As Alabama Public Television continues its ban on a PBS episode that showed a same-sex marriage, a Birmingham church is throwing a wedding party to celebrate the matrimony.

First United Methodist Church is hosting a free screening of the Arthur episode "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" on June 15 at 10 a.m. The church is welcoming people of all ages to the event, where wedding cake and sparkling apple juice will be served.

The church collaborated with Sidewalk Film Festival and Shout LGBTQ Film Festival to organize the wedding party. Rachel Morgan, who is the creative director for both festivals, got permission from WGBH in Boston to screen the episode. She said the episode and the event's location fulfills the festivals' mission to show content featuring people who are underrepresented in film and media.

"Weddings take places at churches all the time. So First Church seems like a perfect venue for the cartoon in my opinion," she said. "(The church) frequently communicates to the community that they are an 'open place for all,' and I think this event reflects that statement."

When the episode first aired nationwide on May 13, people across the country watched as Arthur and his friends witnessed their teacher, Mr. Ratburn, wed his partner. APT decided not to show the episode and played a re-run of Arthur instead.

Mike Mckenzie, director of programming at APT, cited parents' trust in APT as the reason why the episode didn't air in Alabama. APT gave a similar response in 2005, when it refused to air another Arthur episode that showed Buster visiting a girl who had lesbian mothers.

APT's Facebook page was bombarded with comments for its decision. First United Methodist Church isn't the first to show the episode. The Magic City Acceptance Center, a resource center for LGBTQ youth, had a screening on May 29.

Morgan experienced multiple emotions when she heard the news about APT's decision. First, came the shock.

"I had to confirm that the news article regarding the episode not airing wasn't something from the archives, circa 1970," Morgan said. "Personally, I was in disbelief and a little ashamed for our state. With all due respect to Alabama Public Television, it simply doesn't speak well for Alabama on a national level to censor such content."

Then came the disappointment, Morgan said.

"It made me sad, mostly for the message that it potentially sends to children -- that the lives of members of the LGBTQ community don't deserve the same representation as others," Morgan said.

News about APT's refusal spread nationwide. Even Arthur creator Marc Brown told People he was displeased.

“I don’t want children or people who are different to feel excluded. That’s not the kind of world we want to live in,” he told the magazine. "And we want children to be educated so they can see there’s not just one type of family. Everyone should feel represented. I think we did that with Arthur.”