THE AIM TO REMIND THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY WHY THEY LOVE DISNEY. TO REMIND QUEER MEN HOW RELEVANT DISNEY STORY LINES CAN BE TO THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE GROWING UP LGBTQ+. TO MAKE DISNEY PRINCESSES RELEVANT AGAIN TO A GROUP OF QUEER YOUNG ADULTS IN A MODERN WORLD.
DISNEY & LGBTQ+ Disney holds a special place in many people’s hearts, especially in the hearts of queer men. Many LGBTQ+ men love and adore Disney, to the point it can be considered a cult obsession within the queer community. However, Disney has very little LGBTQ+ representation and my target audience of 18-25, is a group of queer adults that grew up watching and loving Disney but didn’t feel represented.
CONCEPT Disney Princess inspired editorials, reimagined as men with a queer twist in collaboration with GAYTIMES. Queer men dressed in a modern interpretation, of their favourite Disney princess. Each reimagined princess has a relation to what it’s like growing up queer. The editorial images, will go alongside short text of the men sharing what Disney means to them and why they relate to their favourite princess as a LGBTQ+ man. Example: Queer men are made to feel like an outcast, just like how Belle was referred to as a “funny girl” and “different from the rest of us”.
WHY GAYTIMES ? Starting in 1975, GayTimes has pioneered print publication for the LGBTQ+ community. GayTimes became a vital source for the LGBTQ+ community, as its audience was hungry for representation. It’s the magazines legacy and rich history that empowers them to be leading LGBTQ+ storytelling. Although GayTimes is published in the UK, it is distributed globally every month continuing to deliver cutting edge content and campaigns. Engaging with some of the world’s most loyal audiences, Disney fans will be the perfect addition.
TARGET AUDIENCE KYLE JOHNSTON AGE: 20 LOCATION: LONDON OCCUPATION: STUDENT Kyle grew up loving Disney but never felt represented. Kyle is one of the many young boys that just wanted to be a princess but wasn’t allowed his dream dress. Lover of fashion and dedicated reader to Gay Times, Kyle often wonders what a Disney Princess would look like with a modern style, as a queer man.
The Disney Issue will include three versions of the cover, featuring a different princess.
FINAL COVERS
The audience can choose a cover depending on their favourite princess.
ARIEL SHOOT
SLEEPING BEAUTY SHOOT
CINDERFELLA SHOOT
EXAMPLE SPREAD The issue will include 3 editorial shoots of each Princess. The Disney Princess’ have been given a Y2K aestheic, playing on the idea of nostalgia and that the audience will reminisce on their childhoods. The shoots are tacky and camp, which is perfect for a queer magazine like GAYTIMES.
INSTAGRAM CONTENT To increase audience engagement, the Disney issue will be taken to Instagram. These visuals will be posted to the GAYTIMES Instagram, summarising the article by using quotes and the Disney editorial shoots. A visually engaging way to interact with the GAYTIMES audience and to promote the issue.
KEY TAKEAWAYS That the editorials will reignite the love queer men have for Disney That queer men will see that their childhood nostalgia can still be relevant today That they will form a deeper connection and relate to the beloved Disney Princess’ That although Disney have no openly LGBTQ+ characters, the community will still feel represented