DISNEY CHANNEL TO FEATURE FIRST GAY CHARACTERS

In a first for the Disney Channel in the US, an upcoming episode of Good Luck Charlie will include a family headed by two lesbian moms.

Good Luck Charlie is a family sitcom that has aired on the Disney Channel since 2010.

According to TV Guide, the lesbian family will appear in one episode of the show’s final season, set to be aired next year.

The episode is being shot this week, although it is not yet known who will play the two moms.

In the episode, the show’s lead characters Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker and Eric Allan Kramer) arrange a play date for their young son Charlie (Mia Talerico). When the other boy arrives for the play date, Amy and Bob discover that he has two moms.

According to TV Guide, “the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob’s dull stories”.

It quoted a Disney Channel spokesperson, who said: “This particular storyline was developed under the consultancy of child development experts and community advisors. Like all Disney Channel programming, it was developed to be relevant to kids and families around the world and to reflect themes of diversity and inclusiveness.”

America’s Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) welcomed the news.

“The inclusion of a family with two moms is a historic move in the right direction for the network which has never before included out gay characters in their series and films,” commented Megan Townsend, GLAAD’s Entertainment and Operations Coordinator.

The Good Luck Charlie episode builds on the Channel’s “Make Your Mark” outreach campaign which last year included a video that featured a 14-year-old boy who has two moms.