Several Arab countries have banned the screening of the fourth installment of the Thor saga in cinemas this week, due to the presence of gay characters. Entitled Thor: Love and Thunder, the Marvel blockbuster blew up the North American box office, but, like other recent American blockbusters, sparked unease, even censorship, in some countries due to LGBTQ+ references. contains more or less explicit allusions to homosexuality, Valkyrie, the character played by Tessa Thompson, clearly showing feelings for another woman. In Bahrain, the Ministry of Information has “decided to stop the projection of a film shown in cinemas for the sake of preserving the virtuous values of society”, according to a press release published Thursday evening. He did not specify the title of the film in question, but the broadcast of Thor was effectively interrupted. Kuwait has also banned its screening in cinemas, according to local press. This quotes the Ministry of Information, which explains its decision by the presence of “scenes with homosexual characters”. In Egypt, the press – even state – had promoted the film earlier this month. But a day after its release, it was officially banned due to the presence of homosexual characters. On the other hand, Thor is still screened in the United Arab Emirates, an equally conservative Gulf country which had banned the animated film from Pixar studios. Buzz Lightyear because it contains a kissing scene between two women. In April, Saudi Arabia asked Disney to remove “LGBTQ references” from the Marvel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in order to allow its screening in the halls of the ultraconservative kingdom. Gender and sexual freedom issues are still very taboo in many Arab countries, especially the Gulf monarchies.
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