Disney's 'Good Luck Charlie' Introduces Network's First Same-Sex Couple [VIDEO]
The Disney Channel introduced its first same-sex couple on Sunday night, an unprecedented more for the network.
Announced back in June of 2013, the characters of Susan and Cheryl made their debut in Sunday night's "Down a Tree" episode of Good Luck Charlie. When Amy Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker) sets up a playdate for Charlie (Mia Talerico) with the youngster's friend Taylor, the family's matriarch momentarily squabbles with her husband, Bob Duncan (Eric Allan Kramer), over whether Taylor's mom's name is Susan and Cheryl.
The Duncan's confusion is soon cleared up when it turns out Taylor has two moms, a revelation the series expertly handles as normally as if the Duncan's were meeting any other set of parents.
"This particular storyline was developed under the consultancy of child development experts and community advisors," said a Disney spokesperson last June, according to Hollywood Life. "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."
Although the characters probably won't reappear since Good Luck Charlie is set to end its four-season run on Feb. 16, the network opened the door to allowing the topic of homosexuality to be addressed in their programming while positively introducing children to a type of relationship they may or may not see in their regular lives and providing representation for same-sex couples and their children in a family-friendly series.
Good Luck Charlie will air its next new episode, "Good Bye Charlie," on Feb. 16.
