"Arthur" Character Mr. Ratburn Comes Out As Gay & Gets Married

BYMitch Findlay3.4K Views
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"Arthur" remains on the ball where social issues are concerned.

Who'd have thunk that Marc Brown's beloved Aardvark Arthur would be among the more progressive cartoons ever made? The longstanding series, which is currently enjoying its twenty-second season on PBS, has been making waves across social media over a recent episode.

Those familiar with Arthur and its vast and varied cast likely recognizes the professorial Mr. Ratburn, who ultimately became a fan-favorite, and surprisingly layered character. As it happens, Mr. Ratburn is officially a married man, having gotten hitched to a man (or whatever animal he may be - an aardvark, perhaps?) by the name of Patrick. 

The episode titled “Mr. Ratburn & the Special Someone” featured a gay wedding between Ratburn and Patrick, though it should be noted that the same-sex nature of the ceremony was never overtly acknowledged. Many took to social media to celebrate the fictitious union, dubbing Mr. Ratburn as a bonafide "gay icon." Clearly, Arthur remains on-the-ball where social issues are concerned, and it will be curious to see whether they continue to pursue the avenue of gay rights in subsequent episodes.

About The Author
<b>Feature Editor</b> <!--BR--> Mitch Findlay is a writer and hip-hop journalist based in Montreal. Resident old head by default. Enjoys writing Original Content about music, albums, lyrics, and rap history. His favorite memories include interviewing J.I.D and EarthGang at the "Revenge Of The Dreamers 3" studio sessions in Atlanta and receiving a phone call from Dr. Dre. In his spare time he makes horror movies.
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