According to Rosenberg, regardless of a person’s sexuality, Gay Bob could serve as an example for having the courage to “come out of the closet” and be your true, authentic self. While Rosenberg did not identify as gay, he stated that he had created the doll to liberate men from traditional sexual roles. We had something to learn from the gay movement, just like we did from the black civil rights movement, and the women’s movement and that is having the courage to stand up and say, ‘I have a right to be what I am.' Rosenberg put $10,000 of his own money into getting Gay Bob manufactured through his company, Gizmo Development. Gay Bob was created by an advertising executive named Harvey Rosenberg. Gay Bob’s story is deceptively complicated and intertwined in toy and LGBTQ+ history. But remember, if Gay Bob has the courage to come out of his closet, so can you!"Īt face value, Gay Bob’s message about the merits of coming out seems earnest, espousing the values of courage, honesty, and living authentically however, the branding and design of the Gay Bob doll are brash. It’s not easy to be honest about what you are in fact it takes a great deal of courage. If everyone came out of their closets, there wouldn’t be so many angry, frustrated, frightened people. Gay people are no different than straight people. That is why everyone should come out of “their closet" so the world will be a more loving, understanding, and fulfilling place to live. People who are not ashamed of what they are, are more lovable, kind, and understanding. A lot of straight people should come out of their 'straight closets' and take the risk of being honest about what they are. ‘Coming out of the closet’ is an expression which means that you admit the truth about yourself and are no longer ashamed of what you are. I bet you are wondering why I come packed in a closet.
![1960s gay men fashion 1960s gay men fashion](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7a/37/8a/7a378af620047b2f3c505a505c94b226.jpg)
"Hi boys, girls and grownups, I’m Gay Bob, the world’s first gay doll. Gay Bob's packaging proudly (and wordily) explained what “coming out of the closet” meant:
![1960s gay men fashion 1960s gay men fashion](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/43/35/46/43354632981122dff5e3c013439b7649.jpg)
He was sold in a cardboard box designed to look like a closet. Thirteen inches tall and plastic, Gay Bob was marketed as the first openly gay doll and made his retail debut in mail-order catalogs. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County History Department