The College Fix

OPINION

The Disney Channel recently introduced its first lesbian couple on the hit television series Good Luck Charlie.

In the episode, parents Amy and Bob Duncan set up a playdate for their preschooler and one of her new friends. But when the child arrives, the Duncans learn she has two moms.

“That’s fine, but the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob’s dull stories,” the TV guide explains about the episode, which aired earlier this year.

Ha ha, quite the knee-slapper. Except it’s not as innocent as it all sounds.

As an 18-year-old college student who grew up watching the Disney Channel, I don’t approve of the decision to push a progressive agenda on young kids, and neither do my peers.

“It blows my mind, it is not something you would expect on Disney Channel,” Katie Seals, a college student at Point Loma Nazarene University, told The College Fix. “At least not now, maybe in the future. I mean, I have lesbian aunts and they have kids, but television is different.”

Said Madison Steele, a freshman at Point Loma Nazarene University and viewer of Good Luck Charlie: “It amazes me that elementary kids have to be taught about same sex marriage and I think that it is just too much. Especially to have it on children’s television shows.”

The characters Susan and Cheryl are not expected to come back to Good Luck Charlie after their premiere Jan 26. The program has not been renewed, as well. But that’s not the point.

Good Luck Charlie – as most shows on the Disney Channel – is geared to a younger audience, primarily elementary or middle school ages. At this age, children are still developing, learning to make decisions on their own, and are easily influenced by others. They look up to their parents or people of authority, even if that is on television.

For Good Luck Charlie to have a same-sex married couple on their show, it promotes the message that this is a social norm of society, despite the fact that data show only 4 percent of the American population is gay, and our U.S. civil society is based on the strength and firm foundation of the traditional family.

Yes, same-sex marriages have increased, but this should not be brought to a young child’s attention unless he or she has a significant role model in their life who is gay.

But if children witness a same-sex couple on television, they are likely to ask questions. To some this is a teachable moment, but the reality is it presents parents with the difficult issue of how to explain this concept to children before they even understand the notion of sexuality.

For the most part, Disney tends to be a conservative television station with shows rating G to PG. Parents tend to trust Disney, turning on a show and having confidence that it will be fine for their child to watch.

But as the proactive conservative watchdog group One Million Mom’s points out, not all parents that support Disney also support same-sex marriage.

“Disney has decided to be politically correct instead of providing family-friendly programming,” the organization stated. “Disney should stick to entertaining, not pushing an agenda.”

A Disney Channel spokesperson told the Huffington Post that the episode was “developed to be relevant to kids and families around the world and to reflect themes of diversity and inclusiveness.”

The episode content was decided on June 2013 with support of past and current Disney artists, such as Miley Cyrus.

“I commend Disney for making this step into the light of this generation. They control so much of what kids think! Life isn’t bright sets and wardrobe and kids becoming super stars. This is inspiring,” tweeted Miley in response to this episode.

But Cyrus doesn’t speak for all Millennials, however.

College Fix contributor Samantha Watkins is a student at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter