British Children's Program 'Peppa Pig' Introduces Show's First Same-Sex Parents

The animated British children's show "Peppa Pig" has been on the air for 18 years, and it just introduced a pair of female polar bears as same-sex parents. But the greater inclusion has prompted criticism.

The landmark moment arrived in the episode "Families," which premiered in the UK on Sept. 6, according to CNN.

"In the short scene, Peppa's classmate Penny Polar Bear talks about her two mommies and what makes each special," the CNN report detailed. "While drawing a picture of her family – two polar bears in dresses – Penny says: "I'm Penny Polar Bear. I live with my mommy and my other mommy. One mommy is a doctor and one mommy cooks spaghetti. I love spaghetti."

The moment of inclusivity "follows years of campaigning for the program to showcase a more diverse selection of families," noted UK newspaper The Guardian. "A petition to persuade the series' creators to include a same-sex family launched two years ago and gathered nearly 24,000 signatures."

The Guardian went on to add that the show "has previously attracted criticism for reinforcing gender stereotypes."

The show's acknowledgement of children with parents of the same gender drew praise from Robbie de Santos of the British LGBTQ+ advocacy group Stonewall.

"Many of those who watch the show will have two mums or two dads themselves," de Santos said. "It will mean a lot to parents and children that their experiences are being represented on such an iconic children's program."

Unsurprisingly, some slammed the decision, resorting to anti-LGBTQ+ buzzwords in doing so.

One viewer, CNN said, tweeted: "That's the end of the Peppa Pig phenomenon. What a shame. Education, not indoctrination."

"Broadcast in 180 countries and translated into 40 languages, 'Peppa Pig' has become a global phenomenon since it burst, oinking, onto screens in 2004," CNN added. "The franchise has toys, clothing lines and even its own tourist attraction: Peppa Pig World."