Disney Channel's Popular Sitcom 'Good Luck Charlie' to Feature Married Lesbian Parents

By Melissa Barnhart, Managing Editor Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The popular Disney Channel family sitcom "Good Luck Charlie" will feature a married lesbian couple in the final episode of the fourth season, which ends in 2014.

According to a July 8 post on the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation website, "GLAAD's Entertainment Media team consulted on the script for the Disney Channel's episode of 'Good Luck Charlie' in which a character's two moms are introduced. The episode marks the first time the Disney Channel will feature an LGBT character in one of its original programs."

GLAAD noted that during a recent interview with TVGuide.com a Disney spokesperson commented, "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."

Ross Murray, director of news for GLAAD, told The Christian Post on Monday that "there are children with gay or lesbian parents in their school, worshipping in church, working on the job, or serving in the military, so this television show isn't really that different than what kids encounter on a day-to-day basis."

"GLAAD didn't create or promote the storyline for the show, but we are thankful that Disney wishes to include all families in their programming," Murray said.

Alison Howard, communications director for Concerned Women for America, told CP that parents and the public should contact Disney and their cable provider if they are opposed to Disney's depiction of a lesbian couple on children's programming.

"In the same way the Boy Scouts had a 'no-sex' policy before advocates sought to indoctrinate youth, Disney should be leaving sex out of its programming for young audiences," Howard said. "This is reflective of the dissolution of marriage and the traditional family unit that we know is best for kids. Disney is clearly looking to gauge public reaction so we should see this as an opportunity for those who disagree with exposing children to same-sex behavior to give Disney and their cable provider feedback."

According to TVGuide.com, the lesbian parents enter the storyline during a scheduled playdate between two preschoolers. Instead of the lead characters being concerned that their daughter's new friend has two moms, the fear is that the adult friendship will fizzle because the father is boring.