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14 May 2019, 12:46
Arthur's Mr. Ratburn came out in a wedding in the show's 22nd season...
Mr. Ratburn just came out as gay and got married on Arthur and the entire internet is living for it.
It's no secret that Arthur is one of the most popular children's TV shows of all time. Ever since it first aired in 1996, people all around the world have fallen in love with the eight-year-old ardvark Arthur Read and his hard-working and hilarious family. In 22 seasons, Arthur has explored themes ranging from dyslexia to cancer in important and heartwarming ways. This week, the show made history after Mr. Ratburn came out as gay via his own wedding.
Arthur says gay rights pic.twitter.com/nLqZ2QoJ2N
— Vinci 💎💜 || Watch 101 Dalmatian street (@Femmetoons) May 13, 2019
Arthur viewers will already know that Mr. Ratburn is Arthur's teacher and a principal character in the series. The first episode of Season 22, Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone sees Arthur and his friends wonder who Mr. Ratburn is getting married to. Initially, they think that a woman named Patty is Mr. Ratburn's fiancé but then they realise that Patty is his sister. The students soon find out at the wedding that Mr. Ratburn is marrying a man.
That's about it. Arthur smiles at Mr. Ratburn's husband to be, as he and Mr. Ratburn walk down the isle, and Arthur, Buster, Muffy, Francine and Binky praise the wedding. It's a small nod to the LGBTQ+ community but, given that it's still incredibly rare to see children's programmes acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people exist, it's great to see a show like Arthur make clear that one of its main characters is queer.
MR RATBURN IS GAY HELLO !! HE GOT MARRIED !! pic.twitter.com/T1Emc97Y0f
— EIGHTH WONDER (@WOLFNOlR) May 13, 2019
Iconic.
We been knew. Mr. Ratburn is an extremely slept on gay icon. Mr. Ratburn has done more for the LGBQT community than Harvey Milk and Ryan Murphy combined!!!! https://t.co/MilWOP0TTb
— caroline (@hairoline) May 13, 2019
Mr. Ratburn really did that.
It turns out Arthur is more courageous and explicit than Avengers: Endgame when it comes to LGBTQ2 lives and storylines. Congrats Mr. Ratburn! Your move, Marvel.... https://t.co/eq99SerHaC
— Rachel Giese (@rachelagiese) May 13, 2019
We're waiting.
1) Shoutout to Mr. Ratburn!
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 13, 2019
2) Arthur has been on TV forever. Season 22?? https://t.co/27W8Xo1NhA
It's what it deserves tbh. A timeless classic.
Ok but are we forgetting about the importance of showing that an elementary teacher can be gay & its completely normal & it doesn't make you a predator & they can have normal lives & relationships because thats very important in our time rn #MrRatburn #Arthur pic.twitter.com/ar4QaqebWW
— Molly T (@Molly_T01) May 14, 2019
Really important.
On the one hand this gay wedding on Arthur is so cute but on the other hand imagine going to a teacher’s wedding
— Ira Madison III (@ira) May 13, 2019
Fair.
— Patrick Sullivan (@PatchNavillus) May 13, 2019
...we stan Mr. Ratburn.