Billy and Bob

Billy, the out and proud gay doll, by Totem International. Billy had a range of outfits as well as a boyfriend, Carlos, and their best friend, Tyson. Other merchandising included a book, a video, and a CD. Billy was introduced in 1997, he was based on drawings created by artist John McKitterick and marketed in the United States by London-based Totem International as “the first out and proud gay doll”, although that distinction actually belongs to Gay Bob, introduced in 1977. After a successful limited-edition run of 1,200 dolls created to benefit an AIDS charity, McKitterick decided to mass market Billy as a 13-inch tall vinyl doll.

Gay Bob, the actual first gay doll, complete with his closet and a catalog promising many tongue-in-cheek-outfits that didn’t actually exist. Gay Bob was also anatomically correct – although his proportions were a little more modest than for the Billy line.

Billy had a number of guises based on stereotypical gay characters, including Sailor Billy, Cowboy Billy, Master Billy and San Francisco Billy. The doll was available with either blond or brown hair. Other dolls in the Billy line include Carlos, Billy’s Puerto Rican boyfriend, and Tyson, their African American friend. Billy is beautifully sculpted and is exaggeratedly anatomically correct, as is the earlier Bob, although Bob is more modestly proportioned.

The doll was the subject of a 1998 exhibit at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Several dozen fashion designers created custom outfits for the doll in support of a benefit auction for AIDS charity LIFEBeat. Also in 1998, Billy and Carlos served as the basis for the film Billy 2000, which featured segments based on the Master Billy, Cowboy Billy and San Francisco Billy figures.

Billy and Carlos donned drag in 1999, with Billy dressed in a gingham checkered pantsuit as “Dolly” and Carlos as “Carmen” in a polka dot outfit reminiscent of those worn by Carmen Miranda to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an event which launched the gay liberation movement in the United States. Otherwise known as Country Billy and Cha-Cha Carlos these dolls were launched to highlight diversity, visibility and to ignite debate.

In the same year twelve unique drag Billy and Carlos dolls were auctioned in the store window of Paul Smith in New York to benefit the London-based HIV/AIDS charity Body Positive. The drag Billy and Carlos dolls included Liza Minnelli, Naomi Campbell, Bette Midler, Carmen Miranda, Madonna, Judy Garland, Cher, Dolly Parton, The Queen, Wonder Woman and Marie Antoinette.

John McKitterick, Juan Andres and Totem International organized an event in London to benefit the charity Body Positive and the highlight of the event was the culmination of the drag doll auction. The media were very supportive and praised Billy and Carlos’ philanthropic efforts. Over £30,000 GBP were raised at the auction to benefit the HIV/AIDS charity Body Positive.

In 2001, Billy, Carlos and Tyson all appeared wearing a brown uniform with a patch reading “BPS” (for Billy’s Parcel Service) was introduced. United Parcel Service sent Totem cease and desist letters advising that the uniform violated UPS’s trademark. Totem agreed to stop selling the brown-uniformed Billy style. There were no more dolls in the range produced after this and the company ceased trading.

Here’s a Billy Retrospective video …