PBS is getting some major applause this week from LGBTQ+ advocates everywhere, after Monday's episode of Arthur centered on a plot point we rarely, if ever, see in kids' programming: gay marriage. That's right; Mr. Ratburn — who audiences know and love as Arthur's beloved teacher — came out as gay. And now, he's a married man, y'all!
The episode, titled Mr. Ratburn & the Special Someone, begins when Mr. Ratburn gets an unexpected call while teaching class.
As Arthur and his other classmates crane to listen, Mr. Ratburn starts talking in hushed tones about flower arrangements with a mystery caller he refers to as "Patty." And kids being kids, they start probing a little further about what those flower arrangements could be for.
It isn't long before Mr. Ratburn spills the beans: They're for a wedding — his wedding.
This little tidbit apparently shocks Arthur and his friends, who later confess to believing that teachers don't date or get married.
In fact, according to Buster Baxter, their lives outside of school consist only of sharpening pencils, eating kale, and dreaming up homework assignments.
LOL — sure feels like it, when you're a kid.
"They don't even sleep," he continues. "They just go into low-power mode and watch documentaries."
(Um, is this kid describing teachers … or are they peering into my apartment windows at night?)
But much to their surprise, teachers do date -- and they're stunned to see Mr. Ratburn having lunch one day with Patty.
Patty is stylish, outspoken, and opinionated — and clearly sounds like she wears the pants in the relationship. As Arthur and his friends hide under a table (as one does) they listen to the pair chat over lunch and begin to worry that maybe Patty's influence over Mr. Ratburn isn't so positive.
Their main reason for thinking this? At one point, Patty teases Mr. Ratburn by saying, "I need to toughen you up."
Obviously, toughening up Mr. Ratburn would lead to even harder quizzes and homework assignments, right? (Duh — kid logic.)
So instead of facing that terrible fate, the group sets out to sabotage the wedding.
Spoiler alert: They don't actually succeed in foiling the wedding plans. But that's okay, because in the end, they all get invited to the wedding and have a total blast.
It's also there that they realize Patty isn't Mr. Ratburn's fiancé after all — she's his sister! (His slightly bossy, loves-to-plan-weddings sister, who just so happens to be voiced by Jane Lynch.)
So who is Mr. Ratburn marrying? The local chocolatier who the kids met in an earlier scene — who happens to be a man.
As the pair happily walk down the aisle, the kids are shocked. But only because they guessed wrong about who their teacher was marrying. Not because his fiancé turned out to be a man.
This not only is how both children and adults should react to any couple — same-sex or not — getting married, but it also is a great tool for introducing this conversation to kids. This episode is an invaluable teaching opportunity, even for households that may not approve of same-sex relationships, because it allows kids to witness this in a nonpolitical light and gives them a safe place for much-needed exposure to these types of relationships.
Starting to normalize gay marriage at a young age is helping to set up the next generation for success with an unprecedented understanding, acceptance, and respect for everyone — even those who may be different. It also diversifies role models that kids have during childhood that they can identify with and draw support from.
On Twitter, people immediately praised PBS for boldly going where few kids shows have gone before.
"Arthur was one of my favorite shows as a kid," tweeted one man. "Seeing an episode showcase a gay marriage warms every part of me. I hope future kids who might need to come out in the future and remember this episode — it gives them great permission to love themselves."
"Arthur's a good children's show and I'm glad this normalizes gay marriage as a concept to kids," tweeted another.
Although support for gay marriage has rapidly grown in the last decade, according to the Pew Research Center, it's just now starting to have representation in mainstream entertainment. And when it comes to family and kids' entertainment, LGBTQ+ storylines are few and far between. Yet the need for them is perhaps more important than ever, considering between 2 and 3.7 million kids younger than 18 are being raised by an LGBTQ+ parent, notes the Family Equality Council.
Although some homophobic comments slammed the network for bringing up the topic with children, the vast majority were supportive.
In fact, one user took the time to outline just how progressive Arthur has been throughout the years by introducing characters who have Aspergers and Alzheimer's, characters who have cultural or ethnic differences, characters in wheelchairs or with other disabilities, and even those growing up with divorced parents.
PBS was also recently praised for its other popular and long-running kids show, Sesame Street, which introduced a character named Julia, who has autism, as well as her loving family.
Clearly, PBS is making it its mission to start creating onscreen worlds for kids that reflect what their own lives look like. And surely, this push for inclusivity and representation can't help but have positive ripple effects in the future.
Way to go, PBS! More of this, please.
To watch the full episode, check it out on PBS.org.
