Disney Channel To Feature First Gay Character & Coming Out Story On ‘Andi Mack’

The Disney Channel is set to feature it’s first teen coming out story on its show Andi Mack.

DISNEY CHANNEL TO FEATURE COMING OUT STORYLINE

The season two premiere of the coming-of-age series will feature Joshua Rush‘s character Cyrus realize that he has feelings for a male classmate, played by Asher Angel. In the end, Cyrus comes out as gay to his best friend Buffy (Sofia Wylie). She of coufse will respond well to the news, which “makes for positive role models for kids and adult viewers.”

Starting conversations about trust, love, relationships and family dynamics is easier when you have a show that you can relate to. Andi Mack gives young people and their parents, mentors, and champions a meaningful way to talk about these topics and the power to decide their futures. I’m so proud to bring Cyrus’ groundbreaking storyline to life and for you to see what we’ve been working on. Tune in this Friday at 8pm EST for the season premiere of season 2 🎬 #andimack #disneychannel

A post shared by josh rush (@joshuarush) on Oct 25, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT

The season premiere airs Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel. “Andi Mack is a story about tweens figuring out who they are,” the ABC-owned channel said in a statement on Tuesday. “[Creator] Terri Minsky, the cast and everyone involved in the show takes great care in ensuring that it’s appropriate for all audiences and sends a powerful message about inclusion and respect for humanity.”

Peyton Elizabeth Lee stars as the title 13-year-old character, and the show quickly became the top series of the year among girls as well as number one is its time period among all children ages 6-14. The series follows Andi as she realizes that Bex, who she thought was her older sister, is actually her mother. It watches Andi and friends Cyrus and Buffy navigate their tween lives.

Season two will more be about Andi’s hope for her parents Bex and Bowie to marry. She also tries to sort out her feelings for her crush Jonah – the same boy in her class that Cyrus also develops feelings for.

“With more and more young people coming out as LGBTQ, Andi Mack is reflecting the lives and lived experiences of so many LGBTQ youth around the country,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “Television reflects the real life world and today that includes LGBTQ youth who deserve to see their lives depicted on their favorite shows. Disney has been a leader in LGBTQ inclusion and there are so many young people who will be excited to see Cyrus’ story unfold.”

It’s #SpiritDay and I’m taking a stand against bullying and showing support for LGBTQ youth. Wear purple today and #ChooseKindness 💜 pic.twitter.com/Jpp3WhkTb7

— Joshua Rush (@JoshuaRush) October 19, 2017