dr-archeville:

elodieunderglass:

cryoverkiltmilk:

gaydream-believer:

shotguntork:

I would like to know why Tinky Winky is considered a national icon

I would like to know why you think Tinky Winky shouldn’t be considered a national icon

@elodieunderglass

thank you for thinking of me. When I initially had the Teletubbies-are-toddler-versions-of-a-more-terrifying-adult-cryptid dream, I researched it briefly before talking about it in public, just to make sure that I hadn’t subconsciously picked up on any real-world resonances. This was where I learned that the new Teletubbies reboot features infant Teletubbies. This cemented in my mind that the teletubbies on the show are toddlers, and the Tiddlytubbies or whatever the fuck they’re called are infants.

I also stumbled upon the controversy in the late 90s that made Tinky Winky a national icon.

Tinky Winky presents as male (inasmuch as Teletubbies have gender or perform gender roles). He is always referred to with male pronouns. He is purple, with a triangle-shaped antenna, and carries a shiny red handbag. His name is also mildly funny. Beginning in 1997 there was (apparently) a large controversy that appeared to begin when the LGBT+ community jokingly referred to Tinky Winky as a “gay icon” and “the first queer role model aimed at toddlers.”  Hilariously predicting the Babadook discourse to follow in 20 years, I guess.

Right-wing pundits became increasingly convinced that Tinky Winky is Gay. He’s a gay color and has a triangle and a HANDBAG.

And more than that, he was normalizing gayness to babies. The delusion spread and soon in the USA and Poland, there was (apparently) serious Discourse about the Gay Baby Show and the Insidious Agenda of the Gay British. Jerry Falwell, a Twitter troll before Twitter, went on a rampage.

A Polish politician apparently declared that she was going to “scientifically prove” that Tinky Winky was gay and harmful, although she wasn’t able to come to a conclusion in the end.

Eventually one of the BBC producers said:

“Tinky Winky is simply a sweet, technological baby with a magic bag.“ 

Regardless, Tinky Winky was declared a National Icon, “More so,” people said, “than Ellen DeGeneres,” and he was even used as a symbol of gay culture. He was apparently something of a meme.

So that’s why Tinky Winky was considered a National Icon, and appears on lists of influential celebrities.

More importantly, twenty years ago, everyone missed the clue that would have unlocked the mystical knowledge of Adult Teletubbies for themselves. 

the BBC themselves said “Tinky Winky is… [a] baby.” 

The take-home message here is that the BBC went on record and declared that the Teletubbies are babies. And having added the Tiddlytubbies to the show, in the canonical knowledge that the Teletubbies themselves are juveniles, they are basically saying that the Adults Are Out There Somewhere.

I remember the Tinky Winky Discourse.

The 1990s were strange times.

gaknar:

Oh Jesus H. Look here. If I was in love, and I mean really, really in love, the way you are supposed be, the way Alex and Lorna are supposed to be, not the way 95% of couples are, who, let’s face it, have settled and are doing it completely wrong, because they don’t want to be alone, or aren’t secure enough with themselves to be single and wait for the right person who may or may not ever arrive, or whatever, my reaction to my beloved getting possessed by an evil jerk wouldn’t be to ball my fucking eyes out and beg for her to come back to me like some kind of emotionally co-dependant rube. I would be FUCKING PISSED. Especially if I could shoot bolts of plasma out of my god damn butthole that were powerful enough to knock the shit out of the Incredible Hulk. What is with Alex and Scott Summers, man??? They are written so perfectly and consistently OBNOXIOUS. Just go fight the Marauders and get her back you moron!! It’s not like Lorna doesn’t want to be with you!! She’s just possessed!! Get your SHIT together, get out there, and get your girlfriend back!! (Uncanny X-Men #222 – Oct 1987)

It’s Chris Claremont, he was pretty shitty about his treatment of Polaris. That Havok got some residual poor treatment probably wasn’t a flaw, but a feature in his eyes.

christophrrcwood:

(r.m.)