Singapore bishop issues advisory on 'gay moment' in Beauty and the Beast
Romantic scenes involving two male characters in the live-action remake of the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast have prompted an advisory from the head of the Anglican church in Singapore, calling on parents to “provide guidance to their children” on the movie.
In a statement posted on the St Andrew’s Cathedral website on Sunday (12 March), Bishop Rennis Ponniah urged the faithful to be mindful of the “homosexual content” in the movie, which comes out during the March school holidays. Singapore’s censorship board has given the movie a PG (parental guidance) rating.
“In this new live-action remake of the classic film , the character LeFou is portrayed as gay and a ‘gay moment’ is included in the movie by way of a sub-plot,” noted the bishop.
“Parents are therefore strongly advised to provide guidance to their children about this re-make of Beauty & the Beast, and indeed to their children’s entertainment choices in a rapidly changing age.”
Ponniah added that the Anglican Diocese and the National Council of Churches are working on a fuller advisory in the coming week.
Beauty and the Beast has stirred controversy in the US, with conservative Christians calling for a boycott of the movie for its alleged pro-LGBT agenda.