US right attacks SpongeBob video

[Faithless]

I think somebody else's been tweaking on Harold and Kumar's most excellent stash.

Remember this name people: James Dobson -- as nutty as Lou Sheldon.

Happy little SpongeBob too gay for US conservatives

January 21, 2005

On the heels of electoral victories to bar 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 Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, asked guests on Tuesday at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies.

In many circles, SpongeBob needs no introduction. He is popular among children as well as adults who watch him cavorting under the sea on the Nickelodeon cartoon program that bears his name. In addition, 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 other children's television characters. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of schools this northern spring 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 and led the group Chic, says Dr Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the September 11 attacks to create a music video featuring 100 well-known cartoon characters dancing to his song to teach children about multiculturalism.

Nothing in the video or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity.

Rodgers suggested that Dr Dobson might have been confused because of an unrelated website belonging to another group called We Are Family. That site is owned by a South Carolina group aimed at supporting gay youth.

The New York Times

[SunWuKong]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4190699.stm

US right attacks SpongeBob video

US conservative groups are up in arms over a music video featuring children's TV heroes such as the cheerful cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

Focus on the Family and other groups say the video - a remake of the Sister Sledge hit, We Are Family - is a vehicle for pro-gay propaganda.

The video's makers plan to mail it to US schools in the spring to promote tolerance and diversity.

They say the attack is based on a misunderstanding.

The video also features children's favourites like Bob the Builder, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

But James Dobson, founder of right-wing Christian group Focus on the Family, singled out SpongeBob at a black-tie dinner in Washington in the run-up to President Bush's inauguration, the New York Times said.

SpongeBob - who appears on the children's cable channel Nickelodeon - is seen as an icon for adult gay men in the US, apparently because he regularly holds hands with his sidekick Patrick.

His creators deny that he is gay, but he is not the first such character to cause controversy.

In 1999 conservatives claimed handbag-carrying Teletubby Tinky Winky, an import from the UK, was a bad role-model.

'Easy lesson'

Nile Rodgers, who wrote the song and is founder of the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) which released the new video, says it is intended to help teach children the values of co-operation and unity.

"We believe that this is the essential first step to loving thy neighbour," he said. "And the fun and exciting format makes it a lesson that's easy for children to learn."

But conservatives say it sees the video as a cunning attempt to promote homosexuality.

They point to the fact that the WAFF is linked to a pledge being promoted by some liberal groups which includes a recognition of tolerance of sexual identity.

"We see the video as an insidious means by which the organisation is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids," Paul Batura, a spokesman for Focus on the Family, told the New York Times.

Mr Rodgers said the groups may have confused his foundation with an unrelated organisation with a similar name that supports gay youth.

WAFF spokesman Mark Barondeso told the newspaper that anyone who thought the video promoted homosexuality "needs to visit their doctor and get their medication increased".

[hooligan]

um, pro-gay propaganda isn't diversity. sometimes, i tend to think the conservative right are all really in-the-closet about their sexual orientation and overcompensate over cases like this.

[kpih]

I always knew something was up. He can join the teletubbies, bert and ernie, big bird...

By the way, what's up with Grover?

This is getting ridiculous, really.

[kimpossible]

I don't like this new merge. It does funny stuff.

[deez nuts]

you have to admit, spongebob is pretty gay.

[TB4000]

Spongebob is just a big man child, wherein lies the joke. His bio has him being born in 1984, which would make him about 24 years old.

[Banana]

Dude, everything is gay to them.

You hugging your father is considered gay by them.

[Faithless]

Originally Posted by kpih

I always knew something was up. He can join the teletubbies, bert and ernie, big bird...

By the way, what's up with Grover?

This is getting ridiculous, really.

Grover's just tired of the dating scene.

He tried gettin' with Zoe, but Elmo wouldn't have it.

Camp cartoon star 'is not gay'

Wednesday, 9 October, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK

The creator of one of the most popular new cartoon characters for years, SpongeBob SquarePants, has rejected claims that his cheerful creation is gay.
SpongeBob has become an icon among homosexuals in the United States as well as a huge hit with children, according to the Wall Street Journal.

SpongeBob may be "kind of special", but he was not designed to be a gay character, his creator Stephen Hillenburg has told the Wall Street Journal.

The gay community likes the show because it has a tolerant attitude, Mr Hillenburg said.

"Everybody is different, and the show embraces that. The character SpongeBob is an oddball. He's kind of weird, but he's kind of special," he said.

"I always think of them as being somewhat asexual."

SpongeBob is the latest sensation on children's cable channel Nickelodeon, and was recently voted among the top 10 cartoon characters of all time by fans.

His sexuality has become the biggest talking point since US campaigners claimed handbag-carrying Teletubby Tinky Winky, an import from the UK, was a bad role-model.

SpongeBob's innocent optimism, "soft" personality and bright, camp world have endeared him to gay men, the Journal said.

Adult fans

Nickelodeon says the show is not aimed at a homosexual audience, but it is the channel's most popular show with adult viewers.

It may be designed for children between two and 11, but almost one in four viewers is aged between 18 and 49, the paper says.

It is screened at 2330, and at 2300 on MTV, as well as more child-friendly times.

In the UK, the channel said 40% of the show's one million viewers were over 16.

The Wall Street Journal says part of its reported $500m (£322m) merchandise sales have come from gay men snapping up branded toys, lunch boxes and even thongs.

[kimpossible]

I didn't realize sponges were supposed to be heterosexual.

[Faithless]

Originally Posted by kimpossible

I didn't realize sponges were supposed to be heterosexual.

Shit! Is a sock?

Merge-aholic.

[Arex]

Aren't both sponges and starfish capable of asexual reproduction?

I think any person who even thinks that viewing a cartoon like SpongeBob "brainwashes" kids into becoming homosexual probably had repressed homosexual tendencies to begin with. Seeing the yellow sponge wearing brown pants amicably holding his starfish friend's hand probably just reawakened those long repressed urges, causing them to lash out in anger against the cartoon for making them question their present-day moral beliefs. These people should just come clean with their friends, family and, most importantly, themselves and come out of the closet and celebrate SpongeBob for teaching them that it's okay to be gay.

RX

[thaite]

These guys are idiots. Sponges are asexual.

[truMp]

Spongebob is 24 years old? Asexual!?

[TB4000]

Originally Posted by truMp

Spongebob is 24 years old? Asexual!?

Yeah, some website shrine dedicated to him did a freeze frame of one of the eps where he dreams he gets his driver's license, and his date of birth is on it. He's about mid 20's.