Arthur’s Mr Ratburn just came out with a gay wedding and the internet is living for it

14 May 2019, 12:46

Arthur's Mr Ratburn just came out with a gay wedding
Arthur's Mr Ratburn just came out with a gay wedding. Picture: PBS
Sam  Prance

By Sam Prance

Arthur's Mr. Ratburn came out in a wedding in the show's 22nd season...

Mr. Ratburn just came out as gay and got married on Arthur and the entire internet is living for it.

It's no secret that Arthur is one of the most popular children's TV shows of all time. Ever since it first aired in 1996, people all around the world have fallen in love with the eight-year-old ardvark Arthur Read and his hard-working and hilarious family. In 22 seasons, Arthur has explored themes ranging from dyslexia to cancer in important and heartwarming ways. This week, the show made history after Mr. Ratburn came out as gay via his own wedding.

How did Mr. Ratburn come out as gay on Arthur?

Arthur viewers will already know that Mr. Ratburn is Arthur's teacher and a principal character in the series. The first episode of Season 22, Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone sees Arthur and his friends wonder who Mr. Ratburn is getting married to. Initially, they think that a woman named Patty is Mr. Ratburn's fiancé but then they realise that Patty is his sister. The students soon find out at the wedding that Mr. Ratburn is marrying a man.

That's about it. Arthur smiles at Mr. Ratburn's husband to be, as he and Mr. Ratburn walk down the isle, and Arthur, Buster, Muffy, Francine and Binky praise the wedding. It's a small nod to the LGBTQ+ community but, given that it's still incredibly rare to see children's programmes acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people exist, it's great to see a show like Arthur make clear that one of its main characters is queer.

Understandably, the internet is praising Arthur for it.

Iconic.

A gay icon is getting his flowers.

Mr. Ratburn really did that.

Arthur really out here doing what Marvel hasn't.

We're waiting.

Is anyone else shook that Arthur is in its 22nd season?

It's what it deserves tbh. A timeless classic.

A moment for LGBTQ+ teacher representation.

Really important.

Some people aren't sure about a teacher's wedding.

Fair.

Ultimately though...

...we stan Mr. Ratburn.