In response to the March 28, 2022 announcement by Disney General Entertainment president Karey Burke stating that the company intends to increase the number of LGBTQIA and other underrepresented minority characters in Disney productions to 50% of all characters by the end of 2022,[1] Qatari writer Amal Abdulmalik wrote an op-ed titled "The Rainbow [Symbol] Chasing Children" accusing Disney of "promoting a culture that is contrary to normalcy" and is "rejected religiously and socially by most religions and societies."
The op-ed in Al-Sharq.
The op-ed, which was published April 18, 2022 in the Qatari daily Al-Sharq, stated that Disney "aims to negatively influence children to choose their gender." It argued that the "only solution" for Muslim parents is to watch Disney productions together with their children and to "explain to them these abnormal thoughts and the reasons behind them, and explain that they are attacking the Islamic religion in order to weaken the Muslims and the Islamic identity, and in order to create a deformed generation with no identity, no language, no religion, and no traditions and customs, which will lead to further weakening of the Arab and Islamic countries, because the Arabs and Muslims will be preoccupied with trivial issues while holding tightly onto traditions that are foreign to them, and this will cause them to lose their identity and human values."
Abdulmalik's article came a few days after the April 14, 2022 publication by Al-Sharq of an anti-LGBT cartoon by Al-Sharq cartoonist Muhammad Abd Al-Lateef, who depicted La'eeb, the official mascot of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, breaking a rainbow with a karate chop. The cartoon was captioned "No to Homosexuals."
Cartoon in Al-Sharq, April 14, 2022
Shortly after the publication of the cartoon, Abd Al-Lateef withdrew it and published a similar cartoon on his Twitter account in which the World Cup mascot was replaced with a man in traditional Qatari garb, adding, "Modification completed." Explaining the reason behind this, he wrote: "I deleted the cartoon today to avoid lawsuits for using copyrighted intellectual property that belongs to FIFA, that is, La'eeb."[2] The original cartoon was removed from the Al-Sharq website, but the link to it remains active.[3] As of this writing, the updated cartoon has not been published on the Al-Sharq website.
Updated cartoon and tweet (Source: Twitter.com/mo7md_alateef/status/1514566301179600897, April 14, 2022)
The following is the full translation of Amal Abdulmalik's op-ed.[4]
Disney Is "Promoting A Culture That Is Contrary To Normalcy" And "Encourages Detachment From Innate Nature"
"Twitter users have been sharing news that Disney channels, owned by the Walt Disney Company, that is based in the U.S., globally known, and translated into many languages, whose target audience is children, will increase the number of its gay or underrepresented characters to 50% in its movies and series. Twitter users were enraged about the news, which involves children in the issue of homosexuality, exposes them to this imbalance and degradation, and encourages them to think about what gender they belong to. This could also open up the possibility for children to change their genders, which will stir up psychological and family conflicts while they are at the age of shaping their personal identity.
"When the most important production company for cartoon series and children's movies decides to carry out this plan, it means that it is promoting a culture that is contrary to normalcy and that encourages detachment from innate nature and allowing a person to choose the gender that they belong to, whether male or female. This will certainly lead to unlimited social problems."
Disney Is Endorsing The Issue Of Homosexuals Whose Numbers Are Increasing In Western, Arabian And Gulf Societies
"Disney's insistence on promoting this culture, which is rejected religiously and socially by most religions and societies, is a clear declaration that it is endorsing the issue of homosexuals whose numbers are increasing in Western, Arabian, and Gulf societies. We can now see them living their lives and boldly practicing their abnormality undeterred, in keeping with the principles of human rights organizations which grant them the right to do so even though it is contrary to human nature. In fact, unfortunately, many of these figures have infiltrated social media platforms and are followed by both adults and children. Furthermore, it has spread beyond that, as they are easily employed even though their looks, clothing, and behavior indicate that they are attracted to becoming the opposite gender. Some of them hold important positions, which boosts the dedication and determination of the rest of the homosexuals to continue expanding their communities, especially since some countries do not criminalize homosexual behavior and do not punish them – and those who do not fear punishment will misbehave."
Disney "Aims To Negatively Influence Children To Choose Their Gender"
"Unfortunately, Disney cartoon characters are known in the entire world, and control children's minds. Sadly, Arabic channels that focus on children in the Arab world have not managed to create and promote characters capable of competing with Disney works and characters. Therefore, this company remains in control of the children's world. By promoting its characters, it makes children like them even more, and believe [Disney] is content. Moreover, the company has not limited itself to one platform or one language – it has a presence on all platforms and broadcasts on most satellite channels, to reach the children of the world in all languages. This is not to mention the electronic video games and others, and its presence on all electronic platforms that appeal to children and present entertainment in a manner and content that are simple for children, with no complications and without artificial idealism.
"This is why [Disney] has been able to take control of the minds of minors. It has also involved leading artists in its movies, and produced family movies. [But] it has not just taken control of children – and we acknowledge that it has succeeded in that regard, and has impressed the world by creating entertainment materials that are attractive to children. Its intent to blatantly promote homosexual characters aims to negatively influence children to choose their gender and could create family issues that parents may not be able to detect because of their inability to always be present for their children. This will present a huge challenge for them in correcting their children's behavior and in enlightening them about the abnormal cultures that they are consuming."
The Only Solution Is To Watch Disney Productions Together With Our Children And "Explain To Them These Abnormal Thoughts And The Reasons Behind Them"
"Is there a solution to stop the advance of homosexuals and the spread of the rainbow, which they use as their symbol and has been spreading in all international brands, clothing, and video game companies? There might be no solution for stopping this march, as it has become a painful reality that we see with rage and disgust but that is nonetheless present. Therefore, the only solution is to increase awareness for minors, and to strongly promote Islamic identity and religious piety, so that children adhere to their religion.
"Denying them access to these channels is no longer a solution. On the contrary: We should watch with them, and explain to them these abnormal thoughts and the reasons behind them, and explain that they are attacking the Islamic religion in order to weaken the Muslims and the Islamic identity, and in order to create a deformed generation with no identity, no language, no religion, and no traditions and customs, which will lead to further weakening of the Arab and Islamic countries, because the Arabs and Muslims will be preoccupied with trivial issues while holding tightly to traditions that are foreign to them, and this will cause them to lose their identity and human values.
"Children have been targeted by the media, in their education at foreign schools and in their entertainment through their games. If families are not aware of all of this flood of abnormality to which their children are exposed, they will lose their children to the painful rainbow, and they will be unable to save them – as females will no longer be women and males will no longer be men."
