Queer Eye for Disney: Unveiling LGBTQIA2S + Representations through Visual Literacy

This article discusses how the authors utilized Disney animations, including "Moana" (Musker, 2016), "Zootopia" (Howard et al., 2016), "Coco" (Unkrich & Molina, 2017), "Encanto" (Howard et al., 2021), and "Raya and the Last Dragon" (Hall et al., 2021), to discuss LGBTQIA2S+ representations and the educational applications of LGBTQIA2S+2-inclusive curriculum with preservice art teachers in educator licensure programs. Fostering the readiness of preservice teachers to teach LGBTQIA2S+ subject matter both theoretically and pedagogically is a significant undertaking for educator licensure programs. One of the greatest challenges is assisting preservice teachers in acquiring strong visual literacy and critical-thinking skills through the practices of decoding and creating LGBTQIA2S+ representations in everyday visual displays, and demonstrating how to integrate queerness with art production. Therefore, the goal was to encourage preservice teachers to proactively identify and address issues related to the neglect of LGBTQIA2S+ topics and explore explicit and implicit representations of LGBTQIA2S+ characters in the selected animations. Additionally, the authors aimed to initiate inclusive conversations in art classes through the creation of visual illustrations. Through this analysis and creation process, preservice art teachers will be better equipped to utilize LGBTQIA2S+ themes in their teaching and establish a welcoming environment for their future students, particularly LGBTQIA2S+ students, to express themselves and celebrate diversity.