Buddy G Has Two Mommies...

At present, homosexual partners found in commercially produced animation are most commonly relegated to the spheres of adult entertainment, social parody and other areas of viewing culture that are generally followed closely by the requisite television or film rating. When it comes to western animation production gay men and women aren't often, if ever exhibited in the context of children's programming. A change has come however, with the first marked release of a little program called Buddy G: My Two Moms and Me. Following a five-year-old boy whose "two moms" represent a fraction of what Us2, LLC. hopes to be the attractive nature of the computer animated production, Buddy G is being touted as the first cartoon featuring a kid with gay parents.

Buddy G: My Two Moms and Me isn't about homosexuality by any means, but it's certainly a topic that nevertheless keeps the ball rolling. At the center of the program is Buddy, a curious and adventurous five-year-old boy with a strong desire to help others and a growing interest in the sciences. Buddy G, according to the show's producers, was developed specifically for gay and/or lesbian parents searching for animated programming featuring eager children with a strong household.

"Buddy G is a historic development in children's entertainment," Margaux Towne-Colley, the show's executive producer, commented in a press release. "While today's children have ready access to literature depicting families headed by parents of the same gender, this is the first time that children with two moms or two dads will able to see the star of a show with a family just like their families."

Animated in distinctly simple computer animation, this new series has been available for purchase since early November on the series' website (www.BuddyG.tv). Although some animation viewers are rightfully anxious as to whether this new production, from a small company in Nebraska, has more to offer its niche audience than a parallel homosexual personal and social identity, the program's producers are confident that Buddy G: My Two Moms and Me is about putting children's interests into context.

Buddy G, the star of the show, has an interest in science as well as in problem solving--his electronic armband, "Socrates," helps him in this matter. Also tagging along for Buddy's adventures is Owen (age seven), a next-door neighbor with an obsession with Elvis.

The debut of Buddy G, "The Lost Rings," is currently available for purchase on the series website for $10. In the premiere episode, Buddy G uses the knowledge of his pal "Socrates" to learn about the science behind metal detectors. "We are very proud of this cartoon and what it means to our families," Towne-Colley continued. "Future episodes will include a variety of families including those with two dads. Even though the series was designed for children with gay and lesbian parents, the show is great entertainment for all families."

In a statement on the animation's website from her partner and she, executive producer Towne-Colley details the origin and purpose of the series: "We know we are a minority and that most kids have a mom and a dad, but for little guys like our son we thought 'wouldn't it be grand if there were something more available to them.' … The more we talked about it the more important it became. It was almost like, if we didn't do something about it after we had this fantastic idea, then we were somehow being irresponsible parents. So out of that, "Buddy G" was born. It took longer, cost more and was way harder then we thought it would be, but we couldn't be happier or more proud of the cartoon and the potential it represents."