Fans Furious Over Disney’s Decision To Cut LGBTQ+ Character Out of Show, New Petition Takes Off

Fans are not happy with Disney’s recent decision.

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Social media is still spinning in the wake of Disney’s bombshell decision to cut an LGBTQ+ storyline from its upcoming animated series Win or Lose, with support for a new petition growing exponentially over the last few days. The petition demands Disney reinstate the storyline in the show, calling the company’s decision “cowardly.”

Disney announced it would be cutting a transgender storyline from its made-for-streaming animated series Win or Lose earlier this week, a decision that landed the company in very hot water.

Win or Lose has been in development for several years at Pixar, suffering from delays and other production hurdles. The show eventually landed a February 19, 2025, premiere date, a month that will also see Disney release Captain America: Brave New World.

However, excitement for Win or Lose has seemingly been sucked up by Disney’s controversial decision, with all eyes and ears now focused on the removal of a transgender storyline from the series, now sparking a grassroots campaign.

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“It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this is blatantly an empty damage-control statement that spits in the face of the value of LGBTQ+ representation in family media,” reads the new petition, which was created on December 18, just a day after Disney’s announcement.

“The fact that this decision was made barely a month after Disney did this exact same thing with a transgender-focused episode of Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur speaks volumes about their true motivations.”

Disney confirmed in December that it would be removing a segment from the series that highlighted the sexual identity of one of the characters. Win or Lose focuses on a co-ed softball team, with each episode featuring a different character’s point of view. The transgender character will still reportedly be in the show, but any mention of their sexual identity has been wiped.

In its announcement, Disney recognized that LGBTQ+ issues are a sensitive topic, claiming parents may prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children “on their own terms.” While certainly true for parents, fans were quick to point out that some of Disney’s most iconic and popular films deal with adult topics and themes, with romance, murder, and death being some of the most common.

“If it’s okay for all children to see “Up!” depict a couple struggling with infertility and death without prior conversation, it’s okay for non-Trans children to see Transgender children like a friend they may one day or already have,” reads one of the public comments on the petition.

“In the troubling, frightening times we live in, where LGBTQ+ individuals and communities continue to be threatened with persecution and denial of basic human rights, this continued suppression of authentic, meaningful queer storytelling simply cannot be accepted,” continues the petition.

While this new movement will likely have no effect on Disney, it certainly shows how divisive this decision has been. Despite being created merely two days ago, the petition had received over 5,000 signatures.

Chanel Stweart, the transgender actress who plays the character in Win or Lose, expressed her disappointment about Disney’s decision shortly after the announcement.

“I was very disheartened,” adds Stewart. “From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. I knew this would be a very important conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.”

However, Chanel remains proud of her identity, saying, “I’m definitely one of the first [transgender girls] to do this! It’s a true honor to be a part of queer history.”

The decision to cut the storyline is certainly perplexing, considering Disney’s recent inclusivity efforts. However, given the circumstances, some fans may be reconsidering how dedicated the company is to these efforts in the first place.

Will you be watching Pixar’s Win or Lose?