By now, I'm sure you've read or heard about how Arthur is presenting an episode where one of the title character's teachers came out, and is getting married.
Well, the wedding episode won't play in Alabama, and likely nowhere else in the Bible Belt.
Alabama Public Television made the decision to ban the episode, and, just as predictably, GLAAD raised a stink over the issue, citing, of course, how our society has become more and more inclusive in recent years. Jane Lynch (Hollywood Game Night, ex-Glee) guest stars in the episode.
That doesn't matter in the Bible Belt, where they cling to the core values preached in the Old Testament, more so than in the New Testament.
Fourteen years ago, APT also banned an episode of the Arthur spin-off, Postcards From Buster, in which the title character met a youth who had two mothers. What we don't know is whether or not Marc Brown, Arthur's creator, actively supports LGBT causes, or just wanted to tell a simple story reflecting current society.
Here's the episode:
We know this. It won't play in a certain building in Washington, either.
6 comments:
Marc Brown made a video response to all of this. Long story short, he just wanted to reflect an aspect of life that exists, because it does exist. Holding up a mirror to reality isn't pushing an agenda.
Well, that does answer the question I had. Thanks.
What truly surprises me about this is the fact that Arthur is still in production! Arthur is like The Simpsons of PBS Kids (a zombie, in other words). I haven't seen Arthur since my kid brother (who's now 33) outgrew it.
It's been an amazing run, yes. I think Brown is still putting books out, so that helps.
Gays in a kids cartoon. This show had guts.
Sure did.
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