Linda Bagley

Deputy General Counsel, The Walt Disney Company

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As a lesbian Latina whose family at first struggled with her homosexuality, Linda knows firsthand the power of representation, whether it’s on screen, in court, or in the board room.
Linda Bagley looking at the camera.

There was a show that had two moms, and one of my kids turned to me, and said, "Mom, that's just like us." And I kind of thought it almost seemed scripted, in a way, that the kid turned to me and said that. But it was real, it was honest.

My mom was my biggest role model. I lost her recently. And I knew she was a big role model before then, but I feel that even more so as I reflect upon who she was for me. My mom was about work ethic. She would say “There is dignity in every single job, as long as you try your best."

My favorite Disney movie is Dumbo. And I hate to say that, in some ways, because it does include some terrible stereotypes. But it also includes a depiction of a mother's love for a child, like I have never seen. There's the scene where Dumbo goes to visit Mrs. Jumbo, after she's been imprisoned, and she cradles him, and she caresses him. When I think of the love I feel for my children, it looks like that.

Stereotypes in media influence how we see ourselves. One of my sons is very light skinned and has blue eyes. And it actually took quite a long time for him to acknowledge that he was part Mexican, because when he looked in the mirror that was not at all what he saw. I think it's important, when we think about how media portrays us, that they portray the full richness of us. Sometimes we're fair skinned, sometimes we have light eyes, sometimes we have dark skin, dark eyes, or a combination.

My mom was my biggest role model. I lost her recently. And I knew she was a big role model before then, but I feel that even more so as I reflect upon who she was for me. My mom was about work ethic. She would say “There is dignity in every single job, as long as you try your best."

My favorite Disney movie is Dumbo. And I hate to say that, in some ways, because it does include some terrible stereotypes. But it also includes a depiction of a mother's love for a child, like I have never seen. There's the scene where Dumbo goes to visit Mrs. Jumbo, after she's been imprisoned, and she cradles him, and she caresses him. When I think of the love I feel for my children, it looks like that.

A reimagined tomorrow is where we feel equally comfortable with everyone. That I don't actually sit there and think to myself, ‘Oops, it's only two women. What's the percentage there?’ Or ‘Oh, it's only two people of color. And actually, there are no people who are Black, there are no people who are Asian.’ A reimagined tomorrow is a time where we don't think about any of that.