An upcoming episode of kids cartoon My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic includes for the first time a same-sex couple.
The animated series has been running for nine years, and creators have announced this season will be the show’s last. But before they go out their making sure they include some diversity among the show’s characters.
The episode The Last Crusade, written by Nicole Dubuc, will screen this Saturday in the USA on Discovery Family but has already aired in some overseas markets.
In the episode the long absent parents of the young pegasus Scootaloo are at last introduced, finally answering a longstanding plot point many have been wondering.
Early in the story however, Scootaloo and her friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, known collectively as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, meet with Scootaloo’s current caretakers Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty. Holiday and Lofty are a same sex couple.
My Little Pony is not the only kids cartoon embracing diversity, Steven Universe included a same-sex marriage proposal and wedding, while Mr Ratburn, the teacher in Arthur got married to his same-sex partner.
The decision to include a same-sex pony couple has angered conservative commentators. Lyle Shelton, the official spokesperson for Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservatives said the inclusion of a same sex couple in my little pony was proof that allowing same-sex marriage would lead to children being ‘indoctrinated’.
“It’s a brave new world folks and we need to push back while we still can. Sitting outside politics is no longer an option for conservatives.” Shelton posted to social media.
Kirralie Smith, the head of anti-transgender organisation Binary, posted an image of Aunt Lofty and Aunt Holiday saying “They are coming for your kids…”
Australian audiences might have to wait a while for the episode, it’s episode 208 of the series and Foxtel Australia is currently screening episode 144.
OIP Staff
