The Story Behd Gay Bob, the World's First Out-And-Proud Doll - Atlas Obscura

gay bob action figure

In 1977, Gay Bob, “The World’s First Openly Gay Doll”, h store shelv. The 13-ch plastic doll was cheekily signed to look like a batn of Robert Redford and Pl Newman and was as much a totem of gay pri as he was a lculated parry agast the strik of anti-gay activism

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THE STORY BEHD GAY BOB, THE WORLD’S FIRST OUT-AND-PROUD DOLL

12 ch actn figure origal packagg. Unknown pletn, Gay Bob Tradg Co. * gay bob action figure *

“It’s another evince of the speratn the homosexual mpaign has reached s effort to put homosexual liftyle, which is a athstyle, across to the Amerin people. That year, the release of Gay Bob, billed as the world’s first openly gay doll, ed a mor sensatn.

Enraged nsumers plaed that a toy wh a homosexual backstory would lead to other ”disgtg” dolls like “Priscilla the Prostute” and “Danny the Dope Pher. ” Esquire award Gay Bob s “Dub Achievement Award.

GAY BOB ANATOMILLY RRECT ACTN FIGURE

12 ch actn figure origal packagg. Unknown pletn, Gay Bob Tradg Co.." name="scriptn" data-reactroot=" * gay bob action figure *

” And anti-gay anizatns across the Uned Stat bltered. Gay Bob, who was meant to remble a cross between Robert Redford and Pl Newman, was blond, wh a flannel shirt, tight jeans, and one pierced ear.

HOW GAY BOB, THE WORLD’S FIRST OPENLY GAY DOLL, CAME TO BE

* gay bob action figure *

The doll gave anti-gay anizatns plenty to fear; trsic wh was a celebratn of gay inty, evinced by Gay Bob’s programmed speech. “Gay people, ” Bob said, “are no different than straight people… if everyone me ‘out of their closets’ there wouldn’t be so many angry, trated, ightened people.

WHAT ABOUT GAY BOB?

In a cheeky move, the box which Gay Bob was packaged me the outle of a closet, so that when he left his box, he was lerally g out of the closet. Gay Bob explaed: “It’s not easy to be hont about what you are — fact tak a great al of urage… But remember if Gay Bob has the urage to e out his closet, so n you.

A 1978 magaze advertisement for the Gay Bob doll.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY BOB ACTION FIGURE

What About Gay Bob? | Natural History Mm.

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