Kelly Marie Tran Says Her Disney Princess, Raya, is Gay

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raya and the last dragon

Both Images: Credit DInsey

If you went to the movie theaters or paid for Disney+ Premier Access to watch Disney’s latest animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon, this weekend, you weren’t alone.

Related: Will Disney’s ‘Raya’ Be Added to Animal Kingdom Park?

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Credit: Disney

The newest Walt Disney Animation Studios movie is a fantasy adventure with southeast Asia themes. It follows warrior Raya and her sidekick, Tuk Tuk, who must track down the last dragon to help stop the evil Druun. The official synopsis reads:

As an evil force threatens the kingdom of Kumandra, it is up to warrior Raya, and her trusty steed Tuk Tuk, to leave their Heart Lands home and track down the last dragon to help stop the villainous Druun.

Some spoilers for Raya and the Last Dragon ahead.

raya and the last dragon
Credit: Disney

After seeing the film, you may have wondered if this is the first Disney film to represent a gay Disney Princess. The voice actress behind Raya, Kelly Marie Tran, says yes.

Tran recently sat down with Vanity Fair to talk about the latest Walt Disney Animation Studios film, including the fact that there may have been some romantic feelings between Raya and another character, Princess Namaari.

During the film, there is a scene when Raya walks out and meets up with her longtime enemy, Princess Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan), for battle. As Raya first walks out, she says, “Hey there, Princess Undercut,” with a big smirk, “Fancy meeting you here.”

raya and the last dragon
Credit: Disney

Some thought this was a bit flirtatious, and we are now finding out that it was on purpose. Tran told Vanity Fair that when she was recording her voice for the role of Raya, she decided there were “some romantic feelings going on there” between the main character, Raya, and Princess Namaari.

Raya is not the first female Disney character not to have a male love interest within the film. She follows Moana and Elsa –though Elsa is not technically a Disney Princess. Some fans have questioned the sexuality of both of these characters, but Disney has not confirmed anything regarding this issue.

Read More: Josh Gad responds to fan theories on Elsa’s sexuality in ‘Frozen 2’

raya and the last dragon
Credit: Disney

Because of this, many fans feel this is just another Disney film to “stop short of presenting a major character as explicitly queer.”

On the other hand, though queer communities have highly embraced other Disney characters despite being confirmed to be part of the LGBTQ community, Raya has felt like the closest step to representing a gay character within a Disney movie.

Many feel that Princess Namaari, who is well-muscled and has a stunning asymmetrical haircut, was drawn by Disney purposely to represent the LGBTQ community, though this has not been confirmed. “I’m obsessed with Namaari,” Tran told Vanity Fair, “And I’m obsessed with Gemma Chan. So I’m excited you brought this up.”

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Credit: Disney

Additionally, Tran did want to note that even though she interpreted this Raya and Namaari encounter and their relationship as gay, it does not mean that was Disney’s intention when the company wrote the line.

“I think if you’re a person watching this movie and you see representation in a way that feels real and authentic to you, then it is real and authentic,” Tran said in her Vanity Fair interview. “I think it might get me in trouble for saying that, but whatever.”

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Credit: Disney

As mentioned, this is not the first time Disney has hinted at a Disney character representing the queer community. In addition to Frozen’s Elsa, many were quick to believe Josh Gad’s Lefou was romantically interested in Luke Evans’s Gaston in the live-action Beauty and the Beast.

Before the second Frozen film debuted, songwriter Kristen Anderson-Lopez spoke about Elsa and a love interest, confirming she would not get one and why that was okay. “Like the first movie, Elsa is not just defined by a romantic interest,” Anderson-Lopez explained at the 2019 D23 Expo. “That’s not a story we wanted to tell at this point. What we wanted to tell was if you have these powers, how do you grow and change and find your place in the world and find answers that haven’t been found before?”

onward features first openly LGBTQ
Credit: Disney-Pixar

As for Pixar, Onward did feature the company’s first openly LGBTQ character, which many felt was a step in the right direction.

Raya and the Last Dragon plays in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. Click here to sign up for Disney+ today. 

Have you seen Raya and the Last Dragon yet? Do you think Raya is part of the LGBTQ community? What about Princess Namaari? Let us know in the comments below.

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