People Are Celebrating 'Arthur' Character Mr. Ratburn Coming Out and Getting Married

It all went down during the premiere for season 22 of the show.

Arthur mascot
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Image via Getty/Bill Clark

Arthur mascot

On Monday, PBS's Arthur debuted its 22nd season with the episode "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone." The episode featured the character Mr. Ratburn getting married to Patrick.

Many on social media were A.) surprised that the educational cartoon for kids was still on the air and B.) happy for Arthur's teacher, Mr. Ratburn.

The plot of the episode was simple enough, Arthur and his classmates thought Mr. Ratburn was marrying a woman named Patty, but when they decided to intervene (on account of not liking Patty and, somewhat coincidentally, not minding their own business) they found out that Patty was actually Mr. Ratburn’s sister and that their teacher was marrying chocolatier Patrick.

You don't stay on the air from '96 until now unless you can throw a curve or two.

I found out that Mr. Ratburn's getting married to a bloke on Arthur and I say hey (hey) what a wonderful kind of gay.

— Gavin Herman (@MrHissara) May 13, 2019

mr. ratburn said gay rights 🐀🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/8AyL9bc1nu

— kenzie (@pk_kenzie) May 13, 2019

MR RATBURN IS GAY HELLO !! HE GOT MARRIED !! pic.twitter.com/T1Emc97Y0f

— REMADE @WEREWOLFNOIR (@wolfnoirarchive) May 13, 2019

Well, can't say that I expected that. Not only that Arthur is still going, but that Mr. Ratburn is openly gay. I have to applaud the writers for doing this. Bravo! https://t.co/GiFu9fPlmb

— Thomas Stodghill, IV (@TheEpicplayah) May 13, 2019

GAY TEACHERS IN CHILDREN'S CARTOONS! WOO-HOO! 🏳️‍🌈#Arthur #HeyArnold pic.twitter.com/slf3UKxyje

— ToonSkribblez (@ToonSkribblez) May 13, 2019

1) Shoutout to Mr. Ratburn!

2) Arthur has been on TV forever. Season 22?? https://t.co/27W8Xo1NhA

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 13, 2019

When you find out your teacher is marrying his fiancé, not his fiancée.

Hooray for Mr Ratburn! pic.twitter.com/Qm44m6NrzV

— Baker Bear 🐻 (@LogoPhile1984) May 13, 2019

animation twitter is losing it over the fact that arthur made mr ratburn gay but no one is talking about his clearly queer sister pic.twitter.com/WcJBdP70l7

— Goth Ms. Frizzle (@spookperson) May 13, 2019

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