LGBT children's television programming

According to the 2000 US Census, one-third of female partner households and one-fifth of male partner households in America have children.[1] However, resistance to LGBT representation continues in children's programming.

Early children's programming addressing LGBT-related subject matter includes two episodes of CBS Schoolbreak Special. "What If I'm Gay?" originally aired on March 31, 1987.[2] The episode told the story of a teenage boy struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. It was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Direction in Children's Programming.[3] The 1993 episode "Other Mothers" featured a boy who was afraid that his friends would think he was gay because he has two mothers. The episode was nominated for five Daytime Emmys, winning for Outstanding Writing in a Children's Special, Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special (Justin Whalin) and Outstanding Sound Mixing in a Children's Special.[3]

In 1986, HBO broadcast The Truth About Alex, which told the story of a high school athlete who discovers that his best friend Alex is gay.

On June 18, 2002, children's cable network Nickelodeon ran a program entitled Nick News Special Edition: My Family Is Different. Produced by Linda Ellerbee's Lucky Duck Productions and hosted by Ellerbee, My Family Is Different featured children of gay and lesbian parents talking with children from households that oppose equal rights for gay and lesbian families.[4]

In 2005, an episode of the children's series Postcards from Buster in which the animated bunny visits the children of two lesbian couples, raised controversy and PBS announced it would not distribute the episode.[5]

In September 2007 Dottie's Magic Pockets became the first available show for children in gay and lesbian families.[6]

In 2014, The Legend of Korra became the first western children's animation series to not only feature major LGBT characters, but also a lead LGBT character.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ US Census Bureau 2000
  2. ↑ What If I'm Gay?
  3. 1 2 Awards - CBS Schoolbreak Special
  4. ↑ GLAAD 2002
  5. ↑ The Washington Post 2005
  6. ↑ American Public Media's Marketplace 2007
  7. ↑ Robinson, Joanna (19 December 2014). "How a Nickelodeon Cartoon Became One of the Most Powerful, Subversive Shows of 2014". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. ↑ IGN Staff (24 December 2014). "THE LEGEND OF KORRA: IGN EDITORS REACT TO THE ENDING AND KORRASAMI". IGN. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
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