Kids love Freddie, gays don’t

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 21

Kids love Freddie, gays don’t

PA Wellington Gay people are not happy about the latest marketing gimmick of the Hutt Valley Milk Corporation, but the kids love it. The corporation has come up with a team of 16 characters to grace its pots I of flavoured yoghurt. Freddie Fruit Salad is 1 one of them. His hand is ; held limp from ‘the wrist | and he wears. a handbag I over his shoulder. A member of Gay Liberation, Carol McPhail, has said Freddie is just the sort of stereotype that increases public misconcep-tions-about homosexuals. ‘‘These sorts of stereotypes have become more public lately and make it difficult for gay people to be accepted as people,” she said. But the man behind the team of “Crazy Yogit” characters, Mr P. Smith, said about 5000 New Zealanders had written asking for more information about Freddie and his friends. The corporation’s "Crazy Yogit” club had about 550 Wellington members, he said. Mr Smith is marketing manager with the Hutt Valley Milk Corporation. In mail sent to his fans, Freddie is described as walking a little funny, but is not blatantly gay. Other characters include Piney Plum, who is dressed as an All Black.