Disney Channel Shows 1st Gay Couple

The Disney Channel rather quietly debuted its first gay couple on Sunday night, a lesbian couple who appeared on an episode of the sitcom Good Luck Charlie. The storyline was played for laughs, Us reports, with main characters Amy and Bob confused about the identity of their daughter's friend's mom until they realize ... she has two moms (who aren't expected to appear on the show again). Not everyone was impressed:

• On Queerty, Matthew Tharrett takes issue with the laugh track that accompanied the minute-long scene. "Sure, I understand that most sitcoms rely on laugh tracks to ease you through painfully boring dialogue, but is making a lesbian couple the punchline of (admittedly a harmless) joke the best way to 'reflect themes of diversity and inclusiveness'? C'mon, Disney, I thought you were smarter than this."

• One Million Moms is upset for an entirely different reason: "Just because something may be legal or because some are choosing a lifestyle doesn't make it morally correct. Disney should stick to entertaining instead of pushing an agenda."
• On Jezebel, Kelly Faircloth notes that while "it's strange in this day and age to see lesbian parents treated as a little exotic ... I suppose you could read the little argument over Taylor's mom's name as a lesson in making assumptions."
• At the Daily Beast, however, Kevin Fallon doesn't think the moms were treated as exotic at all. "You almost cringe in anticipation of a groan-worthy gag or borderline offensive punchline. But the actual joke was neither of those things! Bob facepalms his forehead. 'Taylor has two moms,' he says, in a 'duh!' manner signaling that’s there’s nothing else to be discussed about it. That it’s no big deal. That it’s fine."
• And GLAAD called the move "historic."

(More Disney Channel stories.)