The Disney Channel is apparently breaking barriers by featuring the first teenage gay couple on the show “Andi Mack.”
According to Pink News, the revolutionary moment occurred during the show’s series finale, when the character Cyrus Goodman confessed to one of his classmates, TJ Kippen, that he has a crush on him. From the report:
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” Cyrus asks. TJ replies, “Yeah,” and asks the same question.
“Yes,” Cyrus says, before reaching out and holding TJ’s hand.
As if that wasn’t enough, the pair also sang along to Lady Gaga’s LGBT+ acceptance anthem “Born This Way” in the episode.
The show ended its third season, which will reportedly be its last, so the relationship will not develop any further. “Andi Mack” has consistently pushed LGBT representation on the show, beginning in 2017, when the character Cyrus Goodman confessed to a friend that he liked another boy. Earlier this year, the show broke new ground when Cyrus said the words, “I’m gay,” becoming the first Disney character to do so.
After Tuesday night’s episode aired, people responded to the representation rather enthusiastically on social media, with some fans calling for a spin-off show centered on the relationship.
“This scene is going to be so important for so many kids growing up watching this right now. They’ll get to look back at this and think, this show let me know that I would be okay,” said one Twitter user in a viral tweet.
Actor Joshua Rush, who played Cyrus, said: “guys, gals, and nb pals, I can now tell you: tyrus endgame canon and confirmed.”
“Honored to be a part of such a groundbreaking show. I hope my character can inspire people to proud of who they are and love who they love,” said actor Luke Mullen, who played TJ.
“Andi Mack” creator Terri Minsky said in a statement back in April, after Disney announced the show’s cancelation, that she was honored to push LGBT representation in such a big way.
“We were its first serialized show, its first series centered around an Asian-American family and its first to feature an LGBTQ character who spoke the words, ‘I’m gay,'” said Minsky. “But the best part of making Andi Mack was our audience, who let us know we mattered to them. The series finale is for them.”
Of course, “Andi Mack” is not the first Disney Channel show to feature a gay couple. That occurred in 2014 on the show “Good Luck Charlie,” when it was revealed that a character had a lesbian mom couple.
“In the storyline, parents Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker and Eric Allan Kramer) set up a playdate for preschooler Charlie (Mia Talerico) and one of her new friends,” TV Guide reported at the time. “When the kid arrives, the Duncans learn that Charlie’s pal 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.”
Earlier this year, the PBS television show “Arthur” made waves when a beloved character came out as gay by marrying his male partner.