Lightyear's same-sex kiss is an important part of how the film's story is told, according to a producer on the upcoming Disney-Pixar flick.

Per /Film, producer Galyn Susman commented on the reasoning behind the kiss in a recent press screening Q&A. "We've always had the lesbian couple. They've always been a part of the film. Being able to put back the kiss was important to us -- it's a touching moment. It helps Buzz to see what it is that he's [missing]. It's the life that's being lived in front of him by his best friend that he's not having," Susman said. "He doesn't have those kinds of relationships. He doesn't have a child. He doesn't have what she has." She went on to express how gratifying it was for the producers to "get [the kiss] back in there," saying they're "really excited" about the restoration.

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Lightyear's lesbian kiss was reportedly cut from the film at some point during production. The restoration occurred in the wake of Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill -- aka the "Don't Say Gay" bill -- being signed into law. The bill stipulates that schools cannot teach "sexual orientation or gender identity" to children in kindergarten through grade 3, "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." Disney came under fire when its donations to the campaigns of lawmakers who supported the legislation were revealed, and Disney CEO Bob Chapek initially hesitated to condemn the bill. Lightyear's kiss was restored due to backlash from Disney employees, who recently revealed a systematic suppression of LGBTQ+ themes in the company's content.

The upcoming film is a spinoff prequel to Toy Story that tells the story of the man who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy. The astronaut Buzz Lightyear is voiced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Chris Evans, who takes over from the Toy Story franchise's Tim Allen. Buzz's friend and mentor in the film, Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba), is in a relationship with a woman, with whom she shares the much-talked-about kiss.

Related: Nimona Staffers Say Disney Pushed Back Against Film's Same-Sex Kiss, Queer Themes

In addition to Evans and Aduba, Lightyear features the voices of Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi as a trio of Space Ranger recruits and Peter Sohn as Buzz's feline companion Sox. James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr. also lend their voices to the film.

Lightyear rockets into theaters on June 17.

Source: /Film