WARSAW, Poland, May 29 (UPI)

A Polish children’s rights official has called for an investigation into whether children’s TV series Teletubbies promotes homosexuality. Ewa Sowinska, spokeswoman for the Polish government’s children’s rights department, said her suspicions were particularly raised by Tinky Winky, the purple character with a triangle on his head, the BBC reported Tuesday. I noticed he was carrying a woman’s handbag, she said. At first, I didn’t realize he was a boy. The program has described Tinky Winky’s accessory as a magic bag. Sowinska ordered psychologists in the country to analyze the show and determine whether it promotes a homosexual lifestyle and whether it should be broadcast on public television. The Polish government has taken steps toward outlawing the promotion of homosexuality among children. The European Union condemned a recent announcement from the Polish Education Ministry that it plans to fire teachers seen to be promoting homosexuality. Tinky Winky came under similar allegations in the United States not long after it debuted on U.S. public television. The Rev. Jerry Fawell, writing in the National Liberty Journal, said, the character is purple — the gay pride color — and his antenna is shaped like a triangle — the gay pride symbol. The program’s producers denied putting sexual innuendo in a children’s show.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International