Milwaukee – A Roman Catholic school is canceling a fashion show by the manufacturer of American Girl dolls and books amid conservative groups’ criticism of a girls’ organization that receives support from the company.
St. Luke School in Brookfield notified its parents of the decision through bulletins at Masses over the weekend.
Two national groups – the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and the American Family Association in Tupelo, Miss. – have raised questions about the American Girl brand and its parent company, Mattel Inc., because of the company’s fundraising for Girls Inc., formerly known as Girls Clubs of America.
The American Family Association has called Girls Inc. “a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.” Girls Inc., which has more than 1,500 centers across the country, says it provides a variety of programs to educate and encourage girls and does accept members with a lesbian sexual orientation. Alexander Kopelman, director of communications, said it does not include abortion in its programming, though it does not control what leaders say.
American Girl spokeswoman Julie Parks said no other groups have canceled; the company said some groups “have chosen to misconstrue American Girl’s purely altruistic efforts.”
