Sponge Bob - a homosexual? (Creator, America, marriage, POV)

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Conservatives Pick Soft Target: A Cartoon Sponge
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Complete article from the New York Times (sign in required)

Published: January 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - On the heels of electoral victories barring same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" Dr. James C. Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, asked the guests Tuesday night at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies to celebrate the election results.

SpongeBob needed no introduction. In addition to his popularity among children, who watch his cartoon show, he 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."

Now, Dr. Dobson said, 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.

Does anyone remeber Falwell being worried about that homosexual Teletubbie?

[linwood]

Tinkie Winkie

yep...I love this stuff!!

[Jaymes]

You beat me to it, pah! I found that article while the RE was down for me, and just when I'm about to post it, you beat me to it.

Cuuurse yooouuuu!

[Sunstone]

Dobson's group, Focus on the Family, has an annual budget of about 170 million this year, and thousands of employees, and it still can't figure out that the video "We Are Family" does not promote gay lifestyles. That's competence for you.

[Ceridwen018]

Dobson needs a hobby.

[Mr Spinkles]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dobson

"Does anybody here know SpongeBob?"

Inform the good doctor that SpongeBob isn't real.

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by Ceridwen018

Dobson needs a hobby.

Sadly, Ceridwen, he has one. His hobby just happens be persecuting people that don't act and believe as he does. Oh - and he also enjoys milking ignorant bigots for money.

TVOR

PS - think it's too late to start a hobby of our own?

[Scuba Pete]

I thought Mr Rogers died last year?

You know, I have lost all respect for the man!