Disney pulls transgender storyline from Pixar’s ‘Win or Lose’

Disney has sparked significant backlash after deciding to remove a transgender storyline from Pixar’s much-anticipated animated series Win or Lose, set to debut on Disney+ in February 2025.

The series, centered on a middle school softball team named the Pickles, tells the stories of its players, parents, coaches, and umpires in the lead-up to their championship game. However, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a planned transgender character arc has been removed from one of the episodes.

The transgender storyline’s removal particularly affected Chanel Stewart, the actress who voices the character. Stewart, now 18, was 14 when she landed the role after responding to Pixar’s casting call for an authentic transgender actress.

For Stewart, this was not just another gig but a deeply personal opportunity to bring visibility to transgender teens.

“I was exactly what they wanted to a T, and that’s why it felt so right,” Stewart said, recounting how excited she was to authentically portray a transgender teenage girl. “The thought of authentically portraying a transgender teenage girl made me really happy. I wanted to make this for transgender kids like me.”

Disney confirmed the decision, saying, “When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.”

While the character remains in the show, all references to gender identity were removed, reducing the character to a cisgender girl. Stewart said she was told by Disney that her character would still feature heavily but without any transgender identity.

“It’s just that my character would now be a cis girl, a straight cis girl,” Stewart shared.

Keisha Stewart, Chanel’s mother, expressed her disappointment, saying, “It was upsetting because my daughter is transgender, and this is her life. Everyone deserves to be recognized. And it felt like just another setback for the LGBTQ community.”

She highlighted the importance of representation for transgender youth navigating their identities in a world where visibility and understanding remain scarce.

This isn’t the first time Disney has faced criticism over LGBTQ+ representation.

In recent years, the company has been scrutinized for its handling of queer storylines in animated projects. From the same-gender kiss in Lightyear to controversy surrounding Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, LGBTQ+ content in Disney productions has often faced backlash and revisions, particularly when aimed at younger audiences.

Despite these challenges, Disney has featured queer narratives in its more adult-focused offerings, including Pose, Fire Island, and Next Goal Wins.

However, the removal of the transgender storyline from Win or Lose underscores the studio’s struggle to balance inclusivity with perceived audience sensitivities.

Despite the setback, Stewart remains proud of her groundbreaking role, calling it “an honor” to be part of queer history.

“Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard,” she said, vowing to continue advocating for visibility and representation.

Disney’s decision has reignited debates about LGBTQ+ erasure in mainstream media.

As gender identity remains a divisive topic, particularly in the U.S., this incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities striving for authentic representation.

Win or Lose will premiere on February 19, 2025, featuring Will Forte as the voice of Coach Dan.