Classic animated show Arthur reveals one of its main characters is LGBTQ+

[Tom4784]

Arthur returned for its 22nd season in the US yesterday (May 13), and with it came a delightful storyline – as one of its major characters was revealed to be LGBTQ+.

In the episode 'Mr Ratburn and the Special Someone', Arthur and his pals are surprised to learn that their teacher Mr Ratburn is engaged, because they can't accept that teachers have lives outside of school.

At one point, they spot him having lunch with an uptight woman (played by Jane Lynch) who they assume to be his fiancée.

However, she turns out to be his sister, as when the wedding comes around, Mr Ratburn actually walks down the aisle with his husband-to-be, much to the joy of the assembled guests.

The episode doesn't mention the word 'gay', and treating the marriage of the character so matter-of-factly is clearly a positive step.

It's not the first time that the world of Arthur has represented the LGBTQ+ community, with an episode of spin-off show Postcards from Buster depicting the titular rabbit meeting children whose mothers happened to be lesbians.

That episode – which aired back in 2005 – also didn't use the word 'lesbian', recognising it as a given much like the latest episode.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a27462491/arthur-mr-ratburn-wedding-episode-lgbtq/

:clap1:

I love how more and more makers of children's TV shows are doing these storylines. The more normalised the LGBT become, the less likely future generations will take on the same level of homophobia from older generations.

[Withano]

Cute

[RileyH]

Aww that's so sweet

[Tony Montana]

Loved this show as a kid. Really sweet.

[Ramsay]

I did not know this was still going but yeah good for them

[Epic.]

I keep forgetting this show is still going :joker: Glad it is, it was a classic to watch<3

[Matthew.]

:love:

https://media.giphy.com/media/JoDjAEczDQLf0W0Ycn/giphy.gif

[Vicky.]

I hated Arthur, the theme tune still makes me grimace :laugh: My sister loved it so it was on constantly...

It is good that more shows are doing this, especially given how many kids do have same sex parents now. I think, another step forward for representation would be having more..single parents on kids tv. Seems to be very lacking.

[Beso]

I hated Arthur, the theme tune still makes me grimace :laugh: My sister loved it so it was on constantly...

It is good that more shows are doing this, especially given how many kids do have same sex parents now. I think, another step forward for representation would be having more..single parents on kids tv. Seems to be very lacking.

Yes this has been a minor gripe of mine for a while now, it is certainly about time that more and more single parent family characters were brought into children's story telling...

[Liam-]

I hated Arthur, the theme tune still makes me grimace :laugh: My sister loved it so it was on constantly...

It is good that more shows are doing this, especially given how many kids do have same sex parents now. I think, another step forward for representation would be having more..single parents on kids tv. Seems to be very lacking.

Ash Ketchum’s mum has been an iconic single mother for about 20 years :joker:

[Tom4784]

Ash Ketchum’s mum has been an iconic single mother for about 20 years :joker:

Oh please, she's all about that Mr. Mime D.

[Niamh.]

Yeah, this is a good way to normalise same sex relationships around children, it's not making a big deal about it or sexualising it either like people seem to think bringing gay relationships up around kids will do. The kids aren't going to bat an eyelid when they watch this, unlike the adults I think

[Ant.]

I was expecting it to be Buster

[Mystic Mock]

It sounds like they've introduced the storyline in an organic way.

A lot of adult shows could learn a thing or two from Arthur by the sound of things.

[Saph]

we all know Francines a lesbo

[UserSince2005]

Big Surprise!!! yeah right, I knew it all along.

[Vicky.]

Yeah, this is a good way to normalise same sex relationships around children, it's not making a big deal about it or sexualising it either like people seem to think bringing gay relationships up around kids will do. The kids aren't going to bat an eyelid when they watch this, unlike the adults I think

Yeah I find it odd how some seem to automatically jump to 'we dont need to teach 6 year olds about anal sex and gay clubs (for example) and anyone who wants to teach them that is a perv!' when theres talk about more awareness of gay relationships. I mean, I agree that anyone wanting 6 year olds to learn about any kind of sex really is a bit of a perv and definitely one to watch (or keep away from kids entirely..) but thats generally absolutely NOT whats meant at all. It can be done age appropriately, and its not about the actual sex...its just about making it more 'normal'. God I hate that word but it fits here. The kid with 2 dads would be likely to get stick if this was seen as a really odd thing, that kids had no idea of until they saw him being dropped off by them. When if introduced to reality earlier instead of everything around them being about 'nuclear families' which is really how it seems..it wouldn't seem as 'odd'. I hope that comes over right, always a bit wary of how to word stuff as saying even one wrong word can totally change the meaning of what you are trying to say if that makes sense..

I don't think even it needs to be 'taught' as such under a certain age. Just more..around (like this).

[Beso]

Yeah I find it odd how some seem to automatically jump to 'we dont need to teach 6 year olds about anal sex and gay clubs (for example) and anyone who wants to teach them that is a perv!' when theres talk about more awareness of gay relationships. I mean, I agree that anyone wanting 6 year olds to learn about any kind of sex really is a bit of a perv and definitely one to watch (or keep away from kids entirely..) but thats generally absolutely NOT whats meant at all. It can be done age appropriately, and its not about the actual sex...its just about making it more 'normal'. God I hate that word but it fits here. The kid with 2 dads would be likely to get stick if this was seen as a really odd thing, that kids had no idea of until they saw him being dropped off by them. When if introduced to reality earlier instead of everything around them being about 'nuclear families' which is really how it seems..it wouldn't seem as 'odd'. I hope that comes over right, always a bit wary of how to word stuff as saying even one wrong word can totally change the meaning of what you are trying to say if that makes sense..

I don't think even it needs to be 'taught' as such under a certain age. Just more..around (like this).

So what age do we start telling kids about anal sex?

[Twosugars]

So what age do we start telling kids about anal sex?

I knew it was only a matter of time before youd come up with something like that


The answer is the same time as we tell them about vaginal and oral sex

[armand.kay]

not the rat obsessed with CAKE :shocked:

[armand.kay]

So what age do we start telling kids about anal sex?

You know theres more to gay people than just sex right??

[Ant.]

we all know Francines a lesbo

https://cdn150.picsart.com/upscale-278737339027211.png?r1024x1024
Girl dresses so butch but she presents so femme she tries to keep it casual so she doesn't clash.... tries to pass as futch.... girl you're a chapstick lesbian

[Beso]

I knew it was only a matter of time before youd come up with something like that


The answer is the same time as we tell them about vaginal and oral sex

I'm sure Vicky will.admit it was her that came up with it and I only asked what age they should be told about anal sex after I read her mention it in her post....



Sorry Vicky. ..I knew I should have deleted the comment after making a new thread as not to derail this one but some folk just can't help themselves.

[Beso]

You know theres more to gay people than just sex right??

Yes I do.

[armand.kay]

Yes I do.

then why did your mind leap right to anal sex in a thread about a children's cartoon?

[armand.kay]

tbh queer characters have always been coded in children's cartoons if you look back a lot of the villains were clearly just bitter gays :skull:

[Beso]

then why did your mind leap right to anal sex in a thread about a children's cartoon?

Cause I read it in Vicky reply.:shrug:

[Twosugars]

I'm sure Vicky will.admit it was her that came up with it and I only asked what age they should be told about anal sex after I read her mention it in her post....are you deluded by hatred and spite?



Sorry Vicky. ..I knew I should have deleted the comment after making a new thread as not to derail this one but some folk just can't help themselves.

Hatred and spite?
Baiting again?

[Beso]

Hatred and spite?
Baiting again?

I have deleted that part now so you don't think I'm baiting you....

[Ant.]

tbh queer characters have always been coded in children's cartoons if you look back a lot of the villains were clearly just bitter gays :skull:

This is aimed at 'Him' from PPG and who else?

[Beso]

What on earth is a bitter gay?

[armand.kay]

This is aimed at 'Him' from PPG and who else?

efipsdkhej maybe so...

there was also hades, scar, drakken... actually pretty much every male (and some female) disney villain was coded as queer.

[Rob!]

Oh please, she's all about that Mr. Mime D.

Bollocks, she's been riding Oak for years.

[Wizard.]

we all know Francines a lesbo

I ship her and Muffy

[Ant.]

efipsdkhej maybe so...

there was also hades, scar, drakken... actually pretty much every male (and some female) disney villain was coded as queer.

Oh I remember Hades

Now I think back at it, I can see Scar being gay :worry:

[Jack_]

I ship her and Muffy

Muffy :joker: I mean FFS

[LemonJam]

This is aimed at 'Him' from PPG and who else?

Pretty much every Disney villain (Scar, Jafar, Ursula was based off a drag queen, Captain Hook, Hades, King John and Sir Hiss from Robin Hood, the list could go on)

Edit: soz only just saw Armand's post

[Ammi]

...Mr Ratburn and Patrick..:lovedup:...it’s a positive step and hopefully more and more LGBTQ characters will become part of children’s TV and children’s literature...sadly it’s still the thing in many primary schools that teaching staff can’t talk to their children about their same sex marriages but they can openly talk to them about their heterosexual marriages...and yet some of those children who a same sex marriage../..relationship can’t be discussed with ...?...have parents who are same sex....crazy ....

[Shaun]

Pretty much every Disney villain (Scar, Jafar, Ursula was based off a drag queen, Captain Hook, Hades, King John and Sir Hiss from Robin Hood, the list could go on)

Edit: soz only just saw Armand's post

Yeah Ursula's design was based on Divine :love:

https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/05ecz3rz.jpg

https://news.avclub.com/read-this-how-divine-inspired-ursula-the-sea-witch-1798243255

Early on, The Little Mermaid’s directors and animators created several iterations of Ursula. One was a manta ray inspired by Joan Collins. Another was a “beautiful but deadly” scorpion fish, recalled director John Musker. None worked, until an animator named Rob Minkoff drew a vampy overweight matron who everyone agreed looked a lot like Divine.

She had the eye makeup, the jewelry, the body type, and the glamour. But instead of tentacles, Minkoff gave her a shark tail and a pink Mohawk. The sketches were almost there. Musker, Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenburg, and Ashman could all feel it.

“She looks like a Miami Beach matron,” Ashman had cackled when he first saw the drawings. He told Musker and Minkoff he could imagine the sea witch “playing Mah Jong by the pool.”

[Natalie.]

That's so cute, I love it

[Wizard.]

Muffy :joker: I mean FFS

eating her muffin :laugh:

[Matthew.]

https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2019/05/alabama-public-television-didnt-air-arthur-episode-feauring-gay-wedding

The episode’s been banned in Alabama :umm2:

[Oliver_W]

He's LGBTQ+ ? so he's a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trap, "queer", and plus?! Astonishing.

[Tom4784]

https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2019/05/alabama-public-television-didnt-air-arthur-episode-feauring-gay-wedding

The episode’s been banned in Alabama :umm2:

Alabama continues to be the skidmark on the underwear that is the US.