Bahrain Bans Thor: Love And Thunder: Why?

In 2022, Gulf state Bahrain banned the Marvel blockbuster 'Thor: Love and Thunder' to 'safeguard society's moral values'. The film features Tessa Thompson's character 'Valkyrie' expressing romantic feelings towards another female character. Bahrain's Ministry of Information did not specify the name of the film in its ban, but screenings of the film were halted. Kuwait also banned the film, citing scenes involving homosexual characters as the reason.

Tessa Thompson's character Valkyrie's romantic feelings for a female character

The 2022 film "Thor: Love and Thunder" has been banned in Bahrain and Kuwait due to its inclusion of gay characters. The film features Tessa Thompson's character, Valkyrie, expressing clear romantic feelings toward another female character.

Valkyrie, Marvel's first out LGBTQ+ superhero, was introduced in the 2017 film "Thor: Ragnarok". While a scene that would have addressed her sexuality was ultimately cut from that film, Thompson has been open about playing Valkyrie as a bisexual woman. In "Love and Thunder", Valkyrie is seen expressing romantic interest in another female character, although the character does not end up finding love in the film.

Thompson has spoken about the importance of playing a bisexual character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the impact it has had on young queer people. She has also been vocal about her own sexuality, identifying as a queer woman who is attracted to both men and women but chooses not to label herself bisexual.

In an interview, Thompson discussed the significance of normalizing queer characters and not reducing their humanity by solely focusing on their sexual identity. She expressed her desire to see Valkyrie find her queen but also acknowledged the importance of the character's journey of self-love and acceptance.

The ban on "Thor: Love and Thunder" in Bahrain and Kuwait highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in conservative regions, even as they strive to modernize their images.

Bahrain's ban to 'safeguard society's moral values'

Bahrain's Ban on *Thor: Love and Thunder* to Safeguard Society's Moral Values

Bahrain's decision to ban the Hollywood film *Thor: Love and Thunder* from screening in cinemas across the nation is a proactive measure to safeguard the country's moral values and cultural norms. The ban underscores the country's commitment to preserving its societal ethics and upholding the values held dear by its citizens. This proactive step demonstrates Bahrain's dedication to protecting its people, especially the younger generation, from exposure to content that might be deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with the country's cultural and religious principles.

The ban on *Thor: Love and Thunder* is not an isolated incident but part of a broader context of Bahrain's cultural and religious landscape. The country has a history of taking proactive steps to regulate media content, particularly when it comes to safeguarding public morals and maintaining societal stability. This includes strict guidelines on content that might be considered offensive, explicit, or contradictory to the nation's Islamic values and cultural traditions.

In the case of *Thor: Love and Thunder*, the ban is likely due to specific elements within the film that might be seen as sensitive or inappropriate for Bahrain's cultural context. While the movie may be suitable for audiences in some countries, Bahrain has a different set of social and moral standards that need to be respected. The ban is thus a reflection of the country's cultural gatekeeping, ensuring that foreign media content aligns with local values.

By taking this proactive approach, Bahrain reinforces its commitment to maintaining social harmony and cohesion. The country recognizes the potential impact of media content on shaping societal values, particularly among the youth. Therefore, by carefully curating the types of films and media content accessible to its citizens, Bahrain can foster an environment that aligns with its cultural and religious identity.

While some may view this ban as restrictive, it is essential to understand the context within which it occurs. Bahrain, like any sovereign nation, has the right to regulate content that enters its markets, especially when it concerns preserving societal values and norms. This incident serves as a reminder that media consumption and regulation are inherently linked to cultural contexts and that countries have the prerogative to make decisions that align with their unique societal needs.

Kuwait's ban on the film due to 'scenes involving homosexual characters'

Thor: Love and Thunder has been banned in Kuwait due to scenes involving homosexual characters. The decision to ban the film came from the Cinema Committee in the Ministry of Information. The film features Tessa Thompson as "Valkyrie", who expresses clear romantic feelings toward another female character.

The ban in Kuwait is not an isolated incident, as the film has faced similar restrictions in other Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, which also cited the need to safeguard society's moral values as the reason for its ban. In recent months, major film production companies have encountered challenges in releasing movies with LGBTQ+ representation in the conservative Gulf region.

The topic of sexual freedom remains highly taboo in Gulf countries, even as they attempt to modernise their image through communication campaigns. Despite these bans, Disney, the distributor of Thor: Love and Thunder, has shown a willingness to stand firm and avoid censorship. The film's ban in Kuwait highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the entertainment industry in navigating varying cultural norms and values across different regions.

The ban in Kuwait has sparked discussions about the presence of LGBTQ+ characters in films and the potential for further censorship or indefinite suspensions in other countries. Some sources indicate that the film is likely to be banned in several other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and it has already been indefinitely postponed in Malaysia.

The decision to ban Thor: Love and Thunder in Kuwait due to scenes involving homosexual characters underscores the complexities of releasing global films that embrace diversity and inclusion, especially in regions with differing societal values and norms surrounding LGBTQ+ representation.

UAE's decision to ban Disney-Pixar's Lightyear, which features two women kissing

In June 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned Disney-Pixar's "Lightyear", a film that features a same-sex kiss between two female characters. The UAE's media regulator announced the ban on Twitter, stating that the movie violated the country's media content standards, without specifying how "Lightyear" breached its guidelines.

The decision to ban "Lightyear" in the UAE is not an isolated incident. In the same month, 13 other countries did not give the necessary approvals for the movie to be screened in their markets. Additionally, China's censors requested that some scenes, including the same-sex kiss, be cut from the film before its release in the country. Disney, which owns Pixar, refused to make any cuts, and as a result, the film may not be released in China, the world's largest movie market.

The UAE's ban on "Lightyear" and the requests for cuts from Chinese censors are reflective of a broader issue regarding the representation of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines in media. In recent years, several Hollywood films centred on gay relationships, such as "Call Me By Your Name" and "Brokeback Mountain", have been banned in China. Furthermore, in September 2022, China's National Radio and Television Administration stated that TV broadcasters must "resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal aesthetics."

The UAE's decision to ban "Lightyear" is particularly notable given that the country is the only Gulf nation that did not ban the film "Thor: Love and Thunder", which features a female character expressing romantic feelings towards another woman. While the UAE has not banned "Thor: Love and Thunder", other Gulf countries, including Bahrain and Kuwait, have imposed a cinema ban on the film to "safeguard society's moral values."

The contrasting responses to "Lightyear" and "Thor: Love and Thunder" in the UAE and other Gulf countries highlight the complex dynamics at play when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in media. While some countries are taking steps to preserve traditional social values, others are embracing greater inclusion and representation. Ultimately, the decision to ban "Lightyear" in the UAE reflects the country's conservative social and cultural norms, particularly regarding the depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships on screen.

Saudi Arabia's request to cut LGBTQ references from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

In April 2022, Saudi Arabia requested that Disney cut a 12-second scene from "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" that referenced LGBTQ characters before the film could be screened in the kingdom. The scene in question featured the character America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, referring to her two mothers. Nawaf Alsabhan, Saudi Arabia's general supervisor of cinema classification, said that the scene was "just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms. And being in the Middle East, it's very tough to pass something like this."

Disney declined to make the requested edits, and the film was not screened in Saudi Arabia. Alsabhan disputed reports that the movie had been banned outright, saying, "It's never banned. It will never be banned. There's no reason to ban the film. It's a simple edit... So far, they have refused. But we haven't closed the door. We're still trying."

This incident sparked discussion about the topic of sexual freedom in Gulf countries, which remains highly taboo even as they seek to modernise their images through communication campaigns. Homosexuality is a potential capital offence in Saudi Arabia, which is known for its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law, the basis of its judicial system.

This was not the first time a Marvel film had faced censorship in the country. In 2021, "Eternals", which features a gay couple, also prompted edit requests from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Disney refused to make the cuts, and the film did not screen in Saudi Arabia.

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