Sanrio to Release Gender Neutral Hello Kitty

Akab News 1 Apr 2018.

Don’t call Hello Kitty a Girl. Sanrio announces release of Gender Fluid and Gender Neutral collaboration. The initial release will feature Hello Kitty.  “It is a known fact Hello Kitty does not have a mouth because they want people to “project their feelings onto the character” and “be happy or sad together with Hello Kitty. We are taking the next step in allow people to self identify Hello Kitty’s gender in a wide range of the gender spectrums.  We are appealing to today gender reality and sensitivity. “, quote a spokes person for Sanrio.

Most LGBT activist approve of Sanrio bold move while a few Gay and lesbian and feminist groups criticize   about pandering to “That group”.  Gender Neutral releases of other characters including Batz Maru, My Melody will follow.

SANRIO, best known for global icon Hello Kitty® and home to many more endearing characters including Chococat®, My Melody®, and Keroppi®, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. August 2010 marks the golden anniversary for the worldwide lifestyle brand that was founded on the “small gift, big smile®” philosophy – that a small gift can bring a big smile to people of all ages. Today, over 50,000 Sanrio-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world, please visit www.sanrio.com.

Cultural Appropriation Protest against Sanrio Stopped on Revelation

Akab News 1 Apr 2017.

A Protest against Sanrio over Western Cultural Appropriation of Japanese culture, concerning Hello Kitty, stopped when Sanrio revealed Hello Kitty is British and not Japanese.

The protest began at 9:00am at Sanrio USA, El Segundo corporate offices. Latter that morning, a spokesperson from Sanrio agreed to meet with the protesters.  The protest went silent when the spokesperson   told about Hello Kitty’s background being that she was in London England.  “First Hello Kitty is not a cat and now this” said one protester who goes by the name Red. The leaders of the protest talked among themselves about this new revelation. Some wanted to continue but others felt the protest is not valid anymore.

The leaders were going to retreat for further dialog when a group of transgender protesters demanded they should continue the protest until their demands were heard. They demanded that Sanrio allows Hello Kitty to self identify  as a gender fluid non binary, noting  Hello Kitty doesn’t have any visible genitalia, therefore biological genitalia is not required to identify oneself as a women. At that statement, the transgender protesters got into a shouting match with the Feminist faction of the protest over the definition of gender. The Police had to intervene and separate both groups until the protesters decide to break up and disperse.

Goodbye Kitty

Donald Trump at campaign stop in New York promises to deport Hello Kitty if he becomes president. He said “she is an illegal Asian immigrant from Japan. That the Japanese demon cat takes millions of American dollars, attention and jobs and ship back to her master in Japan taking , attention and profit from Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny, both  true American Icons. Americans should only support American cartoon characters.”

Mr. Trump had back down a bit when it was pointed Hello Kitty is not a cat and identifies herself as a little girl born and raised outside of London.

Hello Kitty fans around the world expressed outrage at Trumps Comments. The Hillary campaign sent out a press release decrying Trumps bigotry and insensitivity. Hillary supports Hello Kitty as a world icon and role model. No word from the Cruz Campaign.