Disney, which is known as a progressive studio, has never included an openly gay character in a movie -- until now.
According to an interview in British magazine Attitude with the director of the upcoming "Beauty and the Beast," Bill Condon, the movie will include Disney's first-ever "exclusively gay moment" on film.
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The "gay moment" will be during a scene when Gaston's manservant, LeFou, expresses his sexuality toward Gaston by making a romantic overture.
The LeFou character will be played by Josh Gad, who serves as the sidekick to the film’s primary antagonist, Gaston, who will be played by Luke Evans.
"LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston," Condon said.
"He's confused about what he wants. It's somebody who's just realizing that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that's what has its payoff at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie."
Two women who News 6 spoke with Wednesday night said they both grew up loving the original and they both loved the idea.
"I think it's pretty amazing," Stephanie Hayes said. "I just think that everybody should be accepting of who they are, and for them to do that is really cool thing with Disney."
"I think it's great," said Ailsa Collie, who was visiting Walt Disney World from Scotland. "Why not? Why not be openly gay? It's all around in our culture. It's in our communities. It should be embraced rather than pushed to the side. I don't think it's inappropriate."
But not everyone agrees.
"It's just inappropriate," said John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, who spoke to News 6 as a father. "The parents need to be navigating these waters, not Hollywood, and not putting a political agenda in kids' minds before parents want them to see it."
The announcement comes just after an episode of "Star vs. the Force of Evil" on Disney XD called "Just Friends," which features the main characters at a concert with many same-sex couples. The episode, which aired on Feb. 23, includes the first-ever same-sex kiss in a Disney cartoon.
The live-action retelling of Disney's classic "Beauty and the Beast" is one of the most highly anticipated movies to come out this year, with official trailer views hitting over 31 million in just a few months.
Along with actors Gad and Evans, other big names in the cast include Emma Watson (Belle), former "Downton Abbey" star Dan Stevens (Beast), Ian McKellen (Cogsworth) and Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts).