Culture

Miley Cyrus: ‘It is inspiring’ that the Disney Channel will introduce same-sex parents

Jun 25 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Miley Cyrus has joined those in support of the Disney Channel’s recent decision to for the first time include same-sex parents in one of its flagship programmes.

The Disney Channel made the announcement at the weekend that Good Luck Charlie is to include same-sex parents, with a view to being “relevant to kids and families around the world”.

The lesbian mothers are currently being cast for the episode, which will air in 2014, and production is to begin next week.

After finding out the news through a tweet by bisexual actress Evan Rachel Wood, Cyrus tweeted her excitement at the news to her almost 12.5 million fans.

The actress and singer, and former Disney Channel star said: “Is this true?!?!?! 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 & wardrobe & kids becoming superstars! This is INSPIRING”.

Wood, star of American Gothic simply tweeted: “Hell yea.” She last year tweeted, with reference to Miley Cyrus’ short haircut: “I called it! Miley cyrus is leaning toward gay.” Cyrus said she took it as a compliment.

Meanwhile, a television drama featuring a lesbian couple and their family, on the US ABC network last week saw a massive surge in ratings for its second episode, despite conservative groups protesting against it airing.

The pilot for the drama was targeted by anti-LGBT group One Million Moms, which slammed the show as “anti-family”, and said they would do everything they could to stop it “dead in its tracks”.

One Million Moms has not yet commented on the Disney Channel announcement.

A recent poll found that in the US, more people said their perception of gay people had been positively influenced by television’s portrayal of them, than said it had a negative impact.