Cayman may be headed for another gay controversy

Friday, March 5, 2004

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Hard on the heels of an announcement by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism of a new partnership with SpongeBob SquarePants comes public reaction pointing out that SpongeBob is an icon of the gay community.

In October 2003 there was a public outcry in the Cayman Islands over a gay cruise that planned to include Grand Cayman on its itinerary. This prompted representatives of local churches in the Cayman Islands to circulate a petition to try to stop the cruise from calling at George Town. In the event, the cruise in question was cancelled as result of insufficient bookings.

Readers of Cayman Net News have now written to the newspaper pointing out that Cayman's newest 'spokesperson', SpongeBob SquarePants, is not only hugely popular with children but is also an icon in the gay community.

According to a front page story in the Wall Street Journal, "There is something about 'SpongeBob' that whispers 'gay.'" 

The Journal reported all this after trolling Manhattan gay novelty shops. They not only found perennial best-selling Billy Dolls (the anatomically correct gay man's "Barbie"), the paper also found shelves stocked with SpongeBob paraphernalia: lunchboxes, key chains, crackers, spongy dolls with little brown pants.

The smash television show may be designed for children between two and 11, but almost one in four viewers is aged between 18 and 49, according to the WSJ. SpongeBob's innocent optimism, "soft" personality and bright, camp world have endeared him to gay men, the Journal said.

According to Queer-America.com: SpongeBob lives in a pineapple in an undersea locale called Bikini Bottom. His best buddy is an ebullient pink starfish named Patrick. Another friend is a finicky squid named Squidward who enjoys bubble baths and classical music and talks like Paul Lynde. SpongeBob and Patrick are occasionally seen holding hands and enjoy watching a superhero TV show called "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.'' As an article on the Gay Financial Network's website puts it, "You do the math, folks.''

A reader in New York asks if Cayman is a sending gay-friendly message at last, recognising the market share affluent gay travellers represent.

The issue of gay cruises visiting the Cayman Islands has generated enormous controversy in previous years. In 1998, the Islands drew protests when the Government refused to allow the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel Leeward to dock so 900 gay men and women could disembark. 

Then Tourism Minister, Thomas Jefferson, said in a letter to the cruise line that "careful research and prior experience had led the Government to conclude that it could not count on the group to uphold the standards of appropriate behaviour expected of visitors to the Cayman Islands, so we regrettably could not offer our hospitality." 

A Department of Tourism spokesperson further elaborated at the time that a cruise ship carrying a gay group called on Grand Cayman some 10 years previously and residents were shocked to see men holding hands and kissing in public. Church groups and politicians vowed never again to allow a gay cruise to call at the Cayman Islands. 

In a subsequent letter to Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based gay rights organization, the British Embassy in Washington said the Cayman government had agreed to review its policy on berthing facilities. 

"The allocation of berthing facilities is a matter for the Cayman Islands Government. But the British Government is surprised that a Minister of the Cayman Government should have responded to the cruise operator in the terms to which you refer," the letter stated. 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version