When Frozen first came out in November of 2013, it became a pop culture phenomenon almost instantly. That's not changing any time soon: a themed ride is opening at Disney World this summer, the movie is heading to Broadway, and Frozen 2 was officially confirmed a few months ago. Part of the allure was focus on the relationship between two sisters, Anna and Elsa, rather than on a love story. Though Anna did have a love interest, it was her true love for her sister that ultimately saved the day. Elsa, meanwhile, learned to embrace the ice powers she'd repressed since childhood. Recently, the hashtag #GiveElseAGirlfriend became popular on Twitter, and the Internet was buzzing with controversy.
Elsa was born with the power to create and control ice. At first, she only used them to have fun with her little sister, but it began spiraling out of control until eventually Anna was hurt. After that, Anna's memory was wiped so she could no longer remember Elsa's powers. Elsa's parents closed the gates to the castle and sent a majority of their staff away, keeping Elsa behind closed doors so she wouldn't hurt anyone else. She was instructed by her parents, especially her father, to "conceal, don't feel" in order to avoid any outbursts of emotions that may lead to another accident. This leads to Elsa isolating herself completely, to the point where she and Anna barely spoke. She never took off the gloves that helped suppress her powers. When she was forced to for her coronation, she was terrified. Later, Anna pulled one of the gloves off by accident, and Elsa lost control for a moment in her anger. After that, she fled the castle and built an ice palace of herself. This is where "Let It Go," that inescapable song, plays.
Many people in the LGBTQ+ community say the gloves as a symbol similar to the proverbial closet. Elsa's mantra "conceal, don't feel" and her father's insistence that she "be the good girl you always have to be" felt all to real for the millions of people who don't have the luxury of being out to their friends and family. Being closeted can lead to isolation in the extreme, because it feels like no one really knows who you are. You have to fit into a certain mold to avoid discrimination. The empowering lyrics to "Let It Go" also resonate with those who have struggled with coming out: "The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside/Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried." "I don't care what they're going to say, let the storm rage on/The cold never bothered me anyway."
While many people loved Elsa's independence, many also feel that if she is given a love interest in the sequel, it should be with another princess. This was, of course, met with extreme backlash. Though many people used the hashtag to express their support and how much it would've meant to them as a young child to have a princess who wasn't straight, many others voiced their concerns. One of the biggest complaints was that children shouldn't be exposed to a queer romance, because they're too young to understand it or that it's not appropriate.
Many people outside the LGBTQ+ community seem to have the misconception that being queer is something that happens as you get older; this is extremely inaccurate. Most people in the community have early experiences that they didn't understand, such as having a crush on their same-gender best friend or not liking the opposite gender in middle school, that they later realized had everything to do with their sexuality. However, because most schools don't teach about the spectrum of sexuality, parents don't talk to their kids about it, and LGBTQ+ representation is as scarce as it is, those kids feel as if something's wrong with them.
Secondly, sexuality isn't specifically sexual feelings; it's any type of attraction, even innocent kindergarten crushes. A queer romance in children's media would include everything a straight fairytale romance would: romantic songs, declarations of love, maybe a true love's kiss. There is nothing inherently sexual about a relationship between two people of the same gender, the same way heterosexual romances don't always revolve around sex.
It's easier than most people think to include accurate representation, even in children's media. Positive representation would mean a world of difference for young kids in the LGBTQ+ community. Even those who aren't a part of the community would benefit; seeing two woman in a non-sexualized romantic relationship would normalize it and lead them to be more accepting later on in life.
As for Elsa's independence and love for her sister, both of those things can still exist in a relationship, even in a fairytale. It's just as important for young kids to see that you don't have to give up everything for the one you love. If not with Elsa, Disney should still take the risk and listen to what their fans are saying with a future princess. What better message could you ask of the biggest creator of children's media than one of acceptance and love?
