Groundbreaking: Homosexuality finding its way into children’s cartoons

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Seven years after ABC aired its controversial “coming out” episode of “Ellen,” homosexuality appears to be breaking new ground again—this time in cartoons.

The producers of the PBS children’s show “Postcards from Buster” have filmed an episode in which Buster—a cartoon bunny who travels the U.S. meeting real people—visits a lesbian couple in Vermont. A little girl introduces Buster to “my mom and Gillian” before everyone sits down for dinner, USA Today reported. Although PBS has since said it will not air the episode, the producer—WGBH in Boston—says it will provide the episode to stations that want it.

In February, a regular character on “The Simpsons” is scheduled to come out in an episode that reportedly will feature a same-sex “marriage.” Homer “marries” the couple, and his daughter, Lisa, supports the couple’s relationship. The episode will air in the midst of a nationwide culture battle over the definition of marriage.

The PBS Buster episode drew a letter from new education secretary Margaret Spellings, who told PBS: “Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in this episode.”

Pro-family leaders say both cartoons are another indication that homosexuality is moving further into the mainstream of society.

“As any parent knows, kids are riveted to cartoons,” Peter LaBarbera, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, told Baptist Press. “You’re taking a kid and what he loves to do most—which is watch cartoons—and you’re introducing an adult topic which is inappropriate.”

LaBarbera, who has been involved in promoting a marriage amendment to Illinois’ constitution, said “The Simpsons” episode isn’t so surprising, being that its producers often push the envelope. The show has featured an openly homosexual character before, although there was not the build-up this episode features. LaBarbera said he watches “Postcards” with his children.

“It’s extremely offensive that they would even consider doing this issue,” he said. “They’re teaching the acceptance of homosexuality to toddlers.”

In the questionable “Postcards from Buster” episode—dubbed “Sugartime!”—Buster visits the lesbian couple and learns about maple sugaring, the Associated Press reported. In 2000 Vermont legalized civil unions, which give homosexual couples all of the state’s legal benefits of marriage. The move was court-ordered.

Spellings, who began her role at the Department of Education Jan. 24, asked PBS to consider refunding the money used to make the episode. PBS is publicly funded.

“Congress’ and the Department’s purpose in funding this programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children, particularly through the powerful and intimate medium of television,” she wrote, according to the AP.

Simpsons’ staffers began working on the episode after San Francisco issued marriage licenses to homosexual couples in early 2004, the Baltimore Sun reported. The California Supreme Court subsequently invalidated the licenses.

“We thought it would be an interesting thing for Springfield to do,” Simpsons executive editor Al Jean told the newspaper. “Lisa thinks it’s good for civil rights. The reverend of the local Protestant church is opposed to it. Other people think tourists will come to town. Mayor Quimby wants the money. We don’t take a position as much as explore everybody’s positions.”