HAWTHORNE, Calif. (WordNews.org) Feb. 3, 2021 – American Girl , the endearing brand loved by adolescent girls, has introduced a lesbian theme with the release of its Girl of the Year, Kira Bailey.
American Girl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT), says Kira is a “nurturing and inquisitive 10-year-old who cares deeply for animals and the environment.”
“Whether she’s caring for an orphaned koala joey or facing a bushfire that’s threatening her great-aunts’ wildlife sanctuary in Australia, Kira confronts critical ecological issues, such as wildlife protection and the threat of climate change, that are more relevant to our planet than ever,” reads a press release.
That’s great aunts plural.
According to the release, “In the two-book series, Kira is excited to leave her home state of Michigan and spend her summer abroad at her great-aunts’ Mamie and Lynette’s wildlife sanctuary and vet clinic in Queensland, Australia. There she learns to care for injured or orphaned animals with her new friend Alexis. But when a roving predator and a raging bushfire threaten the sanctuary, Kira must rise to the challenge to protect her family and the animals she loves. In the end, Kira learns you can’t let the fear of the worst keep you from living your best.”
While the release does not explicitly mention the great aunts are involved in a romantic relationship, the book series by Erin Teagan does.
Reviewers on Amazon.com voiced their concerns, such as “Jennifer,” a top reviewer, who wrote:
“The main character, Kira Bailey, helps her aunt who is a veterinarian at a wildlife sanctuary in Australia. There is a wedding picture of her aunt and a woman named Lynette. Lynette is referred to as aunt in the story. This suggests a lesbian relationship. The story is written for ages 8 and up. I think there should a warning to parents so that they can make an informed choice whether or not to allow their young child to read a story that includes a lesbian relationship.”
And a reviewer identified as Clara Magee, said: “Very INAPPROPRIATE TOPIC FOR YOUNG READERS. I RETURNED BOTH BOOKS FOR GOTY KIRA Bailey. BEWARE. My daughter was disturbed reading and looking at the books pictures!! SHAME ON YOU AMERICAN GIRL!!”
Another reviewer, identified only as NL, wrote: “My daughter purchased Kira on January 1 and was super excited to be one of the first to own the new doll for 2021. In her book, Kira visits her aunt in Australia. Unfortunately, as my daughter began to read the book she read that Kira’s aunt is married to another woman. Homosexuality is an inappropriate topic for a children’s book and I am very disappointed that it was woven so blatantly into the story line for Kira. This type of content should have been made clear in the advertising so that I as a parent could make an informed choice for my child. My daughter and I have read dozens of American Girl books and have always loved them and highly recommended them to friends. Before now, I have never had to worry about American Girl reading material being wholesome for my child. My daughter had no idea what a lesbian couple is and American Girl has cruelly taken away part of her innocence now that I’ve had to explain about that lifestyle. It goes against what I believe as a Christian and was not something I wanted my daughter to be exposed to at this early age. I am very, very disappointed in Americans Girl and will not purchase their products in the future.”
It’s not the first time American Girl has angered parents on this issue. According to American Girl Doll News, in 2005, American Girl sold bracelets supporting Girls Inc., an organization that supports the gay lifestyle. That led to a boycott. And in 2015, the news site said, a girl with two dads was featured in the American Girl magazine. That also led to a boycott.
The administrator at American Girl Doll News said the new gay storyline “means the world to me” because it means that “American Girl is taking a big step and representing lesbians – people like me – in their newest book series.”
In the release, American Girl focused on the environmental message Kira brings and not the homosexuality storyline introduced into the franchise. The 18-inch Kira doll, featuring green eyes and long, wavy blonde hair, comes dressed in a tie-dye tank, sporty skirt, and lace-up boots perfect for bushwalking, according to the release.
“As American Girl kicks off its 35th year, Kira joins our lineup of diverse and purposeful characters who star in stories that reflect the realities of the times—whether it’s historical or modern-day,” said Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl, in the release. “As we all witnessed the bushfires rage in Australia last year and start up again this September, and the devastating wildfires in the western United States, we knew it was important to focus Kira’s story on the major conservation and climate challenges facing our planet today—causes that are extremely important to today’s youth. Through Kira, we hope our fans will learn that we all have a part to play in taking positive action for our planet.”
An attempt to reach American Girl was unsuccessful.
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