A lesbian couple in the cartoon Peppa Pig, a first

The British cartoon Peppa Pigwhich features a very popular sow among children around the world, introduced a couple of lesbian mothers in an episode for the first time, a move hailed by the LGBT+ community.

In episode 41 of the seventh season of the worldwide successful cartoon, broadcast on the British channel Channel 5 on Tuesday September 6, Penny, a polar bear character, draws her family and presents to her classmates “my mom and my other mom”. “Lovely”then replies her teacher while we see later in the episode the two mothers picking up their daughter at school.

The initiative, which gives visibility to LGBT + people in a children’s program where they are still rarely represented, has been hailed on social networks. “THIS IS how we should teach inclusiveness to young children”wrote a user on Twitter. “We don’t need to talk to them about sex. Just from all types of families. They will understand the rest in due time.

A first in 18 years of existence

If LGBT + characters have already been represented in programs intended for children, it is the first time, in 18 years of existence, that the directors of Peppa Pig decide to stage it. Two years ago, a petition that has since garnered nearly 24,000 signatures called for the creation of a family with same-gender parents in the program.

“It’s fantastic”reacted to the BBC Robbie de Santos, of the Stonewall LGBT+ rights group. “Many of those watching the episode will have two moms or two dads and it makes sense to many parents and children to have their experiences represented in such a cult children’s program”he told the BBC.

Created in 2004, the British cartoon has enjoyed global success and is now available in over 180 territories around the world. Another British children’s program exported internationally, Thomas and his friendswill also stage from September 21 on Channel 5 an autistic character, voiced by a nine-year-old child himself autistic.