Film Film-Disney-Gay Moment

Luke Evans stars as Gaston and Josh Gad as Le Fou in Disney's new, live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast." Even before it opens, the movie has generated controversy over reports that Gad's character is gay.

(Laurie Sparham/Disney via AP)

Controversy continues to swirl in some quarters around Disney's new, live-action "Beauty and the Beast" movie. A remake of the 1991 animated classic, the new version stars Emma Watson (the "Harry Potter" movies) as an empowered Belle and Dan Stevens ("Downton Abbey") as the sensitive-on-the-inside Beast.

But it's another character who has generated controversy. Josh Gad (the voice of Olaf in Disney's "Frozen") plays LeFou, sidekick to the dashing Gaston (Luke Evans.)

Director Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls") got the chatter going when, in an interview with Attitude magazine, Condon said that the character of LeFou was gay, and that "Beauty and the Beast" would include that.

From the Attitude interview:

"LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston," reveals Condon.

"He's confused about what he wants. It's somebody who's just realising that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that's what has its payoff at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie."

Later, in a USA Today story, Gad clarified that the script didn't specify that LeFou was gay, though he was "really proud" to play the role. And Condon commented, "I think (LeFou's sexuality) has been a little overstated."

In the USA Today story, Condon added:

"To me, I have to say my heart sinks a little (that we're talking about this moment)," said Condon. "I like the idea of it coming as this surprise, and I hope people don't know where it's coming."

Nevertheless, there's been considerable commotion about a gay character apparently being featured in a Disney film. Though "Beauty and the Beast" doesn't open until March 17, evangelist Franklin Graham has already called for a boycott of the movie.

As Time reports, Graham took to Facebook to share his opposition to "Beauty and the Beast." From the Time story:

"They're trying to push the LGBT agenda into the hearts and minds of your children--watch out!" Graham wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. "Disney has the right to make their cartoons, it's a free country. But as Christians we also have the right not to support their company. I hope Christians everywhere will say no to Disney."

Even Russia is getting into the act. As Variety reports: "The Russian government is coming under pressure to ban Disney's live-action movie 'Beauty and the Beast' for allegedly contravening a 2013 law that prohibits 'gay propaganda' aimed at children."

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist