One Million Moms, a conservative activist group, has called for a boycott of the popular American Girl doll company after the business featured a family with same-sex parents in their recently-released magazine.
In a lengthy post shared on its website, One Million Moms said it was "extremely disappointed" in the doll company after it published an article in its "American Girl" magazine that featured same-sex couple Rob and Reece Scheer. The two men work with their adopted daughter Amaya to provide school supplies, toys and activities to foster children in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
"[One Million Moms] supports adoption and taking care of orphans as we are biblically instructed to do in Psalm 82:3, but American Girl could have focused the article on the child and not about the parents since it is a magazine for children. The magazine also could have chosen another child to write about and remained neutral in the culture war," the faith-based group states on its website.
"American Girl is attempting to desensitize our youth by featuring a family with two dads. If your child has not seen this yet, then be careful she is not exposed and can avoid a premature conversation she is far too young to understand," the group adds.
One Million Moms also notes that this is not the first time the company has supported causes that conservatives would not agree with.
"Their past partnership and financial support of Planned Parenthood has had them in hot water with Christians and conservative families before this," the group contends.
"We must remain diligent and stand up for Biblical values and truth. Scripture says multiple times that homosexuality is wrong, and God will not tolerate this sinful nature. American Girl doesn't highlight other sins in their magazine."
The group is also urging Christians to avoid shopping at American Girl until it takes a neutral stand.
"If you receive their magazine in the mail, 1MM recommends you unsubscribe and even cancel the shopping catalog. Be sure to tell them why you are unsubscribing and canceling" the petition continues.
Many in the secular media have criticized the One Million Moms for its stance, including the Huffington Post, who in turn labeled the faith-based organization a "hate group."
The Scheer family also responded, with Rob telling Fox 5 DC: "This is our family, and it works for us."
"We have four amazing kids that we adopted out of foster care. These are four kids that have fulfilled our life more than we ever thought," he said. "The 'Million Moms,' I say to them - go to your local foster care agency. Those kids really could use your help and not worry about the Sheer family."
Others, however, like the popular Catholic group Women of Grace, have supported the campaign by sharing the petition on their personal Facebook page.
"I am glad you reported this because I was just thinking about buying one for my Granddaughter for Christmas. No thanks," commented one woman.
Added another, "A single parent household is a lot different than deceiving children and making them believe it's possible to have two fathers or two mothers. This is unnatural and wrong."
While One Million Moms has not responded directly to criticism, the group posted a photo to its Facebook page on Tuesday simply bearing the C.S. Lewis phrase, "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."
