Conservatives furious as LGBTQ+ exhibit explores Care Bear as trans icon
Funshine Bear (Care Bears)
A new LGBTQ+ exhibition in England has sparked outrage from right-wing media after exploring how Funshine Bear from the Care Bears franchise can be interpreted as a transgender or gender-fluid character.
Part of the digital exhibition, Villiers Revealed: ‘We Have Always Been Here’ examines historical figures and pop culture through a modern LGBTQ+ lens.
One section, created by University of Nottingham master’s student Bryony Reeves, traces Funshine Bear’s evolution from being referred to with she/her pronouns in the original 1980s series to he/him pronouns in later adaptations.
Reeves argues that, whether intentional or not, the change has allowed many fans to view Funshine as an affirming example of trans representation. “Having a character like Funshine who transitions, with a positive characterisation, sends a strong message to those going through a similar change,” Reeves writes. “You are loved and cared for.”
Reeves’ analysis goes beyond Funshine alone, arguing that the Care Bears have long challenged traditional gender expectations.
Their exhibit notes that multiple Care Bears have been depicted differently across various adaptations, while the franchise’s emphasis on kindness, self-expression, and acceptance has resonated with many LGBTQ+ fans.
Rather than claiming any interpretation is definitive, the exhibition explores how audiences can find meaning and representation in beloved cultural icons.
The interpretation quickly drew criticism from anti-LGBTQ+ organisations and conservative commentators. The Family Education Trust accused the exhibition of attempting to “sexualise children’s toys” and promote what it called “gender ideology” in a 26 July post on X.
On GB News, guest commentator Benedict Spence dismissed the exhibit as the work of “lunatics” during a 27 July broadcast, while host Kevin O’Sullivan complained that taxpayers should not fund an exhibition interpreting fictional teddy bears through an LGBTQ+ lens.
The exhibition, produced by Culture Leicestershire, originally debuted at the Melton Carnegie Museum from October 2024 to June 2025 before becoming available online.
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