WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's conservative government took its drive to curb what it sees as homosexual propaganda to the small screen on Monday, taking aim at Tinky Winky and the other Teletubbies.

Ewa Sowinska, government-appointed children rights watchdog, told a local magazine published on Monday she was concerned the popular BBC children's show promoted homosexuality.

She said she would ask psychologists to advise if this was the case.

In comments reminiscent of criticism by the late U.S. evangelist Jerry Falwell, she was quoted as saying: "I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady's purse, but I didn't realize he's a boy."

"At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby ... Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone."

Poland's rightist government has upset human rights groups and drawn criticism within the European Union by apparent discrimination against homosexuals.

Polish Education Minister Roman Giertych has proposed laws sacking teachers who promote "homosexual lifestyle" and banning "homo-agitation" in schools.

But in a sign that the government wants to distance itself from Sowinska's comments, Parliamentary Speaker Ludwig Dorn said he had warned her against making public comments "that may turn her department into a laughing stock."

The 10-year-old Teletubbies, which features four rotund, brightly colored characters loved by children around the world, became a target of religious conservatives after Falwell suggested Tinky Winky could be homosexual.

© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.

Have you ever seen a man cut off his own head and then eat it? No? then you havent seen everything now have you??

Sorry, saw that in a movie once and haver wanted to use it ever since.

Crazy story though.

Tinky Winky's a BOY?! [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]

Beware, the love thy neighbor unless they are different from you foundation is on the loose again...

Err.. with what did he eat it? Which movie was it, by the way> I'm a huge fan of horror and this sounds very promising. :D

I honestly don't understand why they were ever allowed to enter the EU, they're still just as homophobic there as in Russia, and Russia is BAD, which was shown just a few days ago during a gay rights movement demonstration in Moscow, where first the demonstrators were assaulted by neonazi's, and the police arrested them instead of their attackers.

Too late.

I think the fact he couldnt eat his eat is part of the point.
Sorry, i really have no idea what movie it was, but am pretty sure it was a comedy.
And the bit i saw was the guy saying that line, not someone eating their own head. That would just be silly!

wierd .. and wierd.. no further comment.