guess which children's character is gay now?

First it was Bert and Ernie, then Tinky-Winky from The Teletubbies. Not content to go fag-hunting on PBS daytime, The New York Times reported yesterday that an influential conservative Christian group claims that lovable cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants is gay as well, as allegedly evidenced in a video distributed by the We Are Family Foundation.

The Times reoprts:
Dr. James C. Dobson, head of The American Family Association, claims that SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside children's television colleagues like Barney and Jimmy Neutron, among many others. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of elementary schools to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity."

The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit "We Are Family," said Mr. Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Mr. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the Sept. 11 attacks to create a music video to teach children about multiculturalism. The video has appeared on television networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity. The pledge, borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.

Mr. Rodgers suggested that Dr. Dobson and the American Family Association, the conservative Christian group that first sounded the alarm, might have been confused because of an unrelated Web site belonging to another group called "We Are Family," which supports gay youth.

"The fact that some people may be upset with each other peoples' lifestyles, that is O.K.," Mr. Rodgers said. "We are just talking about respect."

Mark Barondess, the foundation's lawyer, said the critics "need medication."

On Wednesday however, Paul Batura, assistant to Mr. Dobson at Focus on the Family, said the group stood by its accusation.

"We see the video as an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids," he said. "It is a classic bait and switch."

I've never seen this show though I've been unable to escape the promotion of the full-length animated movie starring SpongeBob and company. My impression of the show is that it is decent children's entertainment without a sexual agenda.

I didn't know until I read the article that SpongeBob has become a well-known camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick and likes to watch the imaginary television show "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy."

Even if gay men love a cartoon character, that doesn't automatically the cartoon gay. At least not in my estimation. Little kids (which SopngeBob and his starfish sidekick are portrayed as) have distinct gender identities, but watching goofy TV shows and holding hands doesn't seal the deal on their sexuality.

Aren't sponges and starfish in real life asexual anyway?



The SpongeBob controversey reminds me of the flap over Bert and Ernie on 'Sesame Street' that turns up every few years. Just because two Muppets are roommates doesn't mean that thy're banging each other. In their case, Muppets have no genitals so that makes sex largely impossible. Great, now I'm analizing this crap like the hate-mongers at the AFA

Maybe if these Christian groups would spread the Word and lead people into salvation through Christ instead of laciviously watching children's programming looking for gay Muppets and sponges, we could clear up some of the evil in this world.