'My Little Pony' cartoon praised for introducing lesbian couple — but some critics call it 'sick'
A month after the PBS children’s cartoon Arthur featured teacher Mr. Ratburn coming out as gay and marrying a man — prompting Alabama Public Television to ban the episode — Discovery Family’s My Little Pony is introducing its own same-sex couple, just in time for Pride.
As BuzzFeed News reports, writer and producer Michael Vogel confirmed that this Saturday’s episode, titled “The Last Crusade,” will mark the TV debut of Scootaloo’s Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty, who, as he once tweeted “aren’t sisters.” The episode has already aired in Europe.
Hey hey!!! @NicoleDubuc , @joshhaber and I doin what we can to bring more EQuality to EQuestria!! #PrideMonth https://t.co/YPOvvxT3v0
— mktoon (@mktoon) June 10, 2019
Comics Beat notes that the lesbian couple first appeared in the 2017 book Ponyville Mysteries: Riddle of the Rusty Horseshoe but have not yet turned up on the Discovery Family cartoon, now in its final season.
"I think it’s fantastic that we can show that what truly defines a family is love — that, to me, is the core of My Little Pony," showrunner Nicole Dubuc told BuzzFeed.
"My Little Pony has always been about friendship and accepting people (or ponies) that are different from you,” added Vogel, who is openly gay. “So it just felt like something important to do.”
Many agree, and have commended the show for its inclusivity.
I wish it would have been a teeny tiny tad more obvious that those two are a couple (One calling the other "hun" or so) but I was very very very happy about this. Thank you so very much! <3 ❤️🧡💚💙
— ANdy_Reacts (@ANdy_Reacts) June 10, 2019
Thank you so much for including them. It means a lot to the lgbtq community to finally see our stories being told in cartoons.
There is nothing wrong with loving who you are and who you love.
And I can’t wait for storylines like this to not be a huge deal.
We are so grateful!— Marsh Mallory! (@Kit_N_Kadoodle) June 11, 2019
Hopefully my home state of Alabama won't ban THIS one!
— EvAnZeGeek VA (@ev4n2k4) June 11, 2019
They really should confirm other lesbian couples like GlimGlam and Trixie and Lyra and bon bon.
— 🔞 SexualizedPony 🔞 (@SexualizedP) June 11, 2019
And there's more to their personality outside of them being a same sex couple. PERFECTION.
— Mr. Snarky (@MrSnarky3) June 11, 2019
Of course, the move isn’t without some controversy. Australian conservative pundit Lyle Shelton was among those decrying the show’s decision.
We said indoctrinating your children & your grandchildren would be a consequence of 🏳️🌈 “marriage”. It’s a brave new world folks & we need to push back while we still can. Sitting outside politics is no longer an option for conservatives. https://t.co/tgyq9Y6xWI
— Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) June 12, 2019
Consider to not let my niece watch MLP again.
— Dias Christia (@diaskechil) June 13, 2019
They’re cartoon ponies!?!?! OMG! Gone too far! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
— Anna Foster (@AnnaFos89338229) June 12, 2019
More than half the time these storylines for kids don’t talk about heterosexual relationships so why are we forcing the need to a unnecessary storyline about homosexuality?
— Dementedly Sane (@MdwithNYBlood13) June 13, 2019
This is sick, disgusting, unsettling. When is this sickness going away!
— Sarah Z. (@sarrinahzafar) June 13, 2019
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