'Does it matter if the heroine of Brave is gay?' 'The film doesn't need to tell us whether Merida is gay. 'Brave preaches acceptance ' Merida delivers a rousing speech about the 'freedom to marry whomever she wants.' These things resonate amid the current same-sex marriage debate, and themes about embracing one's own identity are sure to resonate strongly with the LGBT community. It's likely, then, that the ambiguity over Merida's sexuality was deliberate. It's ambiguous, and that may be intentional: Pixar is 'notoriously meticulous,' with its painstakingly subtle references and hidden 'Easter eggs,' says Chris Heller at The Atlantic. ' Brave's Merida and why we need to stop equating gender performance and sexual orientation' 'Sexuality and gender performance are not the same thing.'
A girl who likes playing sports - or in Merida's case, enjoys archery - is just as likely to become a lesbian as a cheerleader, art enthusiast, writer, or any other type of girl. Just because she isn't girly doesn't mean she's gay: I really wish that society would 'stop reading a girl's desire for physical activity or pleasure in the abilities her own body gives her as a sign of potential incipient gayness,' says Alyssa Rosenberg at Think Progress.
