We Are Family



The We Are Family Foundation produced a cover version of the Sister Sledge song "We Are Family", featuring more than 100 well-known children's characters, to promote diversity and tolerance. The video debuted as a public service announcement on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS on March 11, 2002, and was issued as an educational DVD free to US public and private elementary schools in March 2005.

The song and video featured the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Bear in the Big Blue House characters together with stars from other children's shows.

The project was co-ordinated by former Chic lead guitarist Nile Rodgers, co-producer and co-writer of the song "We Are Family" and founder of the We Are Family Foundation, Christopher Cerf and Bear in the Big Blue House creator Mitchell Kriegman.

Publicity for the video was largely hijacked by U.S. conservative groups, saying it was a vehicle for "pro-gay propoganda". Focus on the Family commented that they "see the video as an insidious means by which the organisation is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids".

Video
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Characters
The Muppets
 * Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Dr. Teeth, Penguins, Floyd

Sesame Street
 * Big Bird, Elmo, Hoots the Owl, Oscar the Grouch, Telly Monster, Zoe, Baby Bear, Grover, Snuffy, Alice, Rosita, Count von Count, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Lulu, Chickens, Bob, Linda, Gordon, Alan

Bear in the Big Blue House
 * Bear, Ojo, Tutter, Pip and Pop, Treelo, Jeremiah Tortoise, Keisha, Luke

Non-Muppet productions
 * Barney & Friends, Between the Lions, Higglytown Heroes, Out of the Box, Rolie Polie Olie, Arthur, JoJo's Circus, The Koala Brothers, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Rugrats, Dragon Tales, The Magic School Bus, PB&J Otter, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, Oswald, Bob the Builder, The Book of Pooh, Stanley, Blue's Room, Blue's Clues, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Kim Possible, The Proud Family, LazyTown, Lilo and Stitch the series, Madeline, Little Bill, The Fairly OddParents, Zoom, Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, The Wiggles

Human Stars
 * Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Nile Rodgers and Diana Ross