A Christian nationalist group of mothers run by the American Family Association (AFA) hit the panic button last month after the LEGO company released a set of bricks with an LGBTQ theme.
“It’s apparent that even toy manufacturers are attempting to indoctrinate children by exposing them to the LGBTQ lifestyle,” wrote Monica Cole, director of One Million Moms. “Why can’t LEGO let kids be kids instead of glamorizing a sinful lifestyle? LEGO is confusing our innocent children by attempting to normalize this lifestyle choice, which is not only irresponsible but also dangerous to the well-being of our children. Toy manufacturers need to remain neutral and should avoid aiming to please a small percentage of customers while pushing away conservative customers.”
The set in question, titled “Everyone Is Awesome,” was marketed to LEGO fans over age 18. It contains a collection of colorful building bricks and mini-figures. Matthew Ashton, a designer at LEGO, said he came up with the set to show support for diversity.
“I think by taking small steps and having products like ‘Everyone is Awesome’ out there and people representing the LGBTQIA+ community, it allows everybody to see that things do get better over time and there is a place for everybody,” Ashton wrote on LEGO’s website. “That’s what’s been so important to me in getting this set out with a message that we can be really proud of.”
Americans United speculated that what’s really bothering One Million Moms is that it’s losing the culture war over LGBTQ rights.
On its “Wall of Separation” blog, AU noted that a poll released by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) earlier this year found support for LGBTQ rights hitting an all-time high.
Furthermore, PRRI reported, extreme anti-LGBTQ views are embraced by a shrinking percentage of the population.
“A slim minority of Americans (7%) hold consistently unfavorable views toward LBGTQ policies, including opposition to same-sex marriage and non-discrimination laws and support for allowing businesses to refuse to serve gay and lesbian people if it is against their religious beliefs,” PRRI noted. “These Americans are older, more likely to be Republican and hold favorable views of former president Donald Trump, and much more likely to be white and white Christian than the general American population and those who are in favor of pro-LGBTQ policies.”
Noted AU’s Rob Boston on the blog, “I’m sure it’s difficult for AFA and its much fewer than one million moms to see Americans reject the hate they proffer – but attacking a box of colorful plastic bricks isn’t going to ease their pain.”
