BY: DM
Published 5 days ago
In the Season 3 finale of “Bluey,” a heartfelt moving-day episode titled “The Sign,” viewers caught a brief but meaningful surprise — one of Bluey’s classmates has two moms.
For a show adored for its realism and heart, this small moment carries big significance. “Bluey” had previously faced gentle criticism for a lack of visible diversity in its cartoon canine world. In 2021, ABC columnist Beverley Wang praised the show’s brilliance but also expressed concerns. “Where are the disabled, queer, poor, gender diverse, dogs of colour and single-parent dog families in Bluey’s Brisbane? If they’re in the background, let them come forward,” Wang wrote.
While this isn’t the first time LGBTQIA+ characters have appeared in children’s programming, “Bluey’s” inclusion is notable because of the large a cultural footprint the show holds. Though “The Sign” aired in April 2024, the scene has recently resurfaced on Reddit as broader debates around queer visibility in children’s media continue. Here’s how “Bluey” made space for LGBTQIA+ families in its world — and what folks had to say about it.
LGBTQIA+ representation on “Bluey” is prompting mixed reactions.
During a scene at school, Bluey’s friend Pretzel reveals that his pet guinea pig ran away. In doing so, he casually mentions, “My mums told me he might come back, but he didn’t.” The public response to Bluey’s rainbow-inclusive moment was swift and mixed. Fans and many parents applauded the inclusion as a wholesome reflection of real life. The episode also earned a sky-high user rating on IMDb after it aired.
“Omg I didn’t even catch this! We finally have an LGBTQIA+ rep in Bluey, like I always wanted. Hope we get to actually see the moms at some point,” one fan tweeted. While another wrote, “Pretzel having lesbian moms still makes me happy. Bluey is pulling out the representation.”
Conservative critics, however, were not so happy. Right-wing commentators and trollish voices accused “Bluey” of going woke. “Thank you for bringing in woke fascism into a nice childhood show,” a fan suggested. Another added, “Bro, I got a 2-year-old. And she loves Bluey. Just saw an article that they are going to introduce a queer family in the show…. Bro, like what the actual f**k. I’m so sick and tired of people trying to come after kids and show this shit to children. Like, just let kids be kids.”
“Bluey” producers have teased additional “surprises.”
The makers of “Bluey” have kept things pretty low-key on the topic of LGBTQIA+ representation. Series creator Joe Brumm has said he draws inspiration from his own family life for story ideas and doesn’t approach “Bluey” with a political lens, per ABC. However, the production team is clearly aware of the impact. After “The Sign” aired in April 2024, Bluey’s producers quickly quashed rumors that it was a series finale.
“It is the question on everybody’s lips,” producer Sam Moor told the BBC. “No, it is not the end for Bluey. I’m sure we have many more surprises in store for you… We have more in store, and we are thinking what would be next.”
Could one of those surprises be seeing Pretzel’s two mums on screen someday, instead of just hearing about them? The creators haven’t confirmed anything, but they haven’t ruled it out either.
Do you think more kids’ shows should include LGBTQIA+ representation? Comment below!
