Fans of hit kids TV show Arthur are in for a treat this week.
In the premiere of season 22 airing Monday (14 May), Arthur’s beloved teacher Mr Ratburn is set to marry his boyfriend.
It is the first LGBTI storyline in the hugely popular show and has been heralded as ‘groundbreaking’.
Mr Ratburn & The Special Someone, Arthur and his animal friends are shocked to discover Mr Ratburn is engaged to be wed, according to TV Line.
Buster finds it hard to accept teachers even have a life outside of the classroom.
‘When they go home, they sharpen pencils, eat kale and dream up homework assignments’ he reportedly insists.
The group of chums grow more worried when they spy Mr Ratburn having lunch with an uptight woman.
Lesbian actress and comedian Jane Lynch voices the character. She tells Mr Ratburn to he’s ‘too soft’ and needs to ‘toughen up.’
The team decide to intervene in the wedding and show up together.
But, they soon discover that Lynch’s character is, in fact, Mr Ratburn’s sister.
Mr Ratburn is marrying Patrick, a warm aardvark chocolatier from earlier in the episode.
Arthur and his pals decide not to disrupt Mr Ratburn’ special day. But, they do make fun of the way he and his new husband dance.
Mr. Ratburn from the beloved children’s show “Arthur” comes out as gay in the season 22 premiere of the show. pic.twitter.com/RdxSFXt3sG
— Pop Crave (@PopCraveNet) May 13, 2019
Groundbreaking
Arthur fans and LGBTI supporters delighted at the news.
Look, it’s 5-year-old me learning about Mr. Ratburn. #Arthur pic.twitter.com/Qv4AFR1ZSR
— mr. ratburn stan account (@BlairImani) May 13, 2019
*saying gay rights with a genteel southern accent* gay rats https://t.co/3qCRYKmys8
— (@mathewrodriguez) May 13, 2019
I found out that Mr. Ratburn’s getting married to a bloke on Arthur and I say hey (hey) what a wonderful kind of gay.
— Gavin Herman (@MrHissara) May 13, 2019
It turns out Arthur is more courageous and explicit than Avengers: Endgame when it comes to LGBTQ2 lives and storylines. Congrats Mr. Ratburn! Your move, Marvel…. https://t.co/eq99SerHaC
— Rachel Giese (@rachelagiese) May 13, 2019
On the one hand this gay wedding on Arthur is so cute but on the other hand imagine going to a teacher’s wedding
— Ira Madison III (@ira) May 13, 2019