POLAND:Poland's conservative government took its drive to curb what it sees as homosexual propaganda to the small screen yesterday taking aim at Tinky Winky and the other Teletubbies.
Ewa Sowinska, a government-appointed children's rights watchdog, told a local magazine published yesterday she was concerned the popular BBC children's show promoted homosexuality. Ms Sowinska said she would ask psychologists to advise if this was the case.
In comments reminiscent of criticism by the late US evangelist Jerry Falwell, she was quoted as saying: "I noticed [Tinky Winky] has a lady's purse, but I didn't realise he's a boy.
"At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby . . . Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone."
Poland's right-wing government has upset human rights groups and attracted criticism within the European Union by apparent discrimination against homosexuals.
Polish education minister Roman Giertych has proposed laws sacking teachers who promote "homosexual lifestyle" and banning "homo-agitation" in schools.
But in a sign that the government wants to distance itself from Ms Sowinska's comments, parliamentary speaker Ludwig Dorn said he had warned her against making public comments "that may turn her department into a laughing stock".
The 10-year-old Teletubbies, which features four rotund, brightly-coloured characters loved by children around the world, became a target of religious conservatives after Falwell suggested Tinky Winky could be homosexual. - (Reuters)