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A Group Which Almost Became Historic 

It's been over a decade since I first read Les Mis, and first drew this, (which still floats around in reblogs, the original post now being deleted with my old blog) and I thought I ought to finish this for Barricade Day. At the time, that illustration was the most ambitious I had ever drawn.

In the last ten years, Les Mis has perhaps felt more pertinent than ever. In Australia, where I live, bigoted, far-right political parties that were previously considered fringe are leading polls on the back of racist, anti-immigration rhetoric. I donate regularly to a charity that supports refugees that is local to me, the Asylum Seeker Resource Center, and am going to do so again today. I encourage you to do the same, either to the ASRC, or to an equivalent charity in your area.

Nothing to see here, just Valjean& Javert hugging during the finale (Lille, 24.4.2026)

One Day More!!!

A Group Which Almost Became Historic 

It's been over a decade since I first read Les Mis, and first drew this, (which still floats around in reblogs, the original post now being deleted with my old blog) and I thought I ought to finish this for Barricade Day. At the time, that illustration was the most ambitious I had ever drawn.

In the last ten years, Les Mis has perhaps felt more pertinent than ever. In Australia, where I live, bigoted, far-right political parties that were previously considered fringe are leading polls on the back of racist, anti-immigration rhetoric. I donate regularly to a charity that supports refugees that is local to me, the Asylum Seeker Resource Center, and am going to do so again today. I encourage you to do the same, either to the ASRC, or to an equivalent charity in your area.

"Reflection" Mulan (specifically if you're transgender)

"I'll Make A Man Out of You" Mulan (the transmasc euphoria song)

"Jack's Lament" the Nightmare Before Christmas

"Part of Your World" the Little Mermaid

"God Help the Outcasts" the Hunchback of Notre Dame

"I'm Still Here" Treasure Planet (specifically my transmasc anthem but my experiences are not universal)

"Out There" the Hunchback of Notre Dame (when you're closeted)

"Waiting On a Miracle" Encanto (when you're queer and religious)

"One of Us" Lion King 2

"How Far I'll Go" Moana ( when the people who raised you wouldn't let you be exposed to any queer media)

"Colors of The Wind" Pocahontas (the only good thing the Pocahontas franchise brought us was the soundtrack. When my friend was closeted she said to a girl who was being blatantly homophobic " you think the only people who are people are the people that look and think like you." Stopped her in her tracks!)

"Kiss the Girl" the Little Mermaid (but specifically when. You know what I mean lmao)

"When Will My Life Begin" Tangled

"Go The Distance" Hercules

"I Won't Say I'm In Love" Hercules

"One Jump Ahead (reprise)" Aladdin

"Proud of Your Boy" Aladdin Broadway musical

"If I Never Knew You" Pocahontas

Especially the trio of movies that kicked off the Disney Renaissance (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin)

Howard Ashman was a pioneering gay songwriter, you may know some of pre-Disney work like Little Shop of Horrors, and is the reason so many of our memories of Disney songs are so gay. Howard was hired by the at the time struggling Disney animation studio to go back to their roots and deliver a musical hit, and he delivered in a huge way. We don't have Part of Your World without Howard. Or Poor Unfortunate Souls.

Little Mermaid is an obvious LGBTQ metaphor. Beauty and the Beast is a direct AIDS allegory. Aladdin has deeply personal songs, one of which (Proud of Your Boy) was sadly cut from the movie but mentioned above as a part of the stage adaptation was about a lost boy who was trying to make his mother proud.

Howard passed in 1991 from complications caused by AIDS, 8 months before the premier of Beauty and the Beast, he didn't even get a chance to see the influence and accolades his work would go on to have.

But he did leave a legacy of gay Disney music that people have picked up and ran with spaning from the post Renaissance era animation to High School Musical to Frozen and everything in between.

These songs are so recognizable to LGBTQ people because LGBTQ made it for us, but subtly. Hidden in plain sight like Howard's AIDS diagnosis which he had almost the entire time he worked for Disney.

I very much recommend Dreamsounds videos on Ashman, they're some of the most touching and personal looks at him, in addition to Waking Sleeping Beauty, a documentary about the Disney Renaissance and which heavily featured Ashman.