The gayification of cartoons has begun. In case you missed the kids TV show ‘Arthur’: Mr. Ratburn, Arthur’s teacher, suddenly turned gay and got married. On the show. To Patrick.
The cartoon show is on air for 22 years now, and slowly farting out of existence, but the queer Mr. Ratburn relevation might, just might, give it the much needed fresh air.
No, of course Mr. Ratburn was not gay before. Well, let’s say he was soft. He was just written gay for this episode: ‘Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone’.
Mr. Ratburn was immediately equipped with “a long-time partner Patrick.”
The gayification of cartoon characters is new.
Most cartoon characters that appear gay, because of their femininity or tomboyishness, are not confirmed as such by their creators.
Famous examples of “possibly” homosexual characters are Mr. Simmons, Arnold’s teacher in ‘Hey Arnold!’, and Ren and Stimpy in the “Ren and Stimpy Show’.
And then, of course, there are Spongebob Squarepants or even Robin, the sidekick of Batman, all of whom could be ‘rewritten’ as gay any moment.
I’m sure that we are going to see a lot more “revisionism” in cartoon series, as “gay” could be the latest news factor or wow factor to get rainbow viewers tuned in. If it will be a success, however, remains to be seen.
So now gender politics have reached kindergarten. Which cartoon character do you want to rewrite gay? And don’t say He-Man of the Masters of the Universe. Don’t be shy and leave a comment!
