Photo from BBC.A month ago, my husband seriously asked me: 'Dont you know that tinky winky, of Teletubbies, is gay?' He, who introduced the kids to Teletubbies, was shaking his head with bewilderment.
Whoaah? That surprised me. Then it confused me. Before it tickled me. I googled the story and found out that some conservative Polnish officials wanted to investigate the allegations that Tinky Winky and other Teletubbies are actually gays. They wanted the Teletubbies pulled out of the television, out of the toy shelves, out of Polnish lives. Why, you ask?
Because of Tinky Winky's red magic handbag. Here's the news stories:
Poland Targets Gay Teletubbies
Teletubbies Gay Probe
It could stem from the US story back in 1999 which states:
The Reverend Jerry Falwell, a former spokesman for America's Moral Majority, has denounced the BBC TV children's show. He says it does not provide a good role model for children because Tinky Winky is gay.Cheerful Tinky Winky, the purple character with the triangular aerial on his head, carries a handbag - but apart from that seems much the same as his friends Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Po.
Read more Gay Tinky Winky Bad for Children.
Which actually started because of this writer's story: I'm Sorry Tinky Winky.
What's my take on this matter? Stop the silly gender sorting.
Sort out the toy makers. I am now reading labels on toys, being extra particular where they are manufactured, smelling them for stinky lead paints, and shaking them crazily to check for small loose objects. I need to see and to smell what I am giving to my kids. I might even stop buying online because of this.
2 comments:
Tinky Winky's red bag ... that made me think. haha!
I don't know what kids like about them but they look kind of funny. My son likes them so I've grown accustomed to them despite their weird talk. LoL!
rach -- they are simply cute!
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