Children's TV leads the way for LGBT characters

by Makalyn Kowalik
Op.Ed.

Cartoons have forever been known to take subtle stabs at what is going on in the real world and make some light out of them. This goes for politics, scandals and even sexual innuendos. The latest feature in some of these cartoons of late though are not punchlines nor subtle; they are real life. LGBT characters as well relationships are finally being featured boldly and proudly within cartoon shows.

Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and of course Cartoon Network are the three main television networks that put out cartoon shows for kids and teens. These stations have not only been around for decades now but are known for stepping out of the box and pushing the boundaries for what is commonly acceptable for children to watch.

The latest feature of the LGBT community happened on a show called “Loud House”, where they featured an interracial family with two male dads: one black and one white. Wow! Double whammy. Interracial and gay.

Right before the show revealed the parents Lincoln Loud, a character on the show, said, “This is it. Time to make history,” who then opened the door to show the loving and over protective parents, worried about leaving their son for a night at a sleepover.

Nickelodeon handled this portrayal of gay parents incredibly gracefully. Rather than focus on their sexuality, the show concentrated on their lovingness towards their son and worry for leaving him with a friend for the first time.

Mr. McBride and Mr. McBride, as Loud called them, will make their debut on Wednesday as the network’s first married gay couple on the show. But this isn’t the first time that Nickelodeon or kids’ television has featured LGBT characters.

Cartoon Network, known for their more eccentric and out-there shows, has been featuring LGBT characters for a while now. The show “Steven Universe” has a huge fan base centered round the fact that the majority of its characters are genderless and that two of its characters are known to have a loving and intimate relationship. These characters, Pearl and Rose Quartz, and their feelings for one another have been confirmed by the writers of the show.

Most cartoon watchers are aware of the show “Adventure Time” distributed on Cartoon Network and the characters within it. There has always been talk of two of the characters being in a lesbian relationship but this has never been officially confirmed, and this is why.

In August 2014, after a long controversy, Olivia Olson, the voice of Marceline, told a crowd at a Barnes & Noble book signing for The Adventure Time Encyclopedia, that, according to the creator of the series, Marceline and Princess Bubblegum had dated in the past, but that because the series airs in some areas where homosexual relationships are illegal, the show has not been able to officially make the relationship clear.

Showing these relationships to a young audience helps them understand that gay is okay and that it is a reality. By promoting LGBT characters in such lighthearted programs is just another step forward in gaining the acceptance that the community is warranted and deserves.

The Gayly - 7/20/2016 @ 11:56 a.m. CDT