For millions of children around the world, Winnie the pooh is a Tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff, but for for the Polish town of Tuszyn, he’s a “inappropriately dressed” bear of “dubious sexuality” and a hermaphrodite who exposes himself in public
While discussing the merits of making Winnie the Pooh the town’s official mascot, a debate was held by the town council about his gender and lack of pants. One member of the council, Ryszard Cichy said: “The problem with that bear is it doesn’t have a complete wardrobe. It is half naked which is wholly inappropriate for children.” Another member added: “It doesn’t wear underpants because it doesn’t have a sex. It’s a hermaphrodite.” Clearly, that member has never googled hermaphrodite or they would have found several videos to the contrary.
Council member Hanna Jachimska had what might be the most disturbing take on AA Milne’s classic: “This is very disturbing but can you imagine! The author was over 60 and cut his [Pooh’s] testicles off with a razor blade because he had a problem with his identity.”