“Finding Dory” is just now coming out in theaters, but even before it was released it was already making waves. Rumor has it that a same-sex couple is going to be in the movie. Before you get too excited, you should know that they are only on the screen for a few brief moments. They don’t say anything and are in the background. They would be easy to miss if you weren’t specifically looking for them. Furthermore, Disney would not come out and say whether or not this is meant to be a lesbian couple or not.

Those who noticed the potential same-sex couple say there are two women who are taking care of a baby together. They are visible in one of the trailers released in anticipation of the movie’s release date. On top of this, there is a supposed transgender sting-ray. Once again, this isn’t something that is made obvious to viewers. The stingray simply makes a joke about how he (or she) is now “Sting Rhonda.” It isn’t necessarily meant to be seen as an overtly political statement.

Stars Respond

Ellen DeGeneres is a well-known lesbian comedian. The talk show host and comedian is the voice of Dory in the new movie. When asked whether or not it was true that there was a same-sex couple in the movie, DeGeneres didn’t provide a straight answer. “I personally think it’s a great thing. I think everything that we see in the media, whether it’s television or film or anything you see, should represent everything that’s happening in the world. I think everybody that is in the world should be seen and represented,” she said. In typical DeGeneres fashion, she went on to joke about the bad haircut one of the characters had. She pointed out that not all lesbians have bad haircuts, but some do have bad hairdressers.

Ty Burrell, who also stars in the film, couldn’t say whether or not Disney and Pixar’s same-sex couple was an intentional thing. Burrell plays Phil Dunphy in ABC’s sitcom “Modern Family.” The show is well known for being one of the only primetime shows to portray a same-sex couple. The director of the movie has given a similar answer, neither confirming or denying that the characters are gay.

Politically Correct

The fact that no one will confirm or deny whether or not this was an intentional representation of the LGBT community has many people feeling puzzled and frustrated. Disney may be hesitant to say whether or not for one of several reasons:

• The potential gay couple truly was unintentional, but they don’t want to disappoint the LGBT community.
• Perhaps they meant for it to be a lesbian couple, but didn’t want it to be the main focus of the movie.
• There are many times when a movie makes a political statement in a subtle way, and perhaps this is what Disney is trying to do.

Special Needs and Disabilities

Something we do know the movie is doing is opening up conversations about those with special needs and disabilities. While in the first movie, “Finding Nemo,” Dory seems to be nothing more than a forgetful fish, the second movie portrays her more as a fish with a disability. As you might guess by the title, the movie is specifically focused on her, and it shows flashbacks of her childhood. In it, you can see how she was born with it and how overtime, she learned to live with her special need.

No matter what, “Finding Dory” is sure to be a movie that many children and adults alike will love. Children aren’t likely to notice any political agendas, so parents should relax, sit back, and enjoy the movie with their children.