Barbie labeled a transgender activist

News 2006-01-05 Barbie labeled a transgender activist The antigay Concerned Women for America says Barbie is advancing the "transgender movement." The notoriously

The notoriously antigay Christian group Concerned Women for America has apparently found the latest warrior in a cultural battle over transgender rights. But it's not a transgender activist fighting to make the world a better place for future generations of youth struggling with gender identity issues. It's a plastic doll.

The far right group has noted on its Web site that on the Barbie Web site, www.barbie.com, "there is a poll that asks children their age and sex. The age choices are 4–8, but children are given three options for their choice of gender." These were "I am a boy," "I am a girl," and "I don't know." Bob Knight, director of CWA's Culture and Family Institute, told ABC News that posing such a "transgender question" has "really crossed the line." He accused Barbie manufacturer Mattel of being influenced by the "transgender movement."

Mattel spokeswoman Lauren Bruksch told ABC News that the online questionnaire was the product of "an innocent oversight." As a general practice, Bruksch said, the questionnaires at Barbie.com always try to have a neutral answer or nonresponse option. For gender, this third option should have been "I don't want to say" rather than "I don't know," she said. The Web site has since been changed. (Advocate.com)

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