Arthur Character Mr. Ratburn Comes Out as Gay and Gets Married in Season 22 Premiere
Arthur is making progressive strides in children’s television.
On Monday, the beloved animated series started off season 22 with a bang when it revealed that one of its longtime characters, Arthur’s teacher Mr. Ratburn, was gay and getting married.
In the premiere episode titled “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone,” Arthur and his friends attend their teacher’s wedding, thinking that Mr. Ratburn is marrying female rat Patty (voiced by Jane Lynch) until they realize that she’s actually his sister, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Shocked at the revelation, Arthur’s pal Muffy then asks, “Who is Mr. Ratburn marrying?” — only to turn around and find their teacher walking down the aisle next to another groom.
Mr. Ratburn is the gay icon I never knew I needed pic.twitter.com/wp4o5TLr1p
— Andrea Cee (@extraspicee) May 13, 2019
As the couple walks down with their arms interlocked and passes Arthur and his friends, Mr. Ratburn’s new love interest — who appears to be an aardvark — winks at them. Arthur and Muffy then look at each other with giant smiles on their face.
Later in the episode, which was captured by a fan, Arthur and his pals discuss the wedding and their disbelief that Mr. Ratburn is married, to which Francine tells the group, “Yep, it’s a brand new world” — perhaps a nod to the changing cultural times.
They even joke that dancing is the one thing “teachers should never, ever do” as Mr. Ratburn and his new husband show off their moves on the dance floor.
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Shortly after its premiere, the internet erupted over the inclusion of a gay character and storyline in such a prominent children’s program.
“PSA: Mr. Ratburn from ‘Arthur’ is gay. Do you know how amazing it is that someone who’s been on the show from the start, someone who’s a main character, is openly gay and getting married on a kids show?” wrote one user. “PBS Kids really is that bitch. Plus, all his students are at his wedding! :’)”
PSA: Mr. Ratburn from "Arthur" is gay. Do you know how amazing it is that someone who's been on the show from the start, someone who's a main character, is openly gay and getting married on a kids show? PBS Kids really is that bitch.
Plus, all his students are at his wedding! :') pic.twitter.com/aaxGwTE9is— osmosis jones (@keeothrama) May 13, 2019
shout out to @PBS for the representation. Just watched “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone,” and im so here for it! #arthur #mrratburn
— Queen Amira (@AmiraaaJohnson) May 14, 2019
“For anyone who missed it, Mr. Ratburn married his male partner on the most recent episode of #Arthur,” added someone else. “big props for celebrating love and fearlessly exampling to a young audience all types of relationships.”
“mr. ratburn from arthur is gay this is the absolute best thing you’ll see all day,” noted one person, while another joyfully said, “Mr. Ratburn got married on Arthur! Mr. Ratburn is gay, im crying. wowowow f— cute”
“So I was watching the new episode of Arthur and they just confirmed Mr.Ratburn is gay by him having a same sex marriage. Wow…that’s huge for them to do” wrote someone else.
I never thought I'd see the day that a PBS Kids show, especially Arthur, have a gay character. Way to go Mr. Ratburn! It's a good day to be alive.
— TheDauphine (@TheDauphineofDA) May 14, 2019
