Long story short, "Frozen" is one of my favorite movies. It came out when I was 15, and I loved everything about it, from the music to Elsa's stunning blue dress. As a little girl, I never related to wanting a Prince Charming to save me... I just stared at the princess on screen and wondered how the heck she was so perfect. That's why Frozen's "feminist" ending brings me to tears every time.
I don't think I would've come to the realization that "Let it Go" could be a metaphor for the LGBTQ community on my own, but once I did, I realized how much I related to Elsa. Her motto of "Conceal, don't feel" throughout her life prevented her from sharing the beauty of her power with others. Likewise, young people struggling with their sexuality often don't share their true selves with others because it feels safer to blend in.
I think the first depiction of lesbian characters I saw growing up was either on "Glee" or "Pretty Little Liars." And this wasn't until I was about 13. In my opinion, children should be exposed to positive portrayals of queer characters at a younger age. They need to understand the simple fact that different things make different people happy. And all anyone can do, is simply love who they choose to love.
Who someone is attracted to has to do with their biology. People are born being attracted to the same sex, just as Elsa is born with her powers. Children watching a move about a homosexual princess isn't going to sway their decision to "become" homosexual, any more than forcing them to eat brussels sprouts would make them like brussels sprouts. Little girls might go through a phase where they want to "marry" their best girl friend, but for a lot of them, that phase will go away when puberty starts. What's left? A deep-rooted understanding that homosexual attraction is normal.
And what about the young princesses or princes who are attracted to the same sex? Having a lesbian Disney princess could make a huge difference in their life. They'll have a character that they can relate to on a deep level. Young girls should not be thinking, "I'm a girl and have a crush on another girl. But because I never see girls liking other girls in movies or television, these feelings must not be 'normal' enough to admit out loud."
Whether adults like it or not, themes portrayed in movies geared toward impressionable children play a big part in influencing popular culture. I don't know what can be considered "appropriate" anymore, but I know that I want no part of it. To me, "appropriate" is safe and doesn't make an impact on people. It's 2018 and time to give our youth their best chance to be themselves.
