Sabrina Carpenter and Other Former Disney Stars Urge Fans to Be Their ‘Absolute Selves’ Amid Anti-Queer Legislation

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Sabrina Carpenter performed for a sold-out crowd at The Sylvee. Photo: Brady Jager

Sabrina Carpenter performed for a sold-out crowd at The Sylvee. Photo: Brady Jager

MADISON, Wis. — A monumental heart set piece with flashing lights rolled out to the center of The Sylvee stage on April 28. Audience members pulled out their phones in anticipation, as this indicated that 24-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter was moments away from beginning her set of the “emails i can’t send” tour.

The heart became the focal point of the concert, changing colors and spreading love along with Carpenter’s public advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. 

“I want to thank you guys for the space that you gave me to be able to be myself and feel that at these shows I can be myself,” Carpenter said between songs. “I hope when you come to this show, you feel like you can be your absolute self.”

The former Disney Channel Girl Meets World actress has been vocal about the freedom of sexual and gender identity multiple times throughout her career. In June 2018, she wrote a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community for pride month. 

“I’ve been so fortunate that many of my LGBTQ+ fans have felt comfortable enough to confide in me and tell me their stories,” Carpenter wrote. “When you come to my shows with pride flags, screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs, I hope you feel an overwhelming rush of love and safety.”

Photo: Chris Lotten

Carpenter is not the only ex-Disney Channel act to be openly pro-LGBTQ+, as superstars like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, The Jonas Brothers, Raven-Symoné, Selena Gomez and more have shared their support or identification with the community. 

Most recently, Cryus’ non-profit organization Happy Hippie Foundation responded to an incident at Heyer Elementary in Waukesha. “Rainbowland,” a duet between Cyrus and her godmother Dolly Parton, was banned from the first-grade spring concert because of concerns it would be controversial. 

“Wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise, where we’re free to be exactly who we are?” Cyrus and Parton sing on the track. “Let’s all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside. Make wrong things right and end the fight.”

In response, Happy Hippie Foundation shared a post, which Cyrus later promoted on her social media stories, announcing a donation to Pride and Less Predjuice, which sends LGBT-inclusive books to classrooms throughout US and Canada. 

UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha Associate Professor of English and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Lisa Hager believes it is important for public figures to support the Queer community and act as role models. 

“That’s why, for example, now that there is slightly more trans visibility, there are a lot more people that are able to understand themselves as trans, then, also see that as a viable identity to have in the world,” said Hager. “It doesn’t create the identity, but it makes it possible for a person to see that.” 

In the US, there are currently 19 states trying to criminalize drag shows and passing other anti-LGBTQ+ legislation like the Florida policy that critics call “Don’t Say Gay,” a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual identity and gender expression. 

Disney publicly opposed the state law a year ago. On May 8, the entertainment giant expanded their free speech lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and an oversight board for the Disney World governing district filed two weeks prior. Disney alleged that DeSantis waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” after a tit-for-tat fight sparked by the controversial classroom ban. 

According to Hager, Disney as an organization has been more visible in its support of LGBTQ+ people in recent years. In the 1990s and 2000s, Disney fans would create Gay Days at the parks, but Disney would not address them. Now, the company publicly participates. Most recently, Pixar’s Lightyear included a same-sex kiss between Buzz Lightyear’s best friend Alisha, and her wife. 

Disneyland California is hosting the first-ever Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite to celebrate Pride on June 13-15. The event will feature special events, photo opportunities, dance parties and rainbow character attire. 

“I think that one of the ways that people can fight against these moves is to support their LGTBQ friends and attend drag shows,” Hager said. “…To understand that having space for people to be themselves rather than fit in neat little boxes is essential for everybody.” 

Photo: Disneyland Resort

Carpenter’s performance made space for everyone, including a section where she shared relationship advice. During this time, titled “unSABscribe,” she crouched to talk to an 18-year-old who was having issues with an unfaithful partner. 

“He played you for six months?” Carpenter asked the audience member. “Yeah, you’re too cute to be played, I’ll be honest.” 

The music sensation stands five foot two, not including the colossal white gogo boots she sported on stage. Carpenter performed songs like “because i liked a boy,” a response to the 2021 relationship drama she was involved in, and the viral hit “Nonsense.” At the end of her set, heart balloons dropped from the ceiling, blanketing the crowd with love.

On May 5, Carpenter shared another intimate moment during “unSABscribe” in Toronto with popular internet personality Sammy Talukder. Talukder told Carpenter about his relationship issues as a gay teenager. He shared this conversation on TikTok.

“That’s crazy because my friend went through the exact same situation,” Carpenter said in the TikTok, relating to Talukder’s experience. “So I’ve been listening to them vent about this exact thing that you went through.”

@sammytalukder

best night of my life. #fypシ #vinyl #concerts #music #sabrinacarpenter #eicstour @Sabrina Carpenter i love u.

♬ original sound – sammy

Talukder, 17, has been a fan of Carpenter since 2016. 

“She literally raised me and shaped me into who I am today,” Talukder said in a conversation over Instagram. “Sabrina has always been supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, which makes me feel so safe and makes me feel better about myself when I listen to her music.”

Other queer fans have reached out to Talukder since the concert, relating to his experience. He said this helped him feel less alone and made him happy that sharing his story can impact others as well.

“I have always just wanted to let it out and have my voice be heard, and she helped me feel heard,” he said. 

Carpenter will continue her tour until the end of the summer, embark on a festival run where she will be playing Lollapalooza Chicago and open for popular K-pop group BLACKPINK in London. 

For more information on LGBTQ+ resources:  UWM LGBT+ archives, UWM LGBTQ+ Resource Center.