Woman Claims She Was ‘Shamed’ for Calling Santa a Man: He’s Now ‘Seen as Gender Neutral’

A British mother claims to have been criticized for referring to Santa Claus as a male, according to a U.K. news site

The “shaming” took place on a social media group during a discussion about a children’s Christmas book, Plymouth Live reported earlier this month.

The woman said she was criticized for referring to Santa as “Father Christmas,” the traditional English name for Saint Nick.

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“I’ve just been shamed [on a Facebook group] for using the name ‘Father Christmas’ and [told] that ‘Santa’ is now seen as gender neutral,” she said.

In the aftermath, the mom said she’d been left feeling on “edge” for fear of offending someone.

“I have a small child and don’t really want to raise him saying ‘Father Christmas’ if it’s hurtful to some,” she added.

According to Plymouth Live, “hundreds” of parents flocked to social media sharing similar stories.

Many users on social media were skeptical that anyone, even radical progressives, were actually insisting on a gender-neutral Santa.

Indeed, an avalanche of replies to a gender-neutral Santa story shared on the Facebook page an LGBT-rights news site accused the outlet of stirring up a fake controversy.

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Former Major League Baseball player Aubrey Huff had a blunt take on the topic:

Can we colonize Mars now and send all these idiots there that want Santa Clause gender neutral? You know, just to see if it’s livable or not. Oh and by the way Merry early CHRISTmas to everyone. Ho-ho-ho. Is the word ho gender neutral? Asking for a friend. ??‍♂️ https://t.co/kZ7Yqt4izg

— AUBREY HUFF (@aubrey_huff) December 18, 2019

The Daily Caller News Foundation wasn’t able to track down many people who liked the notion of a gender-neutral Santa, either:

Should Santa Claus Be Gender Neutral?

Folks in DC are asked if they thought Santa Clause should be gender neutral to teach children tolerance. Watch to see what they had to say. pic.twitter.com/RlWZNnhXk7

— Alpha News MN (@AlphaNewsMN) December 11, 2019

However, there is at least some support for the idea.

I mean, could “Santa” could definitely be a gender neutral name. It is in fact a feminine word in many languages. #santa was post gender before it was cool. https://t.co/gDcMTBfpMh

— Jenni Scheaffer (@JScheaffer) December 18, 2019

According to a poll released by logo creation company GraphicSprings last year, nearly 19 percent of Americans surveyed wanted a gender-neutral version of Santa.

New Zealand shopping center displays 'gender-busting' Santa
A shopping center in Auckland, New Zealand put their own twist on Santa Claus with a "gender-busting" statue.https://t.co/jN8mnIufjV pic.twitter.com/vBCt3kIYZF

— LGBT NEWS AROUND THE WORLD (@LGBTNewsWorld) December 3, 2018

Meanwhile, a “gender busting” Santa was unveiled last year at an Auckland, New Zealand eatery.

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