Joy Being A Lesbian Isn’t A New Inside Out Theory
When the Inside Out 2 trailer first dropped, many people hoped they’d make Riley canonically Lgbtq+. Many felt the same way based on reactions to the movie on social media. Since Pixar’s poor LGBTQ+ representation history lowered expectations, many were just excited to see the subtext. As someone who began to accept their sexuality around their freshman year of high school, many strongly related to Riley’s storyline.
Many came out to their family and friends in 2015, the same year Inside Out premiered. It also happened to be the year many moved out of their family’s childhood home. Inside Out 2’s Anxiety character also made many cry, particularly with the panic attack scene. Many loved Inside Out 2 for more than the Queer Coding, but this viral tweet from the satirical X (formerly known as Twitter) account Lyric Vault made many see the subtext differently.
Joy’s Character Design Has Drawn Comparisons To Famous Lesbians
As aforementioned, many pretty much knew Pixar wasn’t ready to make a main character in a franchise as popular as Inside Out canonically LGBTQ+, let alone a lesbian. So, while many knew the post was satirical, many weren’t prepared for how much evidence there would be that Joy was a Lesbian. Riley has 10 Emotions in the Inside Out movies, all of which have different unique appearances, unlike those in other people’s heads. All their Emotions resemble them, but Riley's Emotions don't quite resemble her.
Some people assumed famous lesbian entertainer Ellen Degeneres would voice Joy upon first seeing her character design. Degeneres is known for her pixie haircut, as seen on Joy, and her work with Pixar in the Finding Nemo franchise. Joy is voiced by Amy Poehler, who doesn’t look much like her character, and perhaps this was intentional. EveryQueer wrote about pixie cuts and other short haircuts being a Lesbian rite of passage; it’s even seen in famous lesbian characters, including Pixar’s canonically lesbian character in Onward.
Joy Isn’t Interested In Riley’s Male Crushes In The Inside Out Movies
One of the biggest hints that Riley is a lesbian in the Inside Out movies is her lack of interest in Riley’s male crushes. Many noticed this in the first movie, but many assumed this was an example of her not wanting Riley to grow up. In Inside Out, a boy named Jordan has a crush on Riley. He then appears in the Pixar short Riley’s First Date? with the question mark in the title because they insist it’s not a date, but they might want it to be.
Jordan appears on Riley’s Mount Crushmore in Inside Out 2, as does a new character, Lance Slashblade. A big piece of evidence that Riley is LGBTQ+ in Inside Out is how Joy reacts to him. Despite being Joy, she is completely unimpressed by him, his looks, and his melodramatic personality. When Riley’s Imaginary Boyfriends first appear in Inside Out, Joy is disturbed. Though Joy worries about Riley growing up too fast, she wants her to be happy. This could mean crushes on boys don’t make her happy.
Joy Is In Charge Of Riley’s Happiness (& Her Emotional Suppression)
Since Joy is the Emotion controlling Riley’s happiness, she should know more than anyone else what makes Riley happy. If the supposed crushes she has on boys don’t make her happy, one female character does. Joy’s reaction when Riley and the Emotions first see Valentina “Val” Ortiz in Inside Out 2 is the complete opposite of when they met Lance Slashblade. Though Val obviously isn’t a love interest for Riley (she’s a high school senior and Riley’s a freshman), this doesn’t mean Riley doesn’t have a crush on her.
When Jordan meets Riley in Inside Out, his Emotions panic, unsure what to do when the “Girl Alert!” goes off. It’s framed as a scene where a boy develops a crush on a girl, but we never see what’s happening in Riley’s head. When Riley meets Val, the scene is framed similarly. Joy is overeXcited, telling everyone to “act regular,” leading to the Emotions panicking when Riley acts “uncool” in front of the coolest girl she’s ever met.
Riley’s Emotions Could Have Different Sexualities
Beyond Riley being a lesbian, bisexual, or another Sexuality, there’s a chance that Riley is nonbinary. Her Emotions have different genders, with seven voiced by female voice actors and three by male voice actors (Fear, Anger, and Embarrassment). This has already been established, but their seXualities haven’t. Many had assumed each Inside Out Emotion could be considered bisexual. Fear and Anger are also enamored with Lance, and Disgust is particularly interested in him. Disgust has been the most “boy crazy” Emotion, but her being interested in boys exclusively could suggest Riley is secretly disgusted by boys.
Envy and Anxiety are as obsessed with Val as Joy is. While the other Emotions are interested in impressing Val, they seem equally interested in Lance and other male crushes. Riley is still young and going through puberty, so it’s not surprising her Sexuality and gender haven’t fully developed yet. Riley’s Emotions having different genders and sexualities could suggest she’s still exploring what labels fit best for her, something that could become more concrete in future Inside Out movies.
Inside Out 3 Should Make This Theory Canon
Inside Out 3 has yet to be confirmed, but it seems inevitable. When a sequel is made, especially by a big studio like Disney, there’s almost always the question of whether it’s necessary. However, Inside Out 2 has proved that the sequel was worth it and necessary, as it helped people understand anxiety and how to manage it, learn the importance of self-identity, bridge the gap between parents and teenagers, and more. Inside Out 2 could also help people with coming out or understanding important concepts in the LGBTQ+ community, like Compulsory Heterosexuality.
Riley’s crushes on boys have been established, but Joy has made it seem like they aren’t real crushes. Instead, they’re crushes Riley thinks she should be having as a young girl. The Inside Out 2 scene where Riley pretends not to like her favorite band, Get Up and Glow, to impress Val and the older Firehawks, shows she’s susceptible to peer pressure. Like any young person, Riley is also susceptible to the pressure that comes from living in a heteronormative society. Merriam-Webster defines heteronormative as
of, relating to, or based on the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of sexuality.
If Riley believes being a lesbian isn’t normal, it would make sense for her to try and fit in with those she deems normal by forcing herself to have crushes on boys. This is part of Compulsory Heterosexuality, which many lesbians struggle with when exploring their sexuality. For many who identify as lesbian, it’s harder to admit they don’t like men than it is to admit they like women. This is often a deep form of repression, which could help explain Riley’s Deep Dark Secret in the Inside Out 2 post-credits scene.
