Liberal Democrat leadership contender Norman Lamb today called for children’s TV shows like Peppa Pig to feature gay characters.
The former health minister said same-sex couples should not longer be “out of bounds, which it appears to be at the moment” for programmes aimed at young people.
In an interview with PinkNews, he said: “We have to be clear and consistent. If we’re not, it still tells that teenager, who is struggling to come to terms with her sexuality, that there is something not quite normal about how they feel.
“And that puts unfair strain on that individual which we should not be prepared to tolerate.”
Asked if he would like to see LGBT gay characters in Peppa Pig, he said: “If you impose arbitrary limits, you’re saying that actually at heart, it’s not equitable. It should absolutely not be out of bounds, which it appears to be at the moment.”
Peppa Pig is an animated series for pre-school children, whose five-minute episodes feature stories about Peppa and her friends attending playschool and having fun.
In a separate article, Mr Lamb wrote that the lack of lesbian, gay and transgender characters on children’s TV was similar to the racist opposition to showing mixed-race couples a generation ago.
“It is deemed inappropriate to show same-sex couples on children’s television – in a manner not dissimilar from the treatment of mixed-race couples a generation ago.
“Our broadcasters must realise that sexuality is not, fundamentally, about who you want to have sex with – but who you are, and who you love.”
The former care minister is battling to succeed Nick Clegg against frontrunner Tim Farron, with the party’s ranks of MPs reduced to just eight.
He described the election rout as “a pretty dreadful trauma”.
Benjamin Cohen, the chief executive of PinkNews said: “Norman Lamb is onto something. More and more children will have a play or classmate with same-sex parents, so it is incredibly important that children’s television reflects this new reality, not least to prevent bullying.
“What would be the harm if Peppa is friends with a pig with two obviously male or two obviously female parents?”
