By: Miaomiao Yu

Authorities across the Muslim world have barred Disney’s ‘Lightyear’ film from being played at cinemas because of the inclusion of a brief kiss between a lesbian couple.

Nations that refused to allow the film to be shown include Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Disney said.

‘Lightyear’ includes a scene where a female character kisses her female partner. This scene proved too much for many Muslim-majority nations, where laws often criminalize same-sex relationships. Many Muslims consider same-sex relationships to be sinful, and members of the LGBTQ community have been arrested, sent to prison, or received the death penalty for their sexual orientation.

The UAE’s Media Regulatory Office said on Twitter this week that ‘Lightyear’ was not licensed for screening in domestic cinemas because it had violated the country’s “media content standards.”

The film’s voice actors have called the UAE’s earlier decision disappointing. “Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Chris Evans, who voiced the main character in the film, said at the premier of ‘Lightyear’ in London. “It feels good to be a part of something that is making social progress, but it’s with this ribbon of bittersweet frustration that at the same time, there are still places that have not caught up.”

The censorship of ‘Lightyear’ in Muslim regions represents a major challenge at the box office for one of Disney’s biggest animated films of the year. Analysts estimated the film could gross over 100 million in its first weekend.

Although studios have allowed censors to cut films in global distribution for content in the past, including in the Middle Eastern market, Disney did not cut out the scene due to protests from activists and its own staff over Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in late March, forbidding instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Disney’s staff protested over what they describe as Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s slow response in publicly criticizing Florida’s new legislation.

In addition to the protests, ‘Lightyear’ producer Galyn Susman said Pixar films “can’t be for everyone if we don’t have representation. Whether that be orientation or color or gender, it is important. We’re reflecting the world around us and we’re making the film for ourselves and for the world around us.”