“Arthur” revealed that one of its lead characters is gay in the season 22 premiere episode.
Arthur’s teacher Mr. Ratburn is getting married in the episode titled “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone.” Arthur and his friends Buster, Muffy and Francine assume that Mr. Ratburn is getting married to a woman named Patty (Jane Lynch) after they run into the pair talking to each other.
The gang is upset because they don’t like Patty and decide to crash the wedding. They learn that Mr. Ratburn isn’t marrying Patty but is marrying an aardvark named Patrick who owns the local chocolate shop. The big plot twist is that Patty is Patrick’s sister.
People commented on the cartoon’s inclusivity on social media with reactions ranging from praise to surprise that “Arthur” is, in fact, still airing after 22 seasons.
MR RATBURN IS GAY HELLO !! HE GOT MARRIED !! pic.twitter.com/T1Emc97Y0f
— EIGHTH WONDER (@WOLFNOlR) May 13, 2019
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
I found out that Mr. Ratburn's getting married to a bloke on Arthur and I say hey (hey) what a wonderful kind of gay.
— Gavin Herman (@MrHissara) May 13, 2019
imagine telling me in 1998 that “Mr. Ratburn” would be a worldwide trend on twitter dot com
— Husky Dave Grohl (@saulmalone) May 13, 2019
1) Shoutout to Mr. Ratburn!
2) Arthur has been on TV forever. Season 22?? https://t.co/27W8Xo1NhA
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 13, 2019
The “Arthur” universe has included LGBTQ representation in the past. In the 2005 spin-off series, “Postcards from Buster,” a lesbian couple is seen in the episode “Sugartime!”
Watch “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone” here.
Story courtesy of the Washington Blade.