Gay character on the show.

[CastletonSnob 3,079]

Do you think the show would ever have an openly gay/lesbian character? I mean, cartoons like Clarence and The Loud House have had same-sex couples, so why not MLP?

[Will Guide 21,364]

If it can be done subtly, then I wouldn't mind seeing something like that on the show. But for now, I'll settle for the dozens of fanfics that can talk about the subject.

[Barpy 2,225]

I dont know how little kids would feel about that

[Hazard Time 1,127]

This sort of thing has been discussed into the ground.

Do I think it will happen?  No, never.  Hasbro has gone to lengths to ensure that their show is as inoffensive as possible, and they know that they have everything to lose and nothing to gain from signaling their own virtue and pissing off the fundies who will no doubt stop buying their toys and forbid their children from watching the show any more.

[joshyang908 85]

It won't happen explicitly, but isn't Lyra & Bon Bon the "best of friends."

[Lenny 250]

9 minutes ago, joshyang908 said:

It won't happen explicitly, but isn't Lyra & Bon Bon the "best of friends."

Best of friends? Boi they get down and dirty when the cameras not there

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

I don't see why not, but some more conservative audiences get offended by it for no real reason.

[DragonFlyer 329]

Never say never! The world is (slowly but surely) becoming more progressive. Gay relationships should be normalized in kids shows and I'm happy to see other cartoons are already doing this. Also, while they may never officially confirm them as a couple, Lyra & Bon Bon are totally "best friends". 

[BastementSparkle 20,329]

I wouldn't mind a gay character on the show, and I'm pretty sure most reasonable people wouldn't either. But Hasbro is unlikely to ever do it simply because a lot of more unreasonable people, particularly parents would throw a fit and stop watching/buying toys. It's probably more trouble than it's worth in their eyes, and I can't really blame them.

51 minutes ago, Burpy said:

I dont know how little kids would feel about that

Probably the same as they would for a straight couple. It's really not that confusing honestly, I think most kids would grasp it just fine and accept it no problem.

[joshyang908 85]

10 minutes ago, DragonFlyer said:

Never say never! The world is (slowly but surely) becoming more progressive. Gay relationships should be normalized in kids shows and I'm happy to see other cartoons are already doing this. Also, while they may never officially confirm them as a couple, Lyra & Bon Bon are totally "best friends". 

well the Amazon Pride Parade has Rainbowdash as an alicorn.

Source:

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2017/06/amazons-pride-parade-float-went-full-on.html

[DragonFlyer 329]

Just now, joshyang908 said:

well the Amazon Pride Parade has Rainbowdash as an alicorn.

Yeah I saw that on EQD earlier. Pretty cool! Just wish they hadn't turned her into an alicorn. XD

[Deae Rising Shine~ 56,265]

Well, if it comes to our fandom Every. Single. Pony. is bisexual, gay, lesbian and straight XD

[natemans 0]

1 hour ago, Hazard Time said:

This sort of thing has been discussed into the ground.

Do I think it will happen?  No, never.  Hasbro has gone to lengths to ensure that their show is as inoffensive as possible, and they know that they have everything to lose and nothing to gain from signaling their own virtue and pissing off the fundies who will no doubt stop buying their toys and forbid their children from watching the show any more.

Feeling Pinkie Keen and Over a Barrell weren't inoffensive in the slightest. I think Hasbro might have one subtely (if Lyra and Bon Bon don't count) and I don't think they care if bigots don't want to buy their toys.

[joshyang908 85]

7 minutes ago, DragonFlyer said:

Yeah I saw that on EQD earlier. Pretty cool! Just wish they hadn't turned her into an alicorn. XD

I'm pretty sure those paraders don't know too much about MLP.

[Steve Piranha 29,447]

57 minutes ago, DragonFlyer said:

Yeah I saw that on EQD earlier. Pretty cool! Just wish they hadn't turned her into an alicorn. XD

But me want rest Mane6 as awicorns 

[Hazard Time 1,127]

1 hour ago, natemans said:

Feeling Pinkie Keen and Over a Barrell weren't inoffensive in the slightest. I think Hasbro might have one subtely (if Lyra and Bon Bon don't count) and I don't think they care if bigots don't want to buy their toys.

Keep in mind that both of those episodes aired during Season 1 and are therefore irrelevant when it comes to Hasbro's/DHX's current willingness to inspire controversy.  After The Last Roundup shitstorm, it took them two whole seasons before they felt comfortable enough having Derpy/Muffins in the foreground.  They've been tiptoeing ever since, because a controversy would put them square in the crosshairs of both overprotective soccermoms and entitled millennials.

If they don't care if bigots don't buy their toys, then why haven't they featured homosexual couples on their show yet?  Similarly successful shows like Steven Universe, Legend of Korra, and even Adventure Time have already paved the way for them, so they would have even less of an excuse.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Hazard Time

[Thrond 3,263]

I've basically given up on this since "Slice of Life" made Lyra and Bon Bon out to be just "best friends." If the fanservice episode won't make them a couple, despite that being a popular fandom idea and there being no reason not to make them a couple, then it seems like the show is deliberately avoiding LGBT+ representation. It makes business sense, I guess, given that the show airs in countries like Russia which are much more homophobic than Canada, USA, etc., but it's still a massive shame. 

[DragonFlyer 329]

52 minutes ago, Steve Piranha said:

But me want rest Mane6 as awicorns 

NOOooo!! No moar awicornz!! XD If anyone else becomes an alicorn princess it should be Discord. He totally rocked it.

As for a gay character/couple, maybe I'm just too much of an optimist but I won't give up hope. The times they are a changin'.

[Scarlet SoftPaws 3,585]

Let us not forget about the glorious and magnificent Steven Magnet

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,864]

In a world where other cartoons have already done this, I see no reason for FiM to not introduce at least one gay character eventually. I know that there obviously would be morons that would be oh so offended by it, but part of progression is leaving those idiots behind.

[natemans 0]

5 hours ago, Hazard Time said:

Keep in mind that both of those episodes aired during Season 1 and are therefore irrelevant when it comes to Hasbro's/DHX's current willingness to inspire controversy.  After The Last Roundup shitstorm, it took them two whole seasons before they felt comfortable enough having Derpy/Muffins in the foreground.  They've been tiptoeing ever since, because a controversy would put them square in the crosshairs of both overprotective soccermoms and entitled millennials.

If they don't care if bigots don't buy their toys, then why haven't they featured homosexual couples on their show yet?  Similarly successful shows like Steven Universe, Legend of Korra, and even Adventure Time have already paved the way for them, so they would have even less of an excuse.

That doesn't exactly mean they never will. They now just recently showed Applejack's Parents and implied they're dead, after what 7 years?

5 hours ago, AlexanderThrond said:

I've basically given up on this since "Slice of Life" made Lyra and Bon Bon out to be just "best friends." If the fanservice episode won't make them a couple, despite that being a popular fandom idea and there being no reason not to make them a couple, then it seems like the show is deliberately avoiding LGBT+ representation. It makes business sense, I guess, given that the show airs in countries like Russia which are much more homophobic than Canada, USA, etc., but it's still a massive shame. 

Lyra and Bon Bon could still be in a relationship for all we know. Usually they don't mention that they're gay or say anything about it. It's just...there, for the audience to interpret.

Edited June 27, 2017 by natemans
Wording

[cmarston1 5,959]

Well they already ship teased the heck out of Lyra and Bon Bon, even if they are only friends in canon, so I say the show might as well make them an actual couple, but I know Hasbro would never let that happen.

Edited June 27, 2017 by cmarston1

[Zel 56]

Well... no, I don't think so.

What would be the point to introduce a gay character in MLP other than... introducing a gay character in MLP ?

In the first place the sexuality of the characters in Equestria aren't really a very focal point overall in the cartoon, the only two exceptions were Shining Armor and Cadance who are heterosexuals and Big Mac who clearly loves mare. For Shining and Cadance it was just for the sake of the plot : were needed to be a wedding and to introduce a new princess to sell so their couple was made up. For Big Mac it's just here to create two stupid episodes about love. The show is about friendship all in all and really stoped on the subject of love very few times because it never was the intention of the show to talk about this kind of subject.

So why not a gay character. But... in the other hand... why bothering to do so ? For all we know Pinkie could be bi, Rainbow lesbian and Spike pansexual, but the show doesn't focus at all on this side of the characters and never will be apart if a story needs it, and like I said a bit earlier : the story rarely needs it. So in conclusion introducing this type of character would need to have a point, but in MLP it's very difficult to find a real reason to introducting it since it's not a show about this kind of thing. So no, I don't think we would see a gay character anytime soon.

 

And for people who think plot shouldn't control what the characters are, keep in mind what characters and plot are linked to their core. Characters grow thanks to plot, the plot exist thanks to the characters. Adding a gay character just to have a gay character would just be pandering if it serve no purpose. It's not like that a story should work.

(EDIT : If Equestria Girls show come true, it would be a better show to introduce a gay character althought. It would more fit in the highschool universe, and love was kinda here since the start even if not very used right)

Edited June 28, 2017 by Zel

[Jeric 46,866]

19 hours ago, Hazard Time said:

If they don't care if bigots don't buy their toys, then why haven't they featured homosexual couples on their show yet?

They definitely factor this in their equation. 

 

Two things I firmly believe in were touched on in here. One of those is that kids are more than capable of grasping the concept of same-sex relationships. I know this from first hand experience. If my daughter so desires, perhaps she can chime in on her experiences. 

14 hours ago, natemans said:

That doesn't exactly mean they never will. They now just recently showed Applejack's Parents and implied they're dead, after what 7 years?

This is the second. That is a bit of a false equivalent. A political and social hot-button issue and addressing death are too different to consider an if x then y argument. 

 

Finally, I'm a proponent of including LGBT characters in media for any age, but for media that focuses on universal story telling using moral elements, there needs to be an organic reason for it. I would be highly suspicious of an episode dedicated to introducing a new character who is gay. It should be treated as no big deal, and knowing the creative staff that is how they would address it. It's in that approach that I wonder if it would anger those in favor of LGBT character inclusion. 

[natemans 0]

I'd think that implying or showing a gay character/relationship would increase sales at a higher rate than decrease them. The amount of progressives vastly outnumber the regressives in the developed world.

However if they don't show one it's not a big deal. Not every show needs a gay relationship. One would be nice though.