Gay bob barbie doll

And to play with him, you had to literally take him out of his closet. He wore cuffed blue jeans, cowboy boots, a plaid shirt, a gold chain around his neck, and one pierced ear with a blue earring. Log in Sign up. He came pre-packaged in a closet, meaning that when you opened up his box, you were literally helping him come out as a gay man.

Here I talk all about ’s Gay Bob. I discuss his history, current value, and overall message. #toycollection #vintagetoys #toycollector #doll #dolls #lgbt.

"Hi Boys, Girls, and Grownups I'm Gay Bob the world's first gay doll. Standing roughly 13 inches tall, Gay Bob was Ken TM doll-esque. Rosenberg said that the inch doll resembled Robert Redford and Paul Newman, with a California tan, blond hair, a necklace, a man bag and a pierced ear. He came with a leather satchel and an accordion-folded paper fashion catalog. Designed to look like a combination of Paul Newman and Robert Redford and packed into his own cardboard closet, Gay Bob was the brainchild of former advertising executive Harvey Rosenberg.

InGay Bob came out of the closet. Approximately 2, copies of the doll sold mostly through mail-order ads in gay magazines and several New York and San Francisco boutique stores. This article was originally published on February 11, It has since been updated. In the years following Gay Bob's debut, other (both openly and PREsumedly) queer dolls appeared on the mass market including, Rhogit-Rhogit, Zhdrick & Tiimky, Billy, Carlos & Tyson, and Earring Magic Ken.

Before Ryan Gosling brought the famed male Ken doll to life on the silver screen opposite Margot Robbie in the new Barbie film which opened today, there was a very gay male doll name Gay. Inthe world's first gay doll was launched. Rosenberg said that the only toy manufacturer who agreed to make a doll with a penis was in Hong Kong, and gay bob barbie doll then he had to send them a custom mold for it.

"Coming out of the closet" is an expression which means that you admit the truth about yourself, and are no longer ashamed of what you are. In a world where Barbie’s Ken may lack clarity, Gay Bob boldly asserted his authenticity, forever commemorated by his unapologetic presence and undeniable impact on LGBTQ+ history.

So if Gay Bob hit the shelves inwhy wouldn’t we call him the first gay Barbie? A former advertising executive named Harvey Rosenberg created the Gay Bob doll as a meaningful personal project after his marriage crumbed and his mom fell grievously ill. Because Gay Bob wasn’t part of the Barbie product line. Naturally, homophobes considered the doll a plot to market lethal homosexual lifestyles to the American people, but really it was just a small, humorous toy with a big, important message.

A booklet that accompanied the doll reportedly read :. Related Stories. I bet you are wondering why I come packed in a closet. An original ad for the Gay Bob doll. In fact, the world’s first openly gay doll was made by someone with absolutely zero ties to Mattel. The Gay Bob doll came out of his closet in much to the displeasure of the right-wing culture warriors of the time, not just because Bob was out and proud but also because he came with a penis.

The Museum's History Department cares for this Gay Bob doll today, but its original owner is actress, former radio host, and well-known doll collector, Jane Withers.