Disney introduces first non-binary character in The Owl House TV series
Actor Avi Roque described the role as ‘a dream come true’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Disney has featured its first ever explicitly non-binary character in its children’s animated TV series The Owl House.
The character, Raine Whispers, featured in the latest episode of the series, and is voiced by Avi Roque, a non-binary actor.
The Owl House follows the adventures of a teenage girl named Luz Noceda, who is transported to another world by a magic portal.
Writing on Twitter, Roque said that the role represented a “dream come true”, and specified that Raine uses they/them pronouns.
The Owl House has been praised for its sexual and gender diversity in the past, and is the first Disney Channel programme to feature a bisexual leading character.
The show’s creator, Dana Terrace, claimed that she had initially faced pushback on representation from “certain” members of Disney leadership.
“In [development], I was very open about my intention to put queer kids in the main cast,” she tweeted last August. “When we were greenlit, I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could NOT represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the Channel.”
However, she stipulated: “Now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership. Representation matters! Always fight to make what YOU want to see!”
In the UK, The Owl House can be streamed on Disney Plus.