Saw this on the BBC website. Apparently U.S. conservative groups are turning their publicity guns on ... Spongebob Squarepants!

Spongebob is involved in a pro-gay propaganda project aimed at children! -- the forces of pro-intolerance say.

An excerpt:

US conservative groups are up in arms over a music video featuring children's TV heroes such as the cheerful cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

Focus on the Family and other groups say the video - a remake of the Sister Sledge hit, We Are Family - is a vehicle for pro-gay propaganda.

The video's makers plan to mail it to US schools in the spring to promote tolerance and diversity.

They say the attack is based on a misunderstanding.

The video also features children's favourites like Bob the Builder, along with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.

We see the video as an insidious means by which the organisation is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids Paul Batura Focus on the Family

But James Dobson, founder of right-wing Christian group Focus on the Family, singled out SpongeBob at a black-tie dinner in Washington in the run-up to President Bush's inauguration, the New York Times said.

What has Spongebob have done to bring the wrath of the family values types on down on him? Well, the story says he does hold hands with his pal Patrick (not that there's anything wrong with it).

Actually, according to the NYT story, it goes farther than that: Spongebob likes to watch "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy."

Really? Well, case closed. :^)

I loved the NYT headline: Conservatives Pick Soft Target: A Cartoon Sponge.

If you didn't get the Tinky-Winky reference, the last time this type of stupidity came up was when the Rev. Jerry Falwell said the purple Tele-tubbies character was gay.

Addendum:

The InJoke link in the comment below goes to a DailyKos posting (thanks, anonymous!)

Addendum 2:

The NYT editorialized on the 'controversy' on Jan. 22.

Here's an excerpt:

We find it strange, actually, that the intolerant Dr. Dobson has not taken aim at SpongeBob himself, who is naughty and rude enough to give many parents pause. After "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" came out, a Christian family Web site made a long list of worrisome bits, including "cartoon rear male nudity, repeatedly," "pinching of banner staff between nude buttocks" and "suggestion of sadomasochism in transvestitism."

As any weary parent knows, America's children spend billions of hours watching movies and shows like that, absorbing underwear jokes, flatulence gags and mushy messages of tolerance until their brains run out their ears.

There may be a threat in all that, but Dr. Dobson and his allies seem to have missed it entirely.