¿Por qué tanto escándalo?: ‘Lightyear’ y las actitudes hacia la homosexualidad y la homoparentalidad en redes sociales de Ecuador

Carlos Hermosa-Bosano; Paula Hidalgo-Andrade; Gustavo Cusot-Cerda; Ariana Varela-Romero; José Montenegro-Espinosa; Emma Zambrano-Garzón

doi:10.4185/rlcs-2024-2168

Authors

Carlos Hermosa-Bosano Universidad de Las Américas; Universidad Latina de Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7957-2455
Paula Hidalgo-Andrade Universidad de las Américas https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1797-3258
Gustavo Cusot-Cerda Universidad San Francisco de Quito https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-9808
Ariana Varela-Romero Universidad de las Américas https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6145-7706
José Montenegro-Espinosa Universidad de las Américas https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5387-4083
Emma Zambrano-Garzón Universidad San Francisco de Quito https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9691-2309

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2024-2168

Keywords:

attitudes, homosexuality, same-sex parenting, sexual diversity, hate speech, social media

Abstract

Introduction: The study of attitudes towards homosexuality and same-sex parenting has employed multiple strategies to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. In this article, we analyze comments on public social media that arose following the release and controversy surrounding a scene featuring a kiss between two women in the movie Lightyear, released in 2022. The objective of this article was to identify attitudes and the main arguments that people provide in favor or against homosexuality and same-sex parenting. Methodology: Digital and print media outlets in Ecuador that published news about the movie were identified. A sample of 707 comments was extracted and a content analysis of the comments was conducted. Results: 335 comments were against homosexuality and same-parenting, 23 in favor, and 7 themes were identified: protection of childhood, social aspects, imposition and indoctrination, double standards, religious arguments, attitudinal ambiguity, and biological reproduction and nature. The arguments, among other things, reveal a high concern for the well-being of children associated with beliefs about the origin of sexual orientation, the role of adults in protecting children from what is considered abnormal, and the role of families in filtering the content their children should see. Discussion and Conclusions: There is rejection towards homosexuality and same-sex parenting that is based on negative views of sexual and family diversity, socially propagated theories about sexual orientation, the role of the family, and child development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Carlos Hermosa-Bosano, Universidad de Las Américas; Universidad Latina de Costa Rica

School of Psychology and Education, University of the Americas, Quito-Ecuador.

Clinical Psychologist graduated from San Francisco de Quito University in Ecuador. Master and Doctor in Psychology from University of the Andes in Colombia. Research Professor at the University of the Americas in Quito-Ecuador. His publications and lines of research focus on a wide variety of topics including the study of attitudes towards sexual minority populations and their families, family aspirations of LGBTIQ+ people, as well as the mental and physical health of people belonging to sexual minorities, their partners and families. He has also participated in projects on teaching excellence and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health and well-being of teacher populations and the general population.

carlos.hermosa@udla.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7957-2455

Paula Hidalgo-Andrade, Universidad de las Américas

School of Psychology and Education, University of the Americas, Quito-Ecuador.

Ecuadorian psychologist and speech therapist. She holds a degree in Psychology from St. Thomas University (Canada), a Master in Clinical Psychology from University of the Americas Puebla (Mexico), a Master in Psycho-Oncology and Palliative Care from Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes and a PhD in Psychology from University of Deusto (Spain). Her research and academic interests are mainly focused on caregiver care, clinical and health psychology, palliative care, public health and education. She currently works as a teacher-researcher and dean of the School of Psychology and Education at the University of the Americas in Quito, Ecuador.

paula.hidalgo@udla.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1797-3258

Gustavo Cusot-Cerda, Universidad San Francisco de Quito

School of Communication and Contemporary Arts. San Francisco de Quito University, Quito-Ecuador.

PhD in Communication, graduated from UNIACC University. Vice Dean of the School of Communication and Contemporary Arts at San Francisco de Quito University Coordinator of the Organizational Communication Career at San Francisco de Quito University. Communicator and consultant in the field of communication and corporate image for companies and institutions in Argentina, Spain, United States and Ecuador. He has made presentations and publications in indexed journals on topics of Organizational Communication and Public Relations, Political Communication in electoral and government processes.

gcusot@usfq.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-9808

Ariana Varela-Romero, Universidad de las Américas

School of Psychology and Education, University of the Americas, Quito-Ecuador.

Clinical Psychologist graduated from University of the Americas in Ecuador. Member of the first graduate class of the academic excellence program of the University of the Americas, UDLA Honors. Master's Degree in Education and Teaching from the Universidad Latinoamericana en Línea. She has participated in projects of community psychology and awareness of the population in vulnerability and at risk. Likewise, she has collaborated with the creation and delivery of workshops on mental health promotion and prevention for adults and children.

ariana.varela@udla.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6145-7706

José Montenegro-Espinosa, Universidad de las Américas

School of Psychology and Education, University of the Americas, Quito-Ecuador.

Final semester student of General Psychology at the University of the Americas. Collaborator in research projects within the areas of Brain, Emotion and Behavior and Well-being, Health and Society, working with topics related to functional diversity, sexual diversity and routine monitoring of results in psychotherapy. Teaching assistant at the University of the Americas, in the subjects of sexuality education and project titling and design.

jose.montenegro.espinosa@udla.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5387-4083

Emma Zambrano-Garzón, Universidad San Francisco de Quito

School of Communication and Contemporary Arts. San Francisco de Quito University, Quito-Ecuador.

Third year student of Organizational Communication and Public Relations at San Francisco de Quito University, with a minor in psychology. Administrative assistant at the School of Communication and Contemporary Arts at San Francisco de Quito University. She has collaborated as an assistant in research projects related to Organizational Communication and in the generation of digital strategies from her position as community manager of the social networks of the Communication Career and the School of Communication and Contemporary Arts at the San Francisco de Quito University.

eczambrano@estud.usfq.edu.ec

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9691-2309

References

Barrientos, J. (2016). Situación social y legal de gays, lesbianas y personas transgénero y la discriminación contra estas poblaciones en América Latina. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad, 331-354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1984-6487.sess.2016.22.15.a

Bilewicz, M., & Soral, W. (2020). Hate Speech Epidemic. The Dynamic Effects of Derogatory Language on Intergroup Relations and Political Radicalization. Political Psychology, 41(S1), 3-33. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12670

Castaño-Pulgarín, S. A., Suárez-Betancur, N., Vega, L. M. T., & López, H. M. H. (2021). Internet, social media and online hate speech. Systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 58, 101608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2021.101608

Chaux, E., León, M., Cuellar, L., & Martínez, J. (2021). Public Opinion Toward LGBT People and Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. En Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. https://acortar.link/KvjGFO

Chetty, N., & Alathur, S. (2018). Hate speech review in the context of online social networks. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 40, 108-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2018.05.003

Clarke, V. (2001). What about the children? Arguments against lesbian and gay parenting. Women’s Studies International Forum, 24(5), 555-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(01)00193-5

Corte Constitucional del Ecuador. (2019). Sentencia No. 11-18-CN/19. https://portal.corteconstitucional.gob.ec/Seguimiento/11-18-CN-19.pdff

Costa, P. A., Caldeira, S., Fernandes, I., Rita, C., Pereira, H., & Leal, I. (2013). Atitudes da população portuguesa em relação à homoparentalidade. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 26(4), 790-798. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722013000400020

Costa, P. A., Pereira, H., & Leal, I. (2015). “The Contact Hypothesis” and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 12(2), 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-014-0171-8

Costa, P. A., Pereira, H., & Leal, I. (2019). Through the Lens of Sexual Stigma: Attitudes Toward Lesbian and Gay Parenting. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 15(1), 58-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2017.1413474

Costa, P. A. y Salinas-Quiroz, F. (2019). A Comparative Study of Attitudes Toward Same-Gender Parenting and Gay and Lesbian Rights in Portugal and in Mexico. Journal of Homosexuality, 66(13), 1909-1926. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2018.1519303

Costa, P. A., & Salinas-Quiroz, F. (2021). Attitudes Toward LGBTQ+ People and LGBTQ+ Rights in Continental American-Hispanic Nations. En Parenting and Couple Relationships Among LGBTQ+ People in Diverse Contexts (pp. 25-39). Springer International Publishing. https://acortar.link/mfmjb8

Frias-Navarro, D., Monterde-i-Bort, H., Pascual-Soler, M., & Badenes-Ribera, L. (2015). Etiology of Homosexuality and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting: A Randomized Study. The Journal of Sex Research, 52(2), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2013.802757

García-Galera, M.-C., del-Hoyo-Hurtado, M., & Fernández-Muñoz, C. (2014). Engaged youth in Internet. The role of social networks in social active participation. Comunicar, 22(43), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.3916/C43-2014-03

Gerhards, J. (2010). Non-discrimination towards homosexuality: The European union’s policy and citizens’ attitudes towards homosexuality in 27 European countries. International Sociology, 25(1), 5-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580909346704

Gross, M., Vecho, O., Gratton, E., D’Amore, S., & Green, R. J. (2018). Religious Affiliation, Religiosity, and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 14(3), 238-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2017.1326016

Hermosa-Bosano, C., Hidalgo-Andrade, P., Marcillo, A. B., Olaya-Torres, A., Costa, P. A., & Salinas-Quiroz, F. (2022). “This is not What God Intended”: Attitudes Toward Adoption by Same-sex Couples in Ecuador. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 19, 1702-1716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00746-3

Hermosa-Bosano, C., Hidalgo-Andrade, P., Olaya-Torres, A. J., Duque-Romero, C., Costa, P. A., & Salinas-Quiroz, F. (2021). Attitudes toward Lesbians, Gay Men, and Their Rights in a Sample of Ecuadorian Cisgender Men and Women. Journal of Homosexuality, 70(2h). https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.1948771

Hermosa-Bosano, C., Hidalgo-Andrade, P., Olaya-Torres, A. J., Duque-Romero, C., Costa, P. A., & Salinas-Quiroz, F. (2023). Attitudes Toward Lesbians, Gay Men, and Their Rights in a Sample of Ecuadorian Cisgender Men and Women. Journal of Homosexuality, 70(2), 307-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.1948771

Hernando, A. (2022, agosto 3). ‘Lightyear’: Sinopsis, curiosidades, taquilla, imágenes y más sobre el spin-off de «Toy Story». Fotogramas. https://acortar.link/SOryiX

INEC. (2012). Primeras estadísticas oficiales sobre filiación religiosa en el Ecuador. https://acortar.link/IlxeMa

Kuvalanka, K. A. (2013). The “Second Generation”: LGBTQ Youth with LGBTQ Parents. En A. Goldberg & K. R. Allen (Eds.), LGBT-Parent Families: Innovations in Research and Implications for Practice (pp. 163-175). Springer Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4556-2_11

López, D. (2022, junio 16). Rechazan a Lightyear en cines de Ecuador: “Es un ataque ideológico”. Aciprensa. https://acortar.link/l2Q9yl

Matamoros-Fernández, A., & Farkas, J. (2021). Racism, Hate Speech, and Social Media: A Systematic Review and Critique. Television & New Media, 22(2), 205-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527476420982230

Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative content analysis. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(2). https://acortar.link/5J9T7e

Ministerio de Inclusión Ecónomica y Social. (2023). Adopciones. Adopciones. https://acortar.link/ePpYvI

Navarro, M. C., Barrientos, J., Gómez, F., & Bahamondes, J. (2019). Tolerance of Homosexuality in South American Countries: A Multilevel Analysis of Related Individual and Sociocultural Factors. International Journal of Sexual Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2019.1625843

Pacilli, M. G., Taurino, A., Jost, J. T. y van der Toorn, J. (2011). System Justification, Right-Wing Conservatism, and Internalized Homophobia: Gay and Lesbian Attitudes toward Same-Sex Parenting in Italy. Sex Roles, 65(7), 580-595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9969-5

Ramírez-Pérez, J. F., López del Castillo, D. C., & Morejón Valdés, M. (2021). Algorithm for measurement and analysis of authority and influence of users in social and professional networks. PAAKAT: Revista de Tecnología y Sociedad, 11(21), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.32870/Pk.a11n21.598

Rittman, A. (2022, junio 13). ‘Lightyear’ Banned in Middle East Over Same-Gender Kiss. The Hollywood Reporter. https://acortar.link/Af3nj9

Rye, B. J., & Meaney, G. J. (2010). Self-defense, sexism, and etiological beliefs: Predictors of attitudes toward gay and lesbian adoption. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504280903472485

Silva, M. P. D., & Silva, L. S. D. (2021). Disseminação de discursos de ódio em comentários de notícias: Uma análise a partir de notícias sobre o universo LGBT em cibermeios sul-mato-grossenses no Facebook. Intercom: Revista Brasileira de Ciências Da Comunicação, 44(2), 137-155. https://acortar.link/AeClv0

Smith, T. W. (2011). Cross-national Differences in Attitudes towards Homosexuality. The Williams Institute. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81m7x7kb

Soral, W., Bilewicz, M., & Winiewski, M. (2018). Exposure to hate speech increases prejudice through desensitization. Aggressive Behavior, 44(2), 136-146. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21737

Ștefăniță, O., & Buf, D.-M. (2021). Hate Speech in Social Media and Its Effects on the LGBT Community: A Review of the Current Research. Romanian Journal of Communication and Public Relations, 23(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.21018/rjcpr.2021.1.322

Torres, G., Shapiro, A. y Mackey, T. K. (2019). A review of surrogate motherhood regulation in south American countries: Pointing to a need for an international legal framework. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1), 46-58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2182-1

Vecho, O., Gross, M., Gratton, E., D’Amore, S. y Green, R. J. (2019). Attitudes toward Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting, Ideologies, and Social Contacts: The Mediation Role of Sexual Prejudice Moderated by Gender. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 16(1), 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-018-0331-3

Weaver, M. (2023, junio 19). El beso lésbico de «Lightyear»: La primera representación del colectivo LGTBQ+ de Disney. The Conversation. https://acortar.link/AVxaFo

Xiao, M., Wang, R., & Chan-Olmsted, S. (2018). Factors affecting YouTube influencer marketing credibility: A heuristic-systematic model. Journal of Media Business Studies, 15(3), 188-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/16522354.2018.1501146

Zimmer, M. (2010). “But the data is already public”: On the ethics of research in Facebook. Ethics and Information Technology, 12(4), 313-325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-010-9227-5

Artículos relacionados

Del Valle Mejías, María Elena. (2020). Edmodo: una plataforma de e-learning para la inclusión. Revista de Comunicación de la SEECI, 52, 17-28. http://doi.org/10.15198/seeci.2020.52.17-28

Deliyore Vega, M. D. (2021). Redes como espacio de comunicación para la educación virtual de estudiantes con discapacidad en Costa Rica en tiempos de pandemia. Historia y Comunicación Social, 26(Especial), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.5209/hics.74243

Martínez-Rodrigo, Estrella, & Martínez-Cabeza, Julia. (2020). La figura materna en el cine de Pixar. Historia y Comunicación Social, 25(1), 35-44. https://doi.org/10.5209/hics.64587

Meliveo Nogues, P., & Cristófol-Rodríguez, C. (2021). Reivindicación de las representaciones femeninas en el audiovisual español: estudio de una década de arquetipos de mujeres en los premios Goya. Revista de Ciencias de la Comunicación e Información, 26, 39-57. https://doi.org/10.35742/rcci.2021.26.e138

Sánchez-Soriano, J. J., & García-Jiménez, L. (2020). La construcción mediática del colectivo LGTB+ en el cine blockbuster de Hollywood. El uso del pinkwashing y el queerbaiting. Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 77, 95-116. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2020-1451