Gay nothing for kids? Local broadcaster in Alabama cancels ' Arthur ' episode

A scene from the PBS animated series "Earth muscle Arthur and his friends ": Teacher Mr. Ratburn marries his partner Patrick (PBS Kids)

"Earth piglet Arthur and his friends " is actually a harmless animated series for children, about funny adventures of an earth's rock. But now the series is once again causing a stir. A local broadcaster in the US state of Alabama refused to broadcast an episode because it depicts a same-sex wedding.

The fact that children's films and series are indexed or even banned is not very common. They are eventually made for children, serve to entertain them and have, at best, an educational function. Nevertheless, this fate has now befallen the animated series "Earth muscle Arthur and his friends ." Children in the US state of Alabama didn't get to watch the first episode from the show's 22nd season. Alabama Public Television (APT), a member of the TV network PBS, took the episode off the program. The reason: Part of the plot is the wedding of Mr. Ratburn and his partner, Patrick.

Discriminatory or tactful?

Instead, APT aired an older episode, according to multiple US media outlets, including news channel CNN's online portal. Program chief Mike McKenzie cites the fact that the episode would have shaken parents ' trust in the broadcaster as the rationale for the decision. "The parents trust that their children can watch APT without their supervision," he says in a statement. The episode's plot would send a positive message, he added. While many parents would have thought this was appropriate, others would have disagreed with it – "be it because their children are too young or because of their faith," according to McKenzie.

The mascot Arthur to the PBS series "Earth muscle Arthur and his friends " at a charity event in 2011. (Photo By Bill Clark/Roll Call)

Mother broadcaster PBS tells CNN, at CNN's request, that decisions about programming are with local channels. The broadcaster emphasizes its open-mindedness to issues such as diversity. "PBS Kids aims to reflect diversity in society ," PBS Kids manager Maria Vera Whelan explained to CNN. "We believe it is important to show the wide range of adults in the lives of children who watch PBS Kids every day. "

Cartoon maker Marc Brown

The creator of the animated series, Marc Brown, also commented on the arguable decision. The episode in question was an expression of the responsibility of the cartoon makers who had it towards "Earth piglet Arthur and his friends ." "So many of us have gay family members and friends who are not represented in the media," the author and children's book illustrator said in an interview.

"Earth piglet Arthur and his friends " is based on Brown's children's books. The animated series has been broadcast in the US since 1996. It revolves around the titular earth piglet, which experiences various adventures with family and friends in the fictional city of Elwood. Mr. Ratburn is Arthur's teacher; his partner, Patrick, is a pastry chef who specializes in making chocolate.

It's not the first time APT has taken an episode of a PBS animated series of the program. In 2005, the station had refused to broadcast a sequence from "Postcards from Buster," a spinoff of the "Arthur " series. In it, Hase Buster visits a friend who has two mothers.