scenario at least, and it aligns oddly well with everything we’ve seen from the film so far too. The trailer isn’t queerbaiting you, fans are just making observations which ring the most true to them, looking at the actions, dialogue, and scenes presented to us and coming away with the conclusion that it might just be a little fruity. To say something queerbaits us should come with more serious connotations, not just thrown at every piece of mainstream art purely because we know it comes with ultimately capitalist intentions.
Because even movies and shows created by companies like Disney are brought to life by people in the trenches in pursuit of a creative vision, one where they want to be seen, heard, and push society in the right direction. In my experience, a lot of these people are queer, fighting against unfair systems to have their stories told in spite of everything.
Only time will tell whether Inside Out 2 is a queer story, and right now at least, it looks like it might be. But if it disappoints, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Or go back into the closet, whichever expression works best. I think there are more complex discussions to be had over queerbaiting than throwing every single bit of mainstream representation under the bus instead of digging deeper. Only then can we move forward.
Inside Out 2 And What It Means To Be Queerbaited
Disney’s relationship with queer representation is complicated. Recent years have seen the corporation improve with shows and films like The Owl House and Strange World, while also adding blink and you’ll miss it LGBTQ+ characters in Rise of Skywalker and Avengers Endgame before cutting them entirely for certain territories.Queer people are a demographic to be profited from like everyone else, so how much queer representation we see in mainstream media is frequently down to how much money there is to be made. It’s a cynical outlook to take, but in a world where we can be heralded as icons in fictional stories but still not afforded proper rights and support in reality, it’s sadly a necessary one.
Is Riley Queer In Inside Out 2?
Last week saw a new trailer released for Inside Out 2 which provides our greatest look at the film yet. As teased previously, the sequel is all about new emotions and new experiences for protagonist Riley, who is now a teenager and entering high school. She has braces, joins the hockey team, and wants to make new friends, even if it means leaving old ones behind.New emotions come in the form of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, the former two of which are played by openly queer actors Maya Hawke (Stranger Things) and Ayo Edibiri (The Bear, Bottoms) which only adds further fuel to the theory fire I’m about to throw us into. Adèle Exarchopoulos, who plays Ennui, was also star of Blue is the Warmest Colour, one of the most iconic queer movies in cinematic history.
Riley starts at a new school and immediately becomes infatuated by a new character known as Valentina “Val” Ortiz with a cute red streak in her hair and undeniably fruity energy. Riley is a mess of blushes upon introducing herself to the girl, and it seems much of the movie’s plot will revolve around Riley navigating the minefields of friendship, puberty, and growing up.
All with personified emotions who can help her get through this, but it won’t be smooth sailing. Riley has a crush on this girl, and it’s hard for me to read it any other way. We would all come to the same conclusion if it were a boy her age - all the signs are there. Whether these feelings extend beyond platonic boundaries isn’t a question I can answer.
She even fires off a pair of finger guns at one point in a fruitless attempt to impress Val, but it seems that throughout the course of the film, the two girls will grow closer and hit it off, either as friends or, as the internet has already pondered, something more romantic.
It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen Disney tackle a queer protagonist like this, and it’s also worth noting that Riley is one of the few characters presented with emotions of different genders, hinting that perhaps there is an aspect of fluidity to her identity yet to be revealed. Such things being explored throughout Inside Out 2 isn’t off the table, although no one in the first movie has any emotions besides the original five, so maybe the lore isn’t all that concrete.
Outside of short films, Pixar hasn’t explored queerness to this magnitude, and it would be a big step if it centres its biggest film of the year around a female protagonist coming to terms with her own LGBTQ+ identity. It would carry a strong and relevant message which young audiences need right now, while also flying in the face of critics who believe children shouldn’t be subjected to media like this. But what happens if it doesn’t tell this story? Is it fair to accuse Inside Out 2 of queerbaiting audiences?
Is Inside Out 2 Queerbaiting?
The term ‘queerbaiting’ is thrown around recklessly these days. This is largely due to how constant online discourse tends to be, and how critical queer audiences are of films, television, and other media claiming to represent them.According to the Oxford Languages, queerbaiting is ‘the incorporation of apparently gay characters or same-sex relationships into a film, television show, etc. as a means of appealing to gay and bisexual audiences while maintaining ambiguity about the characters' sexuality.’
Sherlock, Hibike Euphonium, and Once Upon A Time are just a few takes on the trope that spring to mind. Luca, yet another Pixar film, was heavily accused of forcing queer audiences on a ride with main characters Luca Paguro and Alberto Scorfano, whose relationship was subsequently confirmed as romantic several years later - so is it still queerbaiting in full context, or an example of coded messaging to tell a queer story around censorship? There are genuine examples of queerbaiting that have been written about time and time again, and there’s real substance to them, but I can’t say the same for Inside Out 2 right now.
My opinion on the new trailer is a predominantly queer one, but as a pansexual trans woman who writes about LGBTQ+ media for a living, of course I was going to come away with that. Even from major corporations like Disney, I still see myself in and celebrate representation such as this, especially if it gives hope to future generations or those still in the closet, or perhaps even lack a home environment that’s safe to embrace who they are.
Films like Inside Out 2 can help normalise those identities, whether we have to read through subtextual lines or not. Even if Riley’s queerness isn’t sworn into canon when the film releases in the early weeks of Pride Month, the vibes we’re drawing from the trailer still have value, and viewers are already capitalising on them with fan art, theories, and observations about exactly how something like Inside Out 2 could really serve a story about a central queer character.
Inside Out 2 And Mainstream Queer Representation
As I mentioned earlier - all of Riley’s mother’s emotions are female, while her fathers are male. There is a chance that Riley’s emotions extend gender boundaries because she is obviously the main character and thus warrants more depth, but what if it bears a stronger meaning? One the sequel is ready and waiting to unpack with its queer themes. Could we follow the emotions inside her head as they come to the same conclusions Riley is also trying to figure out - that she is a queer teenager who shouldn’t be ashamed of herself?This is my dream scenario at least, and it aligns oddly well with everything we’ve seen from the film so far too. The trailer isn’t queerbaiting you, fans are just making observations which ring the most true to them, looking at the actions, dialogue, and scenes presented to us and coming away with the conclusion that it might just be a little fruity. To say something queerbaits us should come with more serious connotations, not just thrown at every piece of mainstream art purely because we know it comes with ultimately capitalist intentions.
Because even movies and shows created by companies like Disney are brought to life by people in the trenches in pursuit of a creative vision, one where they want to be seen, heard, and push society in the right direction. In my experience, a lot of these people are queer, fighting against unfair systems to have their stories told in spite of everything.
Only time will tell whether Inside Out 2 is a queer story, and right now at least, it looks like it might be. But if it disappoints, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Or go back into the closet, whichever expression works best. I think there are more complex discussions to be had over queerbaiting than throwing every single bit of mainstream representation under the bus instead of digging deeper. Only then can we move forward.
