[SarahW]

FWIW, all these articles preceded the publication of Falwells (National Liberty Journal) TT critiques:

On the 24th of December, 1997 CNN reported that Tinky Winky was gay.

"The Teletubbies also have a following among the gay community. Tinky Winky, who carts around a red handbag but speaks with a male voice, has become something of a gay icon." CNN, 12/24/97

On April 17, 1998, the Village Voice praised the Teletubbies series for their gay Tinky Winky character.

On January 1, 1999, in its New Year's IN/OUT list, The Washington Post anointed "Tinky Winky, the gay Teletubby," as next year's Ellen DeGeneres.

In 1997, when the BBC, which produces the show, wanted to fire the human who plays Tinky for dancing in the streets wearing only a balloon, gay groups protested. It has also been reported that some gay groups have "claimed Tinky Winky as their own". (Washington Post, February 11, 1999, Page C01)

Falwell was, in fact, responding to these media pronouncements. I think he thought it was "on purpose" - and possibly that's not completely false. The gay guy *was* fired for putting a littel too much swish into the role.

I don't give a hang about the purple teletubby and never did
But Falwells pronouncements , though absurd on first impression, aren't THAT outlandish.

If the purple teletubby is delaimed to be gay by folks who ought to know, and one accepts that TV images make an impression on children, and that homosexuality is immoral and sinful, perhaps parents should be aware that the teletubby is percieved as "gay" in certain circles.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Amazing how many people concern themselves with the imaginary sexual orientation of a stuffed animal.

These reports are apparently all about claims made by a certain noisy subset of the gay community -- claims which are ignored by thinking people. And cheers to BBC for canning the actor for making a public appearance "wearing only a balloon" -- though I wonder if the police didn't get to him first.